Springs for braces are small metal coils or wire loops that your orthodontist attaches to the archwire to push teeth apart or pull them together. They work alongside brackets and wires to handle specific tooth movements that the archwire alone can’t accomplish efficiently, like opening up space for a crowded tooth or closing a gap left by an extraction.
How Orthodontic Springs Work
Springs store and release energy through compression or tension, applying a steady, gentle force to teeth over time. They’re made from either stainless steel or nickel-titanium (NiTi), and the material matters. Stainless steel springs produce force that changes in a predictable, linear way as they compress or stretch. Nickel-titanium springs can deliver a more constant level of force across a wider range of movement, which is often more comfortable and effective for gradual tooth repositioning.
Your orthodontist selects a spring based on how much force is needed. Lighter springs produce as little as 0.25 newtons of force (barely enough to feel), while heavier ones can deliver close to 3 newtons when compressed by half their length. The right choice depends on the size of the tooth being moved and how far it needs to travel.
Open Coil Springs: Creating Space
Open coil springs look like tiny Slinkys threaded onto the archwire between two brackets. They’re placed in a compressed state, and as they push outward, they nudge the teeth on either side apart. This is the most common type of spring you’ll encounter in braces.
Orthodontists use open coil springs to create room for teeth that are blocked out of the arch, whether from crowding or because a permanent tooth is trapped beneath the gums (impacted). They’re also used to redistribute space along the arch before other mechanics take over, and to push molars backward when the bite needs correction. The spring sits on the wire for weeks or months, depending on how much space needs to open. Your orthodontist checks progress at each adjustment and may swap the spring or remove it once enough room exists.
Closed Coil Springs: Closing Gaps
Closed coil springs do the opposite. They connect two points on the archwire (or two brackets) in a stretched state, and their elastic recoil pulls those points toward each other. This closes gaps between teeth.
The most common scenario is after a tooth extraction. Once the tooth is removed and the site heals, a closed coil spring gradually pulls the neighboring teeth together to eliminate the empty space. Nickel-titanium closed coil springs are particularly useful here because they maintain a relatively even pulling force as the gap shrinks, so tooth movement stays consistent from start to finish rather than slowing down as the spring loses tension.
Specialty Springs for Bite Correction
Some springs do more than shift individual teeth. Devices like the Forsus Fatigue Resistant Device use nickel-titanium coil springs to correct bite misalignments where the lower jaw sits too far back relative to the upper jaw (a Class II bite). These springs connect the upper and lower arches and apply continuous force to push the upper teeth backward while encouraging the lower jaw and teeth forward.
The results come from a combination of effects: the upper front teeth tilt slightly backward, the upper molars shift back and move slightly upward, and the lower molars shift forward. Over several months, this reshapes how the upper and lower teeth meet when you bite down. Because the spring is fixed in place, it works around the clock without requiring you to remember to wear elastics or a removable appliance.
Ballista Springs for Impacted Teeth
When a tooth is stuck beneath the gum and can’t erupt on its own, orthodontists sometimes use a ballista spring to coax it into position. This is a custom-bent wire spring, typically made from thin Australian wire, shaped with a vertical arm and a horizontal arm. A surgeon first exposes the buried tooth and bonds a small attachment to it. The vertical arm of the spring hooks onto that attachment and delivers a controlled pulling force, guiding the tooth downward and outward into the arch.
In documented cases involving impacted canines, ballista springs brought the teeth into a visible, functional position within about three months, with full alignment achieved over roughly 12 months of combined spring traction and standard braces mechanics.
What Springs Feel Like
Springs add pressure to your teeth, so expect some soreness after they’re placed or adjusted. The discomfort follows the same pattern as any braces adjustment: it peaks within the first 24 to 48 hours and typically fades within one to three days. The sensation is more of a dull ache or tenderness when biting down rather than sharp pain. Over-the-counter pain relievers and soft foods during that initial window are usually enough to manage it comfortably.
Coil springs can also feel bulky against your cheeks or tongue at first, especially open coil springs that sit along the archwire in the middle of your smile. Orthodontic wax pressed over the spring can reduce irritation until your mouth adjusts, which usually takes a few days.
Keeping Springs Clean
Springs are magnets for food. The coils trap small particles that a regular brushing motion can miss, so you’ll need to be a bit more deliberate with your oral hygiene routine.
- Angle your toothbrush. Tilt a soft-bristled brush at different angles around the spring, using small circular motions. Focus on the spots where the coils meet the archwire and brackets, and spend at least 30 to 45 seconds on the area.
- Use a floss threader. Slide the threader under the archwire, pull floss through the loop, and gently clean between the teeth on either side of the spring.
- Try a water flosser. A pressurized stream of water is especially effective at blasting food out of coil springs without risking damage to the wire.
- Rinse with warm salt water. Half a teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water, swished for 20 to 30 seconds, can dislodge debris and soothe any gum irritation around the spring.
If a spring comes loose, slides out of position, or starts poking your cheek, contact your orthodontist. A displaced spring won’t deliver the right force and could delay your treatment timeline. In the meantime, orthodontic wax can cover any sharp ends to protect your soft tissue until your appointment.