Parts of Braces
Parts of Braces
Teeth move by using a variety of devices, which together are called the “appliance.” The following diagrams are of orthodontic appliances. They are provided to aid you in learning the names of the parts of your braces and to better understand their design and function.
The most important parts of our usual appliance are:
Bands: These are thin bands of stainless steel carefully fitted around the tooth and then cemented in place. Brackets, tubes, or hooks may be welded to these bands, allowing the orthodontist to move each tooth in every direction.
Brackets: A bracket can be attached to a band or bonded directly to the teeth. They are cemented to the tooth with basically the same white tooth colored material used for fillings. The bonding of brackets has dramatically reduced the time it takes to apply braces. Additionally, it has made the job of keeping teeth clean much easier for our patients. The brackets can be made of several types of materials including stainless steel and clear ceramic.
Arch Wires: These wires traditionally were made only of stainless steel. We now have at our disposal arch wires made from various types of titanium. The development of these wires has allowed orthodontists to increase the amount of time between visits. This in turn has benefited the patient in that their busy schedules are not interrupted with orthodontic appointments nearly as much as they were in the past.
Rubber Bands: These provide a force that helps teeth move, usually
employing one arch or a group of teeth against the other.
Springs: These devices may be made of stainless steel or titanium and can be used in a “push” or “pull” fashion in order to open or close space between teeth.