MYFAMILY ORTHODONTICS presents
THE WORD-OF-THE-MOUTH
A
ALIGNER
An aligner is a sequence of custom-made, nearly invisible plastic trays to gently and gradually reposition teeth.
ANCHORAGE
Anchorage is the resistance to unwanted tooth movement. Based on Newton's third law, applying force to move one tooth creates an equal and opposite force; anchorage acts as the stabilizing foundation—or anchor—to move target teeth while preventing shifting of the rest.
ARCH WIRE
An orthodontic arch wire is a thin metal wire that runs through the brackets on your teeth to guide and move them into proper alignment. It is named an "arch wire" because it follows the natural dental arch of the upper or lower jaw.
B
BANDS
Orthodontic bands are custom-fitted, ring-shaped metal or ceramic devices that wrap entirely around a tooth and are cemented into place.
BITE BLOCKS
Bite blocks in orthodontics are small temporary appliances, ramps, or turbos attached to the front or back teeth to keep the upper and lower jaws from fully closing together.
BRACKET
A bracket is the small, square-shaped piece of metal or ceramic that is glued directly to the front or back surface of each individual tooth.
C
CROSSBITE
A crossbite is a common dental misalignment where some of your upper teeth sit inside your lower teeth when you close your mouth, rather than resting slightly outside them.
CROWDING
Crowding is a mismatch where the jaw is too small to fit the teeth, leading to overlapping, twisting, or misaligned teeth.
E
ELASTICS
Orthodontic elastics (rubber bands) are essential for correcting bite alignment and closing gaps. They connect hooks on your upper and lower braces to provide the necessary pulling force.
EXPANDER
An expander (or palatal expander) is an orthodontic appliance used to widen the upper jaw, so the upper and lower teeth fit together better. They are custom-made devices worn before or alongside braces to fix crossbites, create space for crowded teeth, and widen narrow arches.
EXPOSURE
Orthodontic exposure is a minor surgical procedure used to uncover an impacted tooth trapped under the gum or bone so it can be guided into its proper alignment.
H
HERBST
A Herbst appliance is a fixed orthodontic device used to correct a severe overbite or Class II malocclusion by holding and guiding the lower jaw forward.
I
INTERPROXIMAL REDUCTION
Interproximal reduction is a procedure in which small amounts of outer tooth enamel are safely removed from between adjacent teeth. Also known as slenderizing, stripping, or reproximation, it creates microscopic spaces in crowded mouths to allow teeth to shift into proper alignment.
M
MALOCCLUSION
A malocclusion is an incorrect alignment or relationship between the upper jaw (maxilla) and lower jaw (mandible), or a general misalignment of the teeth when the jaws close.
O
OVERBITE
An overbite is a dental alignment where your upper front teeth vertically overlap your lower front teeth.
OVERJET
An overjet is a dental condition where the top front teeth stick out horizontally past the bottom front teeth, often called "buck teeth".
P
POWER CHAINS
Orthodontic power chains are continuous, stretchable elastic bands that link multiple braces brackets together. They are primarily used in the later stages of orthodontic treatment to close gaps, correct bite alignment, and pull teeth into their final positions much faster than traditional individual elastics can.
R
RETAINER
An orthodontic retainer is a custom-made dental appliance designed to hold teeth in their corrected alignment immediately following the active phase of orthodontic treatment (like braces or clear aligners). It prevents the teeth from gradually shifting back to their original positions.
S
SEPARATORS/SPACERS
Orthodontic separators (or spacers) are small elastic bands or metal rings placed tightly between your teeth, typically the back molars. Their primary purpose is to gently push the teeth apart to create enough room for metal orthodontic bands (which anchor braces) to fit comfortably during your next appointment.
SPACING
Spacing in orthodontics means having gaps or spaces between teeth, which happens when teeth are too small for the jaw, teeth are missing, or the jaw is wide.