Spacers for braces, also known as orthodontic separators, are used to put spaces in between your teeth before you are fitted for braces. They are either made out of rubber or metal, though rubber is most commonly used. It is possible to experience pain from spacers but this varies from person to person. Some patients feel pain as soon as the spacers are applied, while others do not feel any pain for a couple of days. Over-the-counter pain meds can be used to alleviate the pain. See here for a list of remedies
Spacers for braces are required if your teeth are too close together and your orthodontist is unable to immediately place braces on. The spacers will stay on your teeth for 1 to 2 weeks while your teeth slowly move apart for the braces to fit. Spacers are applied by either flossing rubber bands in between your teeth or placing metal bands around your teeth.As they fit between the teeth, they slowly push the teeth apart. This is a process that happens slowly and can be very uncomfortable. It also makes flossing one’s teeth impossible as the spacers must remain in between the teeth until they can be removed by the orthodontist. Once one has worn the spacers between the teeth for a determined period of time, they are removed so that the orthodontist can then fit the teeth with the metal bands. These bands are connected to the braces and hold them in place.
Heck yes…. speaking from experience, Spacers for braces are often very uncomfortable. The discomfort is usually more of an annoyance than a painful experience, similar to one having something stuck between their teeth that one cannot be removed. Being that most people’s instinct is generally to get rid of something that is between their teeth, the inability to remove the spacer only increments the discomfort of having the spacers. The pain is almost never reaches an unbearable level, but some pain arises as result of the spacers slowly moving one’s teeth out of a position that has become natural to one’s mouth. The best way to describe the pain would be an ache in the gums. Spacers generally remain in between one’s teeth for a period of seven to ten days. They are removed before the braces can be placed onto the teeth. While many complain that braces themselves can be uncomfortable, the discomfort associated with spacers is usually far worse. In fact, many say that it is a relief to be rid of spacers in favor of braces.
Once spacers are removed, they rarely need to ever be put back again. Spacers usually are effective in separating the teeth adequately enough in preparation to be realigned by the soon to be installed braces, the first time they are put in.
However, spacers for braces may sometimes fall out prematurely due to the wearer eating sticky foods or chewing bubble gum. Orthodontists may allow the spacers for braces to stay out when this happens; but more often than not, they need to be replaced especially if the original orders are to keep them in for another one to two weeks.
