4 August 2020
WELCOME! Dr. Greg Asatrian here. This is my first video on this channel in hopes to explain orthodontics to all of you. If you’re currently undergoing orthodontics, thinking about it, or planning on going to have some form of orthodontics done, my hopes is that this channel can help answer any questions or concerns you have about treatment and create an open platform for us to discuss confusing concepts and explain what we, as orthodontists, do! If you have any questions or points of interest that you would like for me to make a video about, please leave them in the comments below.
Topic of the Video:
SPACERS (Separators)
A lot of people who have braces have spacers in the beginning of treatment. Spacers are little white or blue rubber bands that go between your back teeth and make room for orthodontic bands by causing initial tooth movement. It feels just like a popcorn kernel that’s stuck between your teeth that you should not floss out. Remember, floss every other tooth other than the one with the spacers, skipping the one with the spacers until they are removed by your orthodontist.
We place separators in front (mesial) and behind (distal) of the tooth we are going to be banding, in order to make a small space to be able to slide in the bands. These are for your benefit so make the “banding” appointment more comfortable! At the banding visit, they should be very easy to remove, and the orthodontist will remove them and try-in, or fit, bands. If the spacers fall out, you can replace them using two pieces of floss and shimmy it through, as seen in the video. You want to make sure that the spacer goes above AND below the contact of the two teeth. If you do not have it go under the contact, it won’t stay, but if you don’t have it go above the contact, it will get jammed in your gums and cause irritation. Also, remember we want to have spacers in front of and behind the tooth we are interested in banding, unless there is no tooth in front, or behind it. In the case of a missing tooth or a 2nd molar (with no 3rd molar present), there is no need for a spacer.
If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions for future videos, please let me know! My dream for this channel is to facilitate communication regarding your orthodontic treatment and inform you all about what we orthodontists do!
Greg Asatrian, D.D.S.
http://asatrianortho.com/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/drgregortho
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/gasatrian
This video may contain orthodontic appliances, devices and/or procedural content. The content seen in this video is provided only for education purposes and is not intended to be a substitute for professional dental advice, diagnosis, or treatment. For personalized advice, please be sure to visit a professional orthodontist near you!