What happens if you swallow spacers

Elastic spacers are the most widely used, although sometimes metal spacers are required for advanced orthodontic care. They are common in the early phases of treatment and are sometimes needed later to make small adjustments in tooth alignment.

Creating enough space for a perfect fit allows your braces to work effectively and quickly to create your ideal smile. If you have orthodontic spacers or are about to have them inserted, there are a few things you should know about the process.

Spacers are placed between the teeth in a simple office visit, as the first step in fitting braces for adults and children. The small elastic rings are threaded onto a piece of dental floss and slipped into place, and then the string is removed. The spacers create pressure that moves the teeth apart. Most often, you will wear your spacers for about days, immediately before the appointment when your braces will be fitted. In some cases, you may need to wear the spacers for the entire length of your orthodontic treatment, and, sometimes, they may even replace metal bands.

When it is time to remove the spacers, your orthodontist slips them out and immediately cements a metal band in place to anchor the wires of your traditional or ceramic braces.

Who do you go to for help? How does that even happen in the first place? An orthodontist in McMurray is setting out to answer all of your braces-swallowing questions. Read on to get the lowdown on what to do in case of an orthodontic emergency. There are a variety of reasons that your braces brackets can come loose and break off in your mouth. This problem can also happen if you experience any dental trauma, for example, during a sports game or any kind of physical activity.

This risk also applies to patients who have restorations that can come loose, such as crowns and fillings. No matter the case, when you swallow practically any dental object, the same rules usually apply as to whether or not to seek medical attention. Also, our intestinal tracts contain enough acidity to dissolve small pieces of metal in no time. This is a natural feeling while the separators are in place.

NOTE: If the separators come out 4 days or more before your appointment, you will need to come in and have them replaced. If you have any questions about the separators, be sure to ask your dentist or dental assistant. Skip to Content. Urgent Care. In This Section.