Metal Mouth Message Board

Hi everyone,

I know I should have asked my ortho this question but I didn't look in the mirror until after I had gotten home from my last adjustment. For the next phase of my treatment, my ortho is shifting my midline back into place. I have a new apparatus in my mouth that looks like a tiny spring or coil inserted between 2 of my teeth. Does any one know what this is called or have any idea how it works?

Push-coil or open-coil springs are usually used to push two teeth apart. The spring is put onto the archwire in a compressed (squashed) state and as it tries to go back to its original state, it exerts force on the two teeth.

You can also get closed-coil springs which work the opposite way. They are put on stretched and as they try to regain their closed shape, they pull teeth together.

I had these in my mouth for about 6 months straight. They worked very quickly for me. My ortho had to move half of my bottom teeth over a bit, so every appt he moved the spring over as each tooth moved along.

One thing I suggest is getting some dental wax, as the spring can be pretty rough on your skin if it's in a place where it will be rubbed up against.

Lisa 65 and Sliverware,

Thanks so much for the information! It sounds like you two are right on because my ortho is trying to move 4 of my teeth over just a little to fix my midline. So now I know what to expect; he's going to probably move the spring over next month. Now I'm going to start speculating and estimating when I can get these braces off. I'm going to drive myself crazy, lol.