Vacaville, CA (California) Orthodontist Bryan Scott, DMD

To successfully complete your orthodontic treatment plan, patients must work together with the orthodontist. The teeth and jaws can only move toward their corrected positions if the patient consistently wears the elastics (rubber bands), headgear or other appliances as prescribed.

The following paragraphs describe the types of appliances that may be used during your treatment.

Separators (Spacers)

Separators are little rubber doughnuts that may be placed between your teeth to push them apart so that orthodontic bands may be placed during your next appointment. The separators will be removed before we place the bands. Separators do not mix well with sticky foods or with toothpicks and floss.

Elastics (Rubber Bands)

Wearing elastics (rubber bands) improves the fit of your upper and lower teeth. Wear rubber bands as instructed because the rubber bands work far more efficiently if they are worn as prescribed.

Headgear

Headgear is used to treat patients whose teeth are in an "overbite," (with the uppers forward of the lowers) or an "underbite" (with the lowers forward of the uppers). Headgear gently "pulls" on your teeth to restrict further forward growth of your upper teeth and jaw.

Herbst Appliance

The Herbst is an orthodontic appliance used to encourage the growth of the lower jaw to catch up with that of the upper jaw. It's typically worn for around eight months and may take around a week to become accustomed to wearing. Teeth and jaw muscle soreness is normal during this adjustment period. Use wax if sores develop, or call our office if they get worse without improvement. Please try to minimize breakage as much as possible by being careful with the appliance, and inspect it regularly.

Palatal Expander

The palatal expander "expands" (widens) your upper jaw by putting gentle pressure on your upper molars each time an adjustment is made. Dr. Scott will instruct you about when and how to adjust your expander. When you achieve the desired expansion, you will wear the appliance for several months to solidify the expansion and to prevent regression.

Retainer

Retainers may be removable or fixed. They hold your teeth in their new, correct positions after your teeth have been straightened. Dr. Scott will instruct you on how to care for your retainer and about the duration of the wear. Wearing your retainer as directed is crucial to prevent regression of your treatment. Click here for more information on how to care for your retainer.

Bonded Retainer

A bonded retainer is a wire permanently bonded to the back of the lower teeth. Each tooth is attached to the wire with a small pad of white bonding material. Please inspect it regularly for breakage, brush and floss around it thoroughly each day, and take care to avoid breaking the bonded retainer by watching what you bite into with your front teeth.

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