Choose a glossary:
- Parts of Braces
- Orthodontic Procedures
Parts of Braces
- Appliance – Anything your orthodontist attaches to your teeth that moves your teeth or changes the shape of your jaw.
Band – A metal ring that your orthodontist cements to your tooth and goes completely around it. Bands provide a way to attach brackets to your teeth.
Bracket – A metal or ceramic part your orthodontist cements (“bonds”) to your tooth that holds your archwire in place.
Retainer – An appliance that you wear after your orthodontist removes your braces. The retainer attaches to your upper and/or lower teeth to hold them in place. Some retainers are removable, while others your orthodontist bonds to the tongue side of several teeth.
Mouthguard – A device that protects your mouth from injury when you participate in sports or rigorous activities.
Components
Archwire – The metal wire that acts as a track to guide your teeth as they move. Your orthodontist changes it periodically throughout treatment as your teeth move to new positions.
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 your orthodontist hooks between different points on your appliance to provide pressure to move your teeth to a new position.
Elastic Tie – The tiny rubber band that fits around your bracket to hold the archwire in place. They come in a variety of colors.
Ligature – A thin wire that holds your archwire into your bracket.
Tie Wire – A fine wire that your orthodontist twists around your bracket to hold the archwire in place.
Functional Devices
Headgear – Headgear uses an external wire apparatus known as a facebow to guide the growth of your face and jaw gently by moving your teeth into proper position. A spring-loaded neck strap or head strap applies force to the facebow. The straps have a safety release that disconnects if someone pulls or snags the facebow.
Headgear Tube – A round, hollow attachment on your back bands. The inner bow of your headgear fits into it.
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.
Palatal Expander – A device that makes your upper jaw wider.
Procedures
Banding – The process where your orthodontist fits and cements orthodontic bands to your teeth.
Bonding – The process where your orthodontist attaches brackets to your teeth using special orthodontic cement.
Imaging
Cephalometric X-ray – An X-ray of your head that shows the relative positions and growth of the face, jaws, and teeth.
Panoramic X-ray – An X-ray that rotates around your head to take pictures of your teeth, jaw, and other facial areas.
Miscellaneous
Wax – You use wax to stop your braces from irritating your lips.
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