Space Maintainers

The Lingual Arch is a wire that is attached to bands placed on your back molars that follows the back of your teeth (by your tongue). This appliance is glued to your molars and is not removable. This wire may also be called a space maintainer. A lingual Arch is used on the lower teeth. The purpose of this wire is to hold back your first permanent molars while the baby molars are lost. If premature loss of the baby molars occurs, the first permanent molars drift forward toward the front of the mouth which can block out and crowd the permanent premolars and canines from coming in correctly. This appliance usually remains in until the permanent premolars erupt.

The Nance Appliance consists of wire that is attached to bands placed on your back molars that extends into a button of acrylic/plastic along the roof of the mouth. This appliance is glued to your molars and is not removable. A Nance Appliance is used on the upper arch. The purpose of this wire is to hold back your first permanent molars while the baby molars are lost. If premature loss of the baby molars occurs, the first permanent molars drift forward toward the front of the mouth which can block out and crowd the permanent premolars and canines from coming in correctly. This appliance usually remains in the mouth until the permanent premolars and canines are erupted.