Nance Appliance
Pronunciation: NANSS
A fixed palatal arch appliance with an acrylic button resting against the anterior hard palate, used to maintain upper molar position and prevent mesial drift during or after orthodontic treatment.
Full Definition
The Nance appliance consists of a wire framework extending from bands cemented on the upper first molars to an acrylic button or pad that contacts the rugae area of the hard palate. It functions as a passive space maintainer or anchorage reinforcement device. Editors encounter the term in treatment progress notes, clinical handover letters, and appliance comparison studies. 'Nance' should be capitalised as a proper noun (after orthodontist Homer Nance). It is easily confused with the transpalatal arch, which similarly connects upper molars but lacks the palatal acrylic component.
Usage
Usage note: Always capitalise 'Nance.' Do not conflate with transpalatal arch; the key distinction is the palatal acrylic pad, which must be mentioned when defining the appliance.
In Context
- "Following premolar extractions, a Nance appliance was cemented to preserve upper arch length pending comprehensive fixed appliance therapy." — Treatment progress note
- "Verify that 'Nance appliance' is capitalised and distinguished from 'transpalatal arch' in the appliance history section." — Editorial review