Orthodontic Parts and Pieces
- Appliances
- Archwire
- Bands
- Bracket
- Buccal Tube
- Chain
- Elastics
- Fixed Retainer
- Herbst
- Ligating Module
- Mouthguard
- Palatal Expander
- Retainer
- Wax
-
Appliances
Anything the orthodontist attaches to your teeth to move your teeth or to change the shape of your jaw.
-
Fixed Retainer
Fixed retainers consist of a metal wire bonded to the back of the teeth. Fixed retainers can stay in place indefinitely.
-
Wax
A clear wax used to prevent your braces from irritating your lips or cheeks when your braces are first put on, or at other times.
-
Mouthguard
A device that is used to protect your mouth form injury when you are participating in sports. The use of a mouthguard is especially important for orthodontic patients, to prevent injuries.
-
Chain
A stretchable plastic chain used to hold archwires into brackets and to move teeth.
-
Archwire
A metal wire which is attached to your brackets to move your teeth.
-
Herbst
An appliance that is designed to correct bites and improve facial profiles.
-
Bands
A metal ring that is usually placed on your teeth to hold on parts of your braces.
-
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.
-
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.
-
Palatal Expander
A palatal expander, also known as a rapid palatal expander, rapid maxillary expansion appliance, palate expander or orthodontic expander, is used to widen the upper jaw so that the bottom and upper teeth will fit together better.
-
Elastics
Elastics or rubber bands for braces help move the upper and lower teeth relative to each other, ultimately achieving a better bite. The orthodontic rubber bands are typically effective for correcting overbites, underbites, or other types of alignments of the jaw. They are also useful for moving a tooth out of alignment or to close a space in the mouth.
-
Ligating Module
A small plastic piece, shaped like a donut, which is used to hold the archwires in the brackets on your teeth.
-
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.