ORTHO DICTIONARY
CHOOSE A GLOSSARY:
Parts of Braces
- Appliance:
- Anything Dr. Rojas & Friends attach to your teeth that moves your teeth or changes the shape of your jaw.
- Archwire:
- The metal wire that acts as a track to guide your teeth as they move. It is changed periodically throughout treatment as your teeth move to new positions.
- Band:
- A metal ring that is cemented to your tooth, going completely around it. Bands provide a way to attach brackets to your teeth.
- Bond:
- The seal created by orthodontic cement (glue) that holds your appliances in place.
- Bracket:
- A metal or ceramic part cemented (“bonded”) to your tooth that holds your archwire in place.
- Coil Spring (Open or Closed):
- A spring that fits between your brackets and over your archwire to open or maintain space between your teeth.
- Elastic (Rubber Band):
- A small rubber band that is hooked between different points on your appliances to provide pressure in order to move your teeth to a new position.
- Elastic Tie/O-Ring:
- The tiny rubber band that fits around your bracket to hold the archwire in place. They come in a variety of colors.
- Headgear:
- 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.
- Headgear Tube:
- A round, hollow attachment on your back bands. The inner bow of your headgear fits into it.
- Hook:
- A welded or removable arm to which elastics are attached.
- Ligature Tie:
- A thin wire that holds your archwire into your bracket or otherwise used to move or hold teeth in place.
- Lip Bumper:
- 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.
- Mouthguard:
- A device that protects your mouth from injury when you participate in sports or rigorous activities. Please don’t play without one!
- Palatal Expander:
- 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 or spring that creates space between your teeth before the bands are attached.
- Wax:
- Wax is used to stop your braces from irritating your lips or cheeks.
Orthodontic Procedures
- Banding:
- The process of fitting and cementing orthodontic bands to your teeth, generally molars.
- Bonding:
- The process of attaching brackets to your teeth using special orthodontic cement (glue).
- Cephalometric X-ray:
- An X-ray of your head that shows the relative positions and growth of the face, jaws, and teeth. A critical tool for orthododontic diagnosis and treatment planning.
- Consultation:
- A meeting with Drs. Rojas & Friends 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:
- A model of your mouth made by biting into a soft material that hardens into a mold of your teeth.
- 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.
- Ligation:
- The process of attaching an archwire to the brackets on your teeth.
- Panoramic X-ray:
- An X-ray that rotates around your head to take pictures of your teeth, jaw, and other facial areas. A critical tool for orthododontic diagnosis and treatment planning as well as monitoring oral health throughout treatment.
WHAT SETS
US APART
“Dr. Rojas communicated with my son's dentist directly and facilitated the transfer of information between the offices. That was very helpful to me, since I don't know most of the technical terms for specialty x-rays and other procedures. I look forward to working with Dr. Rojas for many years to come, with my 9-year old son and his younger siblings. I recommend them to families seeking a knowledgeable, skilled, patient, and kind orthodontists. ” Erica H.
“As an adult patient with periodontal issues, finding an orthodontist who is keyed into my special needs was the priority. I am well taken care of in the more-than-capable hands of Dr. Rojas, each appointment is pleasant and feels like a visit with an old friend. Most importantly, my smile transformation is coming along nicely. I am eager to face the world braces-free!” Neil N.
“At my age it was difficult to decide whether to go through orthodontic treatment; I wondered if it would be worth it. Well, it was! Even though I had to wear the Invisalign trays for a couple of months longer than projected, I'm very pleased with the final results. From the initial consultation through the entire orthodontic process, I was made to feel welcome and treated with professionalism. Thank you Dr. Jenniffer Rojas for giving me my healthy smile back. ” Esther S.
“I can't stop grinning. My pearly whites have never looked better and it's all thanks to Dr. Rojas! Sure, it was a downer that I didn't get braces as a kid but I got to hold off for the best of the best! Totally worth the wait!” Billy G.
“My 9-year old son and I have had an excellent experience with Dr. Rojas. They makes sure the visits are comfortable by being kind and setting a positive tone. Also, they always makes time to explain to me and to my son what they will be doing that day, and to answer all our questions. ” Erica H.
“Dr. Rojas communicated with my son's dentist directly and facilitated the transfer of information between the offices. That was very helpful to me, since I don't know most of the technical terms for specialty x-rays and other procedures. I look forward to working with Dr. Rojas for many years to come, with my 9-year old son and his younger siblings. I recommend them to families seeking a knowledgeable, skilled, patient, and kind orthodontists. ” Erica H.
“As an adult patient with periodontal issues, finding an orthodontist who is keyed into my special needs was the priority. I am well taken care of in the more-than-capable hands of Dr. Rojas, each appointment is pleasant and feels like a visit with an old friend. Most importantly, my smile transformation is coming along nicely. I am eager to face the world braces-free!” Neil N.