Glossary of Orthodontic Terms

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• Parts of Braces
• Ortho Procedures

Parts of Braces

Alastik™

Alastik™ 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.

Appliance

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

Archwire

A metal wire that is attached to your brackets to move your teeth.

Band

Bands are the larger metal rings that sometimes are placed on back teeth for strength and anchorage.

Bracket

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 bonding adhesive. They are much smaller and lighter than ever.

Buccal 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.

Chain

A stretchable plastic chain used to hold archwires into brackets and to move teeth.

Facebow, Headgear

A Facebow is a wire apparatus used to move your upper molars back in your mouth, which creates room for crowded or protrusive anterior teeth. Generally, the facebow consists of two metal parts that have been attached together. The inner part is shaped like a horseshoe. This part goes in your mouth and is connected to your buccal tubes. The outer part has two curves. The curves go around your face and connect to the product, the inner bow needs to be inserted into your buccal tubes. Completing the apparatus is a plastic safety strap that is placed over the neckpad and onto the outer bow of the headgear.

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.

Ligating Module

A small plastic piece, shaped like a donut, which is used to hold the archwires in the brackets on your teeth.

Mouthguard

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 orthodontic patients, to prevent injuries.

Palatal Expander

A device used to make your jaw wider.

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.

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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Orthodontic Procedures

Banding

The process of cementing orthodontic bands to your teeth.

Bonding

The process of attaching brackets to your teeth using a special safe adhesive.

Debonding

The removal of cemented orthodontic brackets.

Interceptive Treatment

Orthodontic treatment that is usually done between the ages of 6 and 10. The objective of interceptive orthodontic treatment is to provide orthopedic intervention, so that later orthodontic treatment goes quicker and is less painful.

Dr. Griffin is your Milwaukee WI braces specialist, call our office today at (414) 328-0704 to schedule an initial consultation to start designing your personalized orthodontic treatment plan.