Much like a car, there are a lot of extra appliances and components you can add on to braces. These won’t be necessary for every patient, but they might be for more complex scenarios. Our team at Beim Orthodontics will explain how rubber bands and other things can extend treatment times.
Braces with a Bonus
We definitely don’t expect our patients to know all of these appliances off the top of their heads—so, let us walk you through an explanation of some of them!
Dr. Beim will elect to use these additional tools when braces or clear aligners alone won’t do the job. This can be due to issues with the bite, the jaws, or other complexities. Here’s how they work and how treatment duration can be impacted:
- Rubber Bands: These must be regularly changed out and worn in a specific configuration, which will be provided by Dr. Beim. The purpose of rubber bands is to add additional force to the teeth or jaw for additional alignment. The biggest risk of delay in treatment arises from a lack of compliance.
- Palatal Expanders: The purpose of a palatal expander is to widen the upper jaw, which corrects crossbites and crowding. This can add several months to treatment since expansion is done gradually and requires a period of stabilization before braces can fully resolve alignment.
- Carriere Motion Appliance: Also called a Carriere Distalizer, this appliance addresses problems with the bite by pushing teeth into a more ideal position. The results are similar to traditional headgear but without all of the additional hardware. Jaw discrepancies take months to correct.
- Herbst Appliance or MARA Appliance: These functional devices can guide the growth of the lower jaw and help with severe overbites. Integrating them into treatment with braces can require additional time to fine-tune tooth alignment once the jaw has been corrected.
- Bite Blocks: Dr. Beim uses these to open the bite and prevent teeth from touching when there is a deep bite or crossbite present.
- Space Maintainers: We can use these before braces to ensure proper spacing for future work, but it can add on months well before braces can begin. Their purpose is to prevent teeth from shifting into gaps left by prematurely lost baby teeth.
- Temporary Anchorage Devices: We occasionally use mini screws or implants to apply targeted force for precise tooth movement. Delays can occur if healing or adjustment to TADs takes longer than anticipated.
- Lingual Arch or Nance Appliance: This device holds space in the dental arch, or is used to stabilize molars during treatment. Again, while it can create a foundation for alignment, it can delay the start of braces or prolong treatment.
- Clear Aligners as a Supplement: In some cases, treatment will include a combination of braces and clear aligners. They can be used to refine teeth positions after traditional braces are removed and add several months to the overall treatment plan.
FAQs About Additional Appliances
If you ever have any specific questions about your treatment, Dr. Beim and our team are exceptional resources. But we wanted to cover some general questions that we hear quite often when we determine that additional appliances, like rubber bands, are needed for orthodontic treatment.
Q: Are these appliances painful to wear?
No, there should not be acute pain. It can be uncomfortable to feel pressure applied to guide jaw growth or tooth movement, however. This usually subsides over time as you adjust to wearing your appliance. You’re also welcome to take over-the-counter pain medication or use cold compresses as needed. If you ever do experience significant pain, you should let us know as soon as possible so we can determine if it needs to be addressed.
Q: What happens if I don’t wear my appliance as instructed?
In addition to delaying treatment, your final results could be compromised. Remember that each of these appliances has a special purpose for your individual anatomy. One way to think of it: Stick to your wear time and instructions like you would a prescribed medication.
Q: Will these appliances impact my daily life?
There will likely be an adjustment period, but it shouldn’t significantly affect your daily routine. We’ll provide you with instructions on eating and cleaning, and you can always reach out to us for help managing any challenges that arise.
A Helping Hand
If you end up needing one of these additional appliances, we don’t want you to be discouraged by the extended treatment time. When we correct a person’s orthodontic health, we want to do it right at Beim Orthodontics. This means paying attention to every last detail! Come in for a free consultation at our Lake Mary office soon!