Types of Appliances
Bonded lower retainer
Fixed lower retainer cemented behind the lower cuspid teeth.
Elastics (Rubber Bands)
Wearing elastics (or rubber bands) improves the fit of your upper and lower teeth. Wear rubber bands as instructed and remember that the rubber bands work far more efficiently if they're worn as prescribed.
Facemask
Facemask is an extra-oral appliance worn with your braces to correct underbite in a growing child or adolescent.
Forsus springs
A fixed functional appliance that works in conjunction with full upper and lower braces to correct the bite efficiently.
Hawley retainer
Removable retainer used during the resting phase between Phase I and Phase II treatment.
Hyrax palatal expander
Fixed appliance cemented to upper teeth to expand the upper jaw for correcting crossbite and regaining space for crowded teeth to erupt.
Lingual Arch
An appliance that maintains lower arch length while primary teeth are being lost and the permanent teeth have not come in fully yet.
Separators or Spacers
Separators are little rubber doughnuts that may be placed between your teeth to push them apart so that orthodontic bands may be placed during your next appointment. The separators will be removed before we place the bands. Separators do not mix well with sticky foods, toothpicks, or floss.
TADs – Temporary Anchorage Devices
Serves as anchor points to allow major tooth movement in the right direction.
Transpalatal Bar
An appliance that not only maintains upper arch length, but can be activated to correct minor bite discrepancies.
Upper clear retainer
Removable upper retainer to hold alignment of the upper teeth after treatment has completed.