APPLIANCES---Any device, attached to the teeth or removable, designed to move the teeth, change the position of the jaw, or hold the teeth in their finished positions after braces are removed.

ARCHWIRE---The metal wire that is attached to the brackets and used to move the teeth.



BRACES---A word commonly used to describe a fixed orthodontic appliance, usually composed of brackets, bands and wires.



BRACKET---A small metal, ceramic, or plastic attachment bonded to each tooth with a tooth-colored adhesive. The bracket has a slot that the archwire fits into.

BRUXISM---Grinding the teeth, usually during sleeping. Bruxism can cause abnormal tooth wear and may lead to pain in the jaw joints.


CHAIN---A stretchable series of elastic o-rings connected together and placed around each bracket to hold the archwire in place and move the teeth.


MALOCCLUSION---Orthodontic description of the way the jaws come together. Type l is normal facial harmony, Type ll has overjet, and Type lll has an underbite.



CROSSBITE---When the upper teeth are not wider than the lower teeth.


ELASTICS---Rubber bands. During certain stages of treatment, small elastics are worn to provide individual tooth movement or jaw alignment.


FIRST PHASE TREATMENT---Orthodontic treatment performed to intercept a developing problem. Usually performed on younger patients who have a mixture of baby teeth and permanent teeth.


GINGIVA---Soft tissue around the teeth, also known as the gums.


IMPACTION---A tooth that does not erupt into the mouth or only erupts partially is considered impacted.


LINGUAL---Tongue side of the teeth in both arches.


MANDIBLE---Lower jaw.



MAXILLA---Upper jaw.




O-RINGS---Small elastic rings that hold the archwire in the bracket slot. What you change when you change the colors one the braces.

OPENBITE---A malocclusion in which teeth do not make contact with each other. With an anterior open bite, the front teeth do not touch when the back teeth are closed together. With a posterior open bite, the back teeth do not touch when the front teeth are closed together.

OVERJET---The linear distance between the upper and lower incisor as measured in the horizontal plane. Often times this mistakenly referred to as a patient having an overbite.


OVERBITE---The vertical percentage the upper anterior teeth overlap the lower anterior teeth.


PERIODONTAL---Refers to the hard and soft tissue, or supporting structures, around the teeth.


PLAQUE---Plaque is a colorless, sticky film of bacteria, food particles and saliva that constantly forms in the mouth. Plaque combines wit sugars to form an acid that endangers teeth and gums. Plaque cause tooth decay and gum disease.

RETAINER---During certain stages of treatment, small elastics or rubber bands are worn to provide tooth movement to aid in tooth alignment and positioning.


SPACERS---An elastic o-ring or small wire loop placed between the teeth to create space for placement of bands.


SERIAL EXTRACTION---Selective removal of baby teeth and/or permanent teeth to create room for erupting permanent teeth.


SPACE MAINTAINER---An appliance used to hold space for an unerupted permanent tooth after a baby tooth has been lost prematurely.


TONGUE CRIB---An appliance used to help a patient stop habits or undesirable tongue forces exerted on the teeth and bone that supports the teeth.

TONGUE THRUST---An individual's tongue pushes against the teeth when swallowing. Forces generated by the tongue can move the teeth and bone and may lead to an anterior or posterior open bite as well as the potential to increase a patient's overjet.

WAX---Wax is placed on the brackets or archwires to prevent them from irritation the lips or cheeks. WIRES---Same as archwirs.