Ortho Appliances FAQs

What are ortho appliances?

Ortho appliances are custom-made devices that guide jaw growth, hold space, correct habits, or maintain tooth position. Mint Dental Loft fabricates palatal expanders, space maintainers, habit appliances, and retainers from digital scans or impressions, in fixed forms cemented to the teeth and removable forms taken out for cleaning.

Why do I need an ortho appliance in addition to braces or aligners?

Braces and aligners move teeth within the existing arch, while appliances change the arch itself or control the forces acting on it. An expander widens a narrow upper jaw, a space maintainer preserves room for an erupting tooth, and elastics correct the jaw relationship. Mint Dental Loft uses appliances alongside braces when the correction needed is skeletal rather than purely dental.

Are ortho appliances uncomfortable?

Expect pressure and tenderness for two to three days after placement and after each adjustment, along with about a week of adapting speech and eating. Mint Dental Loft provides orthodontic wax for any component that rubs the cheek or tongue, and reviews the fit at follow-up visits.

How long will I need to wear my ortho appliance?

It depends on the appliance. A palatal expander is typically active for three to six months and then left in place a further three to six months while new bone fills the widened suture. Space maintainers stay until the permanent tooth erupts, and retainers are worn indefinitely. Mint Dental Loft confirms the expected duration at the start of treatment.

How do I keep my ortho appliance clean?

Brush around fixed appliances after every meal with a soft brush and use a water flosser or interdental brush to reach beneath the wires. Removable appliances are brushed daily with a soft brush and mild soap rather than toothpaste, which scratches acrylic. Mint Dental Loft checks plaque control at each visit, since decalcification around appliances is permanent.

What should I avoid eating with an ortho appliance?

Avoid hard, sticky, and chewy foods, including ice, hard candy, caramel, gum, nuts, and popcorn kernels, all of which bend wires and dislodge cemented bands. Cut apples, carrots, and corn off the cob into pieces rather than biting into them. Mint Dental Loft provides a written food list at placement.

What happens if my ortho appliance breaks or feels loose?

Call Mint Dental Loft at (626) 639-8618 rather than waiting for the next scheduled visit. A loose band or broken wire stops the appliance working and can irritate the cheek or tongue, and a loose expander can be swallowed. Cover any sharp component with orthodontic wax until you are seen.

Are ortho appliances covered by insurance?

Appliances are generally billed under the orthodontic benefit rather than as basic or major restorative treatment, so coverage depends on whether the plan includes orthodontics and whether the patient falls within the covered age range. Mint Dental Loft verifies the benefit and provides a written estimate before fabrication.

Will I still need a retainer after my ortho appliance treatment?

Yes. Teeth and expanded arches both relapse toward their original position without retention, and the periodontal fibers holding them take months to reorganize. Mint Dental Loft provides a retainer at the end of active treatment and reviews the fit at recall visits, since an unworn or ill-fitting retainer is the most common cause of relapse.

How do I get started with ortho appliances at Mint Dental Loft?

Call Mint Dental Loft in Altadena at (626) 639-8618 or request an appointment online. The consultation includes photographs, radiographs, and a digital scan, and produces a written plan identifying which appliance is needed, how long it will be worn, and what it costs.