Final answer:
An orthodontic tooth positioner is not used to separate teeth before banding. It is used for retaining the teeth's position, massaging tissue, and is often used prior to fitting a retainer, while teeth separation is carried out by other tools like spacers.
Step-by-step explanation:
An orthodontic tooth positioner is not used to separate the teeth before banding. Tooth positioners are custom-made appliances typically used after the bulk of orthodontic work, like braces, has been completed. Their key purposes are retaining the teeth in their new position, ensuring that the adjustments made by the orthodontic treatment are maintained.
While tooth positioners might also massage the tissue surrounding the teeth and are often used prior to a retainer, they aren't designed for teeth separation. Teeth separation is usually achieved using other orthodontic tools, such as spacers or separators, which are placed between the teeth to push them apart before bands are applied for braces. Tooth positioners, on the other hand, are generally introduced at the end of the active phase of orthodontic treatment, not at the beginning.