Bands
Rings of metal, which fit around the molars. The bands are custom fit to each patient and selected from a range of sizes, in order to find the tightest fitting band. The bands are sealed in position using dental cement that contains fluoride to prevent any decalcification during treatment
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Brackets
The brackets may be glued (bonded) directly to each tooth or to a band. They hold the archwire against each tooth. The archwire fits into a slot on each bracket to hold it in place
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Archwire
The main wires, referred to as the archwire, are fitted for the upper jaw and lower jaw. Some of the wires we use have a memory. They can be bent and twisted by your orthodontist to fit into the slot on the bracket. Over a period of time (6 – 10 weeks), as the wires return to their memory position, pressure moves the teeth along with it. Archwires progress from appointment to appointment, and the next wire may be thicker and stronger, giving more pressure and moving teeth from where the last wire left off in movement. This gives the feeing of a ‘Tightening’.
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Alastics
Alastics are tiny rubber rings that fit around ‘fingers’ on the bracket. The Alastics hold the wire into the slot on each bracket. Alastics can be colored, silver or clear to match your brackets and are changed at each Archwire adjustment appointment
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Hooks
Hooks are small attachments on selected brackets, upper or lower, used to attach elastics (rubber bands)
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Elastics (Rubber Bands)
Elastics are used to assist the archwire in closing spaces and bringing the upper jaw and lower jaw tight together. They are fitted by hooking onto a bracket hook in the upper jaw then streched to fit onto a bracket hook in the lower jaw
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Coil Spring
The coil spring slides over the archire and fits between brackets. It is used to push 2 brackets apart, therefore creating space between 2 teeth in the same jaw
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Forsus Springs
Forsus Springs are springs that are fitted on both the left and right side of the jaws. They connect the upper back molar to a lower side archwire, and are used to push the upper molars in a ‘backwards’ movement
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