Appliance

• Anything that is attached to your teeth that moves your teeth or corrects your bite.

​​

​

Archwire

• A wire engaged in orthodontic attachments, affixed to the crowns of two or more teeth and guides the direction of tooth movement.

 

Band (orthodontic)

• A thin metal ring, usually stainless steel, which serves to secure orthodontic attachments to a tooth. The band is closely adapted to fit the contours of the tooth and then cemented into place.

 

Bracket

• An orthodontic attachment made of metal, ceramic or plastic that holds the archwire against each tooth. The archwire fits into a slot in the bracket. Brackets may be attached directly to each tooth or to a band.

 

Ceramic brackets

• Crystalline, alumina, tooth-shade or clear synthetic sapphire brackets that are aesthetically more attractive than conventional metal attachments.

 

Chain

• An elastic chain that is used to hold the archwires onto the brackets.

 

Coil spring

• The coil spring fits between brackets and over the archwire.

 

Debanding

• The removal of cemented orthodontic bands.

 

Elastics (rubber bands)

• A tiny rubber ring that ties the archwire into the bracket. Found in numerous colors for better appearance.

​

​

Fixed retainer

• A permanent retainer that is bonded to the back side of the front teeth to keep the teeth from shifting from their new position.

​

Habit appliance

• An appliance designed to deter thumb or finger sucking habits.

​

Headgear

• Generic term for extraoral traction (attached around the back side of the head) for growth modification, tooth movement and anchorage.

​

​

Herbst appliance

• Fixed or removable appliance designed commonly for overbite problems.

​

​

Impressions

• An imprint or mold of the teeth used to design an orthodontic treatment plan.

​

​

Interceptive treatment

• Interceptive treatment, also known as early treatment, is limited orthodontic treatment usually performed between the ages of 6 and 10. This phase of treatment makes future orthodontic treatment faster and less invasive.

​

lingual appliances

• Orthodontic appliances fixed to the interior (tongue) side of teeth.

​

MARA appliance

• A growth appliance that helps correct overbites by positioning the patient's lower jaw forward.

​

Maxillary

• Of or pertaining to the upper jaw. May be used to describe teeth, dental restorations, orthodontic appliances or facial structures.

​

Mouthguard

• A mouthpiece that is tailored to provide protection to the braces and teeth while the patient is playing a sport.

​

Palatal expander

• Attached to the upper molars through bonding or by cemented bands, the palatal expander is used to create a wider space in the upper jaw.

​

Radiograph

• A permanent image, typically on film, produced by ionizing radiation. Sometimes called an X-ray after the most common source of image-producing radiation.

​

Retainer

• Any orthodontic appliance, fixed or removable, used to maintain the position of the teeth following corrective treatment.

​

Separator (spacer)

• Small elastics that fit snugly between certain teeth to move them slightly so bands can be placed around them later.

​

Wax

• Patients are instructed to place wax over a bracket or poking wire that is causing irritation to the lip or cheek.