Orthodontic Dictionary of Terms and Phrases

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This page has a list of terms you may come across when researching orthodontics and helps to explain their meaning.

Parts of the Braces

Appliance

An Appliance is any piece that an orthodontist attaches to your teeth which will move or change the shape of your jaw.

Archwire

This is the thin metal wire that is threaded through the braces and helps guide your teeth in the correct direction during treatment. This wire is changed at various intervals for different stages of treatment.

Band

A band is a metal ring that is cemented and wrapped around your tooth. It acts as a fixture for the brace bracket.

Bond

Is the seal that is created when the band (or similar orthodontic appliance) is cemented to the tooth

Bracket

Is what goes between the archwire and the band mentioned above. It is block-like piece that most people associate with braces.

Coil Spring

These are small springs that are used to make space between teeth. They are fitted between the bracket and the archwire.

Elastic (Rubber Band)

Like they sound, these are small rubber bands that are attached to various parts of the braces. Their function is to apply pressure and guide the teeth in different directions.

Elastic Tie

A second type of rubber band which are fitted around the bracket to keep the archwire steady.

Headgear

Headgear is a special piece of orthodontic apparatus that is worn externally. It is a special piece of equipment usually worn at night that helps move the entire jaw into it's correct position.

Hook

A small arm on different parts of the brace to which elastics can be attached.

Mouthguard

A mouthguard is a piece of moulded plastic that is placed in the mouth and completely covers the teeth and braces. This is to be worn during sport to protect the mouth, or at night to prevent grinding.

Palatal Expander

Is a special orthodontic device which slowly expands the upper jaw to provide space for the teeth to occupy

Retainer

A special piece of equipment moulded personally for the patient that is worn once regular orthodontic treatment has finished. It's function is to hold the teeth in place. There are some retainers that can be removed, while others are fixed in place.

Seperator or Spacer

A little ring that creates extra space between your teeth to place the bands

Wax

Wax is to be used throughout treatment to help ease any discomfort that arises from the braces.

Procedures

Banding

The procedure of cementing the bands into place on the teeth

Bonding

The procedure of cementing the brackets into place on the bands.

Cephalometic X-ray

A special xray of your mouth and jaw which gives the orthodontist a good idea of the relative positions o of your teeth.

Debanding

The process of removing cemented orthodontic bands from your teeth.

Debonding

The process of removing cemented orthodontic brackets from your teeth.

Impressions

Impressions take place at the beginning of treatment and involve biting into a putty-like material that later hardens into a mould of your teeth. This representation allows the orthodontist to prepare the necessary parts for orthodontic treatment.

Ligation

The procedure involving attaching the archwires to the teeth