If your orthodontist tells you that you or your child needs an orthodontic appliance, you may be confused at first. Appliance? A free toaster for being such a good customer?

No, not exactly.

An orthodontic appliance is simply a dental device that is fabricated specifically for treatment of a dental condition. There are many different types of orthodontic appliances, and they treat a number of issues, including crooked teeth, crowded teeth, jaw irregularities -- even snoring and sleep apnea.

Ever wear a retainer? You’ve already had first-hand experience with an orthodontic appliance. These appliances generally fall into three main categories:

• Removable – The appliance can be removed by the patient (like a retainer)
• Fixed – The appliance is sealed in place
• Removable-Fixed – The orthodontist can choose whether the    appliance is to function as removable or fixed

The one thing that all orthodontic appliances have in common is that they are custom-tailored for your teeth and mouth. X-rays are taken and molds created in the interest of ensuring an exact fit.

Many orthodontists rely on third-party labs to create the ideal custom appliance for each patient. SML (Space Maintainers Laboratories) is one of those labs, serving the needs of dentists and orthodontists for more than 55 years.