Elastics (Rubber Bands)
Wearing elastics (or rubber bands) improves the fit of your upper and lower teeth. Wear rubber bands as instructed, and remember that the rubber bands work far more efficiently if they're worn as prescribed.
Palatal Expander
The palatal expander "expands" (or widens) your upper jaw by putting gentle pressure on your upper molars each time an adjustment is made. Dr. Potocki 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.
Retainers
Retainers may be removable or fixed. They hold your teeth in their new, correct positions after your teeth have been straightened. Wearing your retainer as directed is crucial to prevent regression of your treatment.
Most patients use a clear, removable retainer. Recommended wear time for the retainer is full-time for six months immediately following braces removal followed by nighttime wear thereafter. After a few years, you may be able to reduce your wear time to a few nights per week. Everyone's post-orthodontic experience is different, and some patients may notice that they need to continue wearing the retainer nightly to best maintain their results.
Fixed Retainers can be an option for patients who started treatment with moderate to severe crowding or spacing in the front teeth. This small wire is custom-fabricated from a scan of the final positon of the teeth and is bonded to the back side of the front teeth.
Separators or 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, toothpicks, or floss.
Bionators and Twin Block Appliances
These appliances create an advanced lower jaw position to assist with correction of overbite and overjet in growing kids. This appliance is worn according to Dr. Potocki's instructions which can range between nights to full-time depending upon the patients stage of growth. Generally, once the patient gets used to it, it is comfortable and easy to wear, as it is made out of smooth acrylic and utilizes few wires.
The result of using these appliances is a broad, beautiful smile, proper jaw function & improved profile.
