Alastic
Elastics: Easy-To-Tie Ligatures are small rubber bands designed with a 45-degree bend that are hooked on brackets to hold the archwire in place. |
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Appliance
Anything the orthodontist attaches to your teeth to move your teeth or to change the shape of your jaw. |
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Archwire
A metal wire that is attached to your brackets to move your teeth. |
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Bands
Bands are the larger metal rings that are sometimes placed on back teeth for strength and anchorage. |
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Brackets
Brackets are the small metal or ceramic modules attached to each tooth. They serve as guides to move the teeth and hold the archwire in place. The brackets used in orthodontics today bond directly to the teeth with a tooth-colored bond adhesive. They are much smaller and lighter. |
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Boccal Tube
A small metal part that is welded on the outside of a molar band. The molar band contains slots to hold archwires, lip bumpers, facebows and other things your orthodontist uses to move your teeth. |
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Chain
A stretchable plastic chain used to hold archwires into brackets and to move teeth. |
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Damon Brackets
The Damon Bracket utilizes (sliding door) technology known as "self ligation" that allows the wire to slide back and forth within the bracket. No elastic or steel ties are used with Damon brackets. This technology creates less friction and results in greater comfort for the patient. In addition, Damon braces often reduce both treatment time and the number of adjustments that are usually performed. |
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Herbst Appliance
This appliance is usually attached using stainless steel crowns. Metal side bars and some front braces are often part of the appliance. Some appliances may have an expansion screw in the middle of the palate to help widen the upper jaw. |
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Invisalign
By using a series of clear, removable aligners, Invisalign straightens your teeth with results you'll notice sooner than you think. The course of treatment involves changing aligners approximately every two weeks, moving your teeth into straighter position step by step. |
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Ligating Module
A small plastic piece, shaped like a donut which is used to hold archwires in the brackets on your teeth. |
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Lip Bumper
Lip bumper is used to push the molars on your lower jaw back to create more space for other teeth. The lip bumper consists of an archwire that is attached to a molded piece of plastic. You mount the archwire in the buccal tubes on your lower jaw, the plastic piece rests against your lips. When you eat or talk, you push the plastic piece back, which, in turn, pushes your molars back. |
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Mouth Guard
A device that is used to protect your mouth from injury when you are participating in sports. The use of a mouthguard is especially important for orthodontics patients, to prevent injuries. |
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Palatal Expander
A device used to make your jaw wider. |
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Retainer
A gadget that the orthodontist gives you to wear after your braces are removed. The retainer attaches to your upper and/or lower teeth and holds them in the correct position while your jaw hardens and your teeth get strongly attached to your jaw. At first, you wear the retainer 24 hours a day, and then only at night. |
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Rubber Bands
During various phases of treatment, small elastics or rubber bands are used as a gentle but continuous force to help individual tooth movement or the aligning of jaws. |
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Separator / Spacer
A plastic or metal part that the orthodontist uses to create space between your teeth for bands. |
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Schwartz Expander
The schwartz Appliance is a functional appliance used to expand the upper and/or lower dental arch by stimulating growth of the bone in width. Once widened, the suture knits together. The schwartz Appliance is prescribed only prior to the completion of growth. The The schwartz Appliance is adjusted daily as instructed, until the palate has been widened enough. It is then left in place for about four months without further adjustment while the bone fills the centre palatal suture or healing occurs. |
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Twin Block
The Twin Block is made up of an upper and lower plate which works together to correct the bite. It is like wearing two appliance that work together. One fits the upper jaw and the other fits the lower jaw. They work together to bring the lower jaw forward. |
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Wax
A clear wax used to prevent your braces from irritating your lips when your braces are first put on, or at other times. |
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