Education Ortho Glossary

 

PARTS OF BRACES

Appliances

Any device, attached to the teeth or removable, designed to move the teeth, change the position of the jaw, or hold the teeth in their finished positions after braces are removed.

Arch

Upper or lower jaw.

Archwire

The metal wire that is attached to the brackets and used to move the teeth.

Band

The metal ring that is cemented to a tooth for strength and anchorage.

Braces

A word commonly used to describe a fixed orthodontic appliance, usually comprised of brackets, bands and wires. These are the names of each part of a typical set of braces:

Chain

A stretchable series of elastic o-rings connected together and placed around each bracket to hold the archwire in place and move the teeth.

Elastics

Rubber bands. During certain stages of treatment, small elastics or rubber bands are worn to provide individual tooth movement or jaw alignment.

Elastic Tie

Tiny rubber bands that fit around your brackets to hold the archwire in place. They come in a variety of colors.

Fixed Appliances

An orthodontic appliance that is bonded or cemented to the teeth and cannot be or should not be removed by the patient.

Mouthguard

A removable device used to protect the teeth and mouth from injury caused by sporting activities. The use of a mouthguard is especially important for orthodontic patients.

Separator or Spacer

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

Wax

Wax is placed on the brackets or archwires to prevent them from irritating the lips or cheeks.

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.

Debanding

The process of removing cemented orthodontic bands from your teeth.

Debonding

The process of removing cemented orthodontic brackets from your teeth