With our bracket technology we only need to use separators or spacers if we are fitting a band on a tooth where the band or brace goes all the way around a tooth. We use “bands” on such appliances as a Mara or Herbst appliance, or an Expansion or Habit appliance.

Separators are used to open a small space between two teeth.


They are made of a rubber material shaped like a mini rubber band or they can be a small metal spring called a TP spring. Four to eight separators are usually placed at a time around some of the back teeth. Separators need to stay in your mouth for up to one week.

Once a separator has been placed between your teeth it may feel like you have a piece of meat stuck between your teeth and when you bite down you may feel the separator. Within a few hours this feeling will go away and in most cases you may even forget that they are there.

While the separator is in you mouth, please do not eat any sticky foods like caramel, taffy or chewing gum. It is important that the separator stay in your mouth until you come in for your next appointment. The separators will help to make your banding appointment much more comfortable for you.

If you have any discomfort with your separators you can take any over-the- counter pain reliever that you usually take and you can rinse with warm salt-water several times a day. (Place 1 to 2 teaspoons of salt in a cup of warm water. Swish the salt water in the mouth. Do not swallow the salt water rinse. After swishing, spit the salt water rinse out into the sink.)

Remember to continue to floss your teeth while the separators are in EXCEPT where the separators are. Do not floss between those teeth.

Sometimes a separator may fall out on it’s own. If is does then there is probably enough space to place the band comfortably. If they come out due to diet or flossing, then it is important that you come back to the office and have them replaced.

If they come out one or two days before your scheduled appointment, please come in 20 minutes early for your appointment. When you arrive, tell the receptionist what has happened and the assistant will replace the separators. This will be enough time to re-open the spacing.