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Glossary

See the alphabetical list of dentistry terms and each d to definition expand your knowledge and vocabulary.

  • Banding: The process of fitting and cementing orthodontic bands to your teeth.
  • Bonding: The process of attaching brackets to your teeth using special orthodontic cement.
  • Cephalometric X-ray: An x-ray of your head which shows the relative positions and growth of the face, jaws and teeth.
  • Consultation: A meeting with your orthodontist to discuss a treatment plan.
  • 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 biting into a soft material that hardens into a mold of your teeth. Your orthodontist will use these impressions to prepare your treatment plan.
  • Ligation: The process of attaching an arch wire to the brackets on your teeth.
  • Panoramic X-ray: An x-ray that rotates around your head to take a picture of your teeth, jaw and other facial areas.
  • Appliances Used to Move Teeth: Anything your orthodontist attaches to your teeth which moves your teeth or changes the shape of your jaw.
  • 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 wires to your teeth.
  • Bond: The seal created by orthodontic cement that holds your appliances in place.
  • Bracket: A metal or ceramic part cemented (“bonded”) to your tooth that holds your arch wire in place.
  • 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 upper or lower appliances to provide pressure to move your teeth and your jaws to their new position.
  • Elastic Tie: The tiny rubber band that fits around your bracket to hold the arch wire 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 teeth 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.
  • Herbst:  A fixed appliance that helps to encourage growth of the lower jaw.
  • Hook: A welded or removable arm to which elastics are attached.
  • Invisalign®: An alternative to traditional braces, Invisalign straightens your teeth with a series of clear custom-molded aligners. Invisalign can correct some, but not all, orthodontic problems.
  • Ligature: A thin wire that holds your arch wire into your bracket.
  • Lip Bumper: A lip bumper is an arch wire 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.
  • Rapid Palatal Expander/RPE: A device that makes your upper jaw wider.
  • 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 space between your teeth before the bands are attached.
  • Tie Wire: A fine wire that is twisted around your bracket to hold the arch wire in place.
  • Wax: Wax is used to reduce discomfort from irritations caused by your braces to your oral tissues.

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Abar Orthodontics, Pinole, CA

1500 Tara Hills Drive, Suite 204, Pinole, CA 94564

Abar Orthodontics, San Leandro, CA

145 East 14th street, #100, San Leandro, CA 94577

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