Acrylic

Plastic.

AAO

American Association of Orthodontists.

ABO

American Board of Orthodontists.

ADA

American Dental Association.

Appliance

A device that is connected to your teeth or braces which can move your teeth or adjust your jaw shape. Appliances can be either fixed (cemented in place) or removable.

Ankylosis

When a tooth is fused to the bone and cannot be moved orthodontically.

Arch

The upper or lower teeth as a whole.

Archwire

The engine that moves your teeth. This metal wire fits into your bands and brackets and guides your teeth to their new and straighter positions.

Band

A metal ring to which brackets or other orthodontic attachments can be connected. Compared to brackets, bands are better able to withstand the forces of chewing so they are typically used on the back teeth.

Bond

To attach or glue a bracket to a tooth.

Bracket

A metal, ceramic, or plastic piece that is bonded to a tooth. The bracket contains a slot which the archwire fits into.

Bruxism

Grinding of the teeth, usually when sleeping.

Buccal

Facing the cheeks.

Cement

To fixate a band or orthodontic appliance to a tooth.

Ceramic Brackets

Commonly referred to as “clear braces,” these crystalline brackets are less noticeable than traditional metal brackets.

Coil Spring

A spiral piece that fits over the archwire, and in between two teeth. A coil spring opens space between the two teeth it pushes against.

Cephalometic X-ray (Ceph)

An x-ray which shows the teeth and bones of the face, jaws, and head.

Class II (Class 2)

When the upper jaw or teeth lie farther forward relative to the lower jaw or teeth. This creates a large overjet which some people call a large “overbite.”

Class III (Class 3)

When the lower jaw or teeth lie farther forward. relative to the upper jaw or teeth. This creates a negative overjet which some people call an “underbite.”

Consultation

A meeting with the orthodontist or treatment coordinator to discuss treatment possibilities.

Crowding

Misalignment of teeth caused by lack of space.

Deband

To remove orthodontic bands from teeth.

Debond

To remove brackets or tubes from teeth.

Decalcification

Permanent white spots on the teeth due to breakdown of tooth minerals. Decalcification is caused by improper oral hygiene.

DDS

Doctor of Dental Surgery.

DMD

Dentariae Medicinae Doctoris (Latin) which when translated, means Doctor of Dental Medicine.

Elastic (Rubber Band)

A stretchy band that hooks onto different parts of the braces. Elastics are used to move teeth and correct bites in ways that braces alone cannot do.

Elastic Tie (O-tie)

A small rubber tie that fits around the bracket and secures the archwire. Elastic ties come in many colors.

Etch

To apply a weak acidic solution to a tooth for the purpose of preparing the tooth for bonding.

Expectorate

To spit out.

Facebow

A component of headgear. A facebow consists of an inner bow and an outer bow. The inner bow fits into the headgear tubes inside the mouth. The outer bow lies outside the cheeks and connects to the headstrap or neckstrap.

Facemask

A removable appliance worn to encourage growth of the upper jaw in order to correct a negative overjet (underbite). Also called a reverse
pull headgear.

Floss Threader

Thin, plastic loop to guide the floss under the archwire to floss between the teeth.

Frenum

A piece fibrous tissue that connects the lip, cheek, or tongue to the gum area.

Gingiva

Gum tissue

Gingivitis

Inflammation of the gingiva

Headgear

A removable appliance worn to restrict growth of the upper jaw and improve overjet (“overbite”) problems. It normally consists of a facebow that attaches to the teeth and a strap that fits around the neck or head.

Headgear Tube

A hollow tube to which the inner bow of the headgear fits into. Headgear tubes, when present, are typically found on the upper molar bands.

Hook

An attachment for elastics. Hooks can be found connected to brackets and bands or attached to archwires.

Impression

A mold of your teeth made by placing gel
like material on your teeth which hardens in a couple of minutes.

Interproximal Reduction (IPR)

A procedure where teeth are slenderized by removing small amounts of outer tooth structure (enamel). IPR is commonly done to make more space for your teeth to fit. Also known as enamel stripping, reproximation, slenderizing.

Invisalign

® A system of clear aligners used to straighten teeth.

Labial

Facing the lips.

Ligate

To secure the archwire to a bracket using an elastic or wire tie.

Ligature

A rubber tie or wire tie used to secure the archwire to the bracket.

Lingual

Facing the tongue.

Lip Bumper

A wire or piece of plastic connected to the lower molars which serve to preserve or create space for other teeth. The lip bumper runs from the molar on one side to the molar on the other side, in between the teeth and lips. (Lip Bumper info pdf)

Malocclusion

Bad bite.

Mandible

Lower jaw.

Mandibular

Pertaining to the lower jaw.

Maxilla

Upper jaw.

Maxillary

Pertaining to the upper jaw.

Mesiodens

An extra tooth found in between the upper central incisors or in the surrounding bone area.

Midline

An imaginary line formed by the two upper or two lower central incisors.

Miniscrew

See Temporary Anchorage Device.

Mouthguard

A removable plastic piece that fits over the teeth. It protects the teeth and inside of the mouth while playing sports.

Occlusion

Way the bite fits together when closed.

Orthodontist

A dentist who has completed at least two years of additional orthodontic training after dental school.

Orthognathic surgery

Surgery done to modify the jaw bones.

Overbite

Vertical overlap of the front teeth.

Overjet

Horizontal overlap of the front teeth, often incorrectly called “overbite.”

Palatal Expander

An appliance used to widen the upper jaw. (Palatal Expander info pdf)

Palate

Roof of the mouth and underlying structures.

Panoramic X-ray (Pano)

A single x-ray that shows the teeth and portions of the jaws. It is taken by a machine that rotates around the head.

Periodontics

The dental specialty pertaining to care of the structures that support the teeth, such as the gum tissue.

Power Chain

An elastic chain used to close spaces or keep spaces from opening.

Proxibrush

Small, pointy toothbrush used to clean under the archwire between the teeth.

Radiograph

Often called an X-ray, a radiograph is an image produced by ionizing radiation.

Relapse

Teeth or jaws moving back towards their original position from not wearing retainers as directed.

Reposition

To remove brackets or bands and place them in different orientations on the teeth. Repositions are done because when teeth are misaligned, it is difficult to put the brackets and bands in their ideal positions.

Retainer

An appliance placed in your mouth used to keep teeth from shifting. Retainers are worn after orthodontic treatment. Retainers are either removable or fixed (bonded directly to the teeth).

Reverse-Pull Headgear (Facemask)

A removable appliance worn to encourage growth of the upper jaw in order to correct a negative overjet (underbite).

Root Resorption

The tendency of a root of a tooth to shorten.

Separator (Spacer)

A rubber ring slightly larger than an O-tie that is placed in between two teeth. The purpose of separators is to create space for bands.

Temporary Anchorage Device (TAD)

A metal screw placed in the palate or gum areas that serve to provide additional stability when moving teeth. The screw is removed after the desired tooth movement has occurred.

Tongue Thrust

A habit of positioning the tongue forward against and in between the upper and lower front teeth. This habit can happen at rest or during swallowing and can cause open bites.

TMD

Temporomandibular Dysfunction.

TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint)

The joint where the lower jaw joins with the skull.

Tube

A hollow attachment that the archwire passes through.

Wire tie

A thin wire used to secure the archwire to the bracket.

Wax

If a part of the braces starts to irritate the cheek or lip, the patient can put wax over the irritable part to stop the irritation.