Glossary
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 which is attached to your brackets to move your teeth.
Band
A metal ring that is usually placed on your teeth to hold on parts of your braces.
Bracket
A metal or ceramic part that is glued onto a tooth and serves as a means of fastening the archwire.
Herbst Appliance
The appliance is usually attached using stainless steel crowns. Metal side bars and some front braces are usually part of the appliance. Some appliances may have an expansion screw in the middle of the pallet to help widen the upper jaw.
Chain
A stretchable plastic chain used to hold archwires into brackets and to move 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. You wear the retainer 24 hours a day at first then at night to make sure that none of your teeth move while your jaw hardens and your teeth get strongly attached to your jaw.
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.
Ortho 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.
Separator
A plastic or metal part which the orthodontist uses to create space between your teeth for bands.
Wax
A clear wax used to prevent your braces from irritating your lips when your braces are first put on, or at other times.