If you have recently started discussing tooth straightening with your dentist or orthodontist, then you may have learned that metal braces are a good option. While they may not be as aesthetically pleasing as clear aligners, tooth straightening can be completed in a more controlled manner. Specifically, the dentist can use different techniques and pieces of hardware to move the teeth around. The hardware may include springs. Keep reading to understand the types of springs that you may see on your braces.
Coil Springs
Coil springs are the types of springs that you see between two brackets. The springs are secured on the arch wire and generally look fairly small. The spring pushes on the brackets on either side of the spring. The springs place a great deal of stress on the teeth and force them apart. This opens up space in the jaw between the two teeth.
You may see coil springs in areas where the teeth need to be moved a great deal. In many cases, the teeth are forced apart to make room for a tooth that sits behind the teeth. Once an opening is formed, a bracket will be placed on the back tooth, an archwire will be attached to it as well, and the tooth will be pulled into the opening.
Coil springs may also be placed in areas where traditional wires are unable to move the teeth. For example, some of the larger molars and premolars may be difficult to move due to their size. Springs can assist with the movement.
Forsus Springs
Another common spring you may see is called a forsus spring. Forsus springs are much more complicated than simple coil springs. They are also used in very specific cases where the upper jaw and the front teeth jut over the lower jaw by a large margin. In other words, the coils are used in cases where serious and aggressive overbites need to be treated.
Forsus springs are connected to both the lower and the upper jaw. They connect to the top of the jaw by the molars. Specifically, they connect to the molar brackets with the help of a hook or a bar that extends from the brackets. A rod is attached to the middle and lower part of the jaw. The rod fits through the middle of the spring and connects to the top molar bracket.
Once the forsus spring is connected, it will force the jaw into the correct position. The upper jaw is moved backward while the lower jaw is moved forward.
To learn more, contact a clinic like Reed & Sahlaney Orthodontics, LLP.
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