Orthodontic Dictionary

Choose a glossary:

Orthodontic Terminology
Orthodontic Procedures

Orthodontic Terminology

Active Appliance: Anything your orthodontist utilizes to move your teeth or change the shape of your jaw. This appliance could be fixed or removable.

Arch Wire: The metal wire that acts as a track to guide your teeth along as they move. It is changed periodically throughout treatment as your teeth move to their new positions.

Band: A metal ring that is cemented to your tooth, going completely around it. Bands provide a way to attach brackets to your teeth, usually placed on your permanent molars.

Bond: The seal created by orthodontic cement that holds your appliances in place.

Bracket/Bond: A metal or ceramic part cemented ("bonded") to your tooth that holds your arch wire in place.

C-Chain: Connected rubber ties resembling a chain, used to close spaces.

Coil Spring: A spring that fits between your brackets and over your arch wire to open or maintain space between your teeth.

Elastic (Rubber Band): A small rubber band that is hooked between different points on your braces to provide pressure to move your teeth and align your bite.

Elastic Tie: The tiny rubber band that fits around your bracket to hold the archwire in place. They come in a variety of colors.

Headgear: Headgear uses an external wire apparatus known as a face bow to gently guide the growth of your face and jaw by moving your molars into proper position. The force is applied to the face bow by a spring-loaded neck strap or head strap. The straps have a safety release that disconnects if the face bow is pulled or snagged.

Headgear Tube: A round, hollow attachment on your back bands. The inner bow of your headgear fits into it.

Hook: A welded or removable arm to which elastics are attached. It may be on your bracket or wire.

Ligature: A thin wire that can be used instead of a rubber tie that holds your arch wire into your bracket.

Lip Bumper: A lip bumper is an archwire attached to a molded piece of plastic. The lip bumper holds back the molars on your lower jaw to provide more space for your other teeth.

Mouth Guard: A device that protects your mouth from injury when you participate in sports or rigorous activities.

Palatal Expander: A device that makes your upper jaw wider.

Propantheline: Medication used to control saliva. Click here for instructions and medical precautions.

Retainer: An appliance that is worn after your braces are removed. The retainer attaches to your upper and/or lower teeth to hold them in place. Some retainers are removable, while others are bonded to the tongue-side of several teeth.

Separator or Spacer: A small rubber ring that creates a slight space between your permanent molars before the bands are attached.

SureSmile® Scan: A 3D diagnostic image created by using the OraScanner developed by OraMetrix. This scanner takes multiple intraoral photos of teeth and braces.

SureSmile® Wire: A customized arch wire bent by a robot.

Wax: Wax is used to stop your braces from irritating your lips.

Orthodontic Procedures

Banding: The process of fitting and cementing orthodontic bands to your teeth.

Bonding: The process of attaching brackets to your teeth using special orthodontic bonding cement.

Cephalometic Digital Image: A digital image of the side of your head which shows the relative positions and growth of the face, jaws, and teeth. It is used in your treatment diagnosis.

Consultation: A meeting with your orthodontist/new patient treatment coordinator to discuss a treatment plan determined by Dr. O'Leary.

Debanding: The process of removing cemented orthodontic bands from your teeth.

Debonding: The process of removing cemented orthodontic brackets from your teeth.

Impressions: The process of making a model of your teeth by using a soft material in a tray that turns into a rubber substance creating an accurate mold of your teeth. Your orthodontist will use these impressions to prepare your treatment plan.

Invisalign®: Invisalign straightens your teeth with a series of clear custom-molded aligners. Invisalign can correct some, but not all, orthodontic problems.

Panoramic Digital Image: A machine rotates around your head to take pictures of your teeth, jaw, and other facial areas. This image is used in viewing missing teeth, impacted teeth, wisdom teeth, condition of root and bone structure. Another tool used in your diagnosis.