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Definition
| Anything your orthodontist attaches to your teeth which moves your teeth or changes the shape of your jaw. |
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Definition
| 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. |
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| A metal ring that is cemented to your tooth, going completely around it. Bands provide a way to attach brackets to your teeth. |
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| The seal created by orthodontic cement that holds your appliances in place. |
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Definition
| A metal or ceramic part cemented ("bonded") to your tooth that holds your archwire in place. |
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Definition
| A spring that fits between your brackets and over your archwire to open space between your teeth. |
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Definition
| A small rubber band that is hooked between different points on your appliance to provide pressure to move your teeth to their new position. |
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Definition
| The tiny o-ring that fits around your bracket to hold the archwire in place. They come in a variety of colors. |
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| Headgear uses an external wire apparatus known as a facebow to gently guide the growth of your face and jaw by moving your teeth into proper position. The force is applied to the facebow by a spring-loaded neck strap or head strap. The straps have a safety release that disconnects if the facebow is pulled or snagged. |
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Definition
| A round, hollow attachment on your back bands. The inner bow of your headgear fits into it. |
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Definition
| A welded or removable arm to which elastics are attached. |
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Definition
| A thin wire that holds your archwire into your bracket. |
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Definition
| 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. |
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Definition
| A device that protects your mouth from injury when you participate in sports or rigorous activities. |
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Term
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Definition
| A device that makes your upper jaw wider. |
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Definition
| 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. |
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Definition
| A small rubber ring that creates space between your teeth before the bands are attached. |
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Definition
| A fine wire that is twisted around your bracket to hold the archwire in place. |
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Definition
| Wax is used to stop your braces from irritating your lips. |
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