Choose a Glossary:

• Parts of Braces
• Orthodontic Procedures

 

Parts of Braces

Appliance:

Anything your orthodontist attaches to your teeth to move your teeth or changes the shape of your jaw.

 

Archwire:

The metal wire that acts as a track to guide your teeth along as they move. It is changed periodically throughout treatment as your teeth move to their new positions.

 

Band:

A metal ring that is cemented to and goes completely around your tooth. Bands provide a way to attach brackets to your teeth.

 

Bond:

The seal created by orthodontic cement that holds your appliances in place.

 

Bracket:

A metal or ceramic part cemented that is bonded to your tooth to hold your archwire in place.

 

Coil Spring:

A spring that fits between your brackets and over your archwire to open space between your teeth.

 

Elastic (Rubber Band):

A small rubber band that is hooked between different points on your appliance to provide pressure to move your teeth to their new position.

 

Elastic Tie:

The rubber band that fits around your bracket to hold the archwire in place. They come in a variety of colors.

 

Hook:

A welded or removable arm to which elastics are attached.

 

Ligature:

A thin wire that holds your archwire into your bracket.

 

Lip Bumper:

A lip bumper is an archwire attached to a molded piece of plastic. The lip bumper holds back the molars on your lower jaw to provide more space for your other teeth.

 

Mouthguard:

A device that protects your mouth from injury when you participate in sports or rigorous activities.

 

Palatal Expander:

A device that widens your upper jaw.

 

Retainer:

An appliance that is worn after your braces are removed. The retainer attaches to your upper and/or lower teeth to hold them in place. Some retainers are removable and others are bonded to the tongue-side of several teeth.

 

Spacers:

A small rubber ring that creates space between your teeth before the bands are attached.

 

Tie Wire:

A fine wire that is twisted around your bracket to hold the archwire in place.

 

Wax:

Wax is used to stop your braces from irritating your lips.

Orthodontic Procedures

Banding:

The process of fitting and cementing orthodontic bands to your teeth.

 

Bonding:

The process of attaching brackets to your teeth using special orthodontic cement.

 

Cephalometic X-ray:

An x-ray of your head which shows the relative positions and growth of the face, jaws and teeth.

 

Consultation:

A meeting with your orthodontist to discuss a treatment plan.

 

Debanding:

The process of removing cemented orthodontic bands from your teeth.

 

Debonding:

The process of removing cemented orthodontic brackets from your teeth.

 

Impressions:

The process of making a model of your teeth by biting into a soft material that hardens into a mold of your teeth. Your orthodontist will use these impressions to prepare your treatment plan.

 

Invisalign®:

An alternative to traditional braces, Invisalign straightens your teeth with a series of clear custom-molded aligners. Invisalign can correct some, but not all, orthodontic problems.

 

Ligation:

The process of attaching an archwire to the brackets on your teeth.

 

Panoramic X-ray:

An x-ray that rotates around your head to take pictures of your teeth, jaw and other facial areas.