Crooked teeth can really ruin your smile and cramp your style.Misaligned bites can be painful, uncomfortable, and causedigestive problems. A dentist or orthodontist can suggestdevices and offer treatment methods if you are suffering fromcrooked or misaligned teeth. After conducting exams, takingphotos, and examining x-rays, one of the available options forcorrective treatment may be teeth braces. Bracesrecommended by your orthodontist may consist of wires,bands, and a variety of other removable or fixed correctivedental appliances. Different parts of the braces performdifferent functions to ensure your beautiful smile is restored.

These are those small metalsquares usually attached to thefront of your teeth and boundby bonding agents and withwires. Brackets’ main purpose isto hold the arch wires that applycontinuous pressure on theteeth over a prolonged periodof time. Brackets come in manydifferent types which includestainless steel, plastic, andceramic. There are other typesof brackets which are secured atthe back of teeth for obscurity.

These are tooth-colored, clear,or stainless steel tinyorthodontic appliances thatare glued to the teeth. Theyare usually wrapped aroundeach tooth and provide theanchor for attaching thebrackets. Not everyone whohas brackets has bands, andthe teeth-colored ones areusually more expensive thanthe stainless steel.

These are separators that are fitted between the teeth. Theirmain job is to create the space necessary for placing theorthodontic bands.

These are the wires you see tracking across the front of theteeth. Their main purpose is to slowly guide the movement ofteeth and apply constant pressure to influence the shapechange of the bone. Arch wires are typically either metallic ortooth colored.

These are the small rings made of rubber that are fastened onthe brackets to keep the arch wires in place. Ties come inmany different colors though they can also be metallic orclear.

This is a type of holder that is attached to the end of theorthodontic arch wire on the last band of the last tooth. Itholds the whole brace in place by securing the wire.

These are very small elastic bands made

of rubber. They are used for holding the

arch wires tightly attached to the

brackets.

These are spring-like dental appliances forHouston braces that are placed in betweenbrackets. Their function is to either push orpull brackets together to open or close thespace between adjacent teeth.

This is a special wire gadgetthat is mainly used tocorrect overcrowded teethby Houston braces. It actsby pushing back the molarsinto the mouth. The outerpart of the facebowheadgear attaches to aheadgear strap while theinner part is metallic andshaped like a horseshoe.The inner part is attachedto the buccal tubes.

These individual components make upthe brace which in its entirety appliespressure over a prolonged period to theteeth and bone. This pressure slowlymoves the teeth in the desired directionand changes the bone into a specificshape.