Braces Components
Archwire
This is the main wire of the braces that fits into the brackets or other attachments, on the outside of your teeth. It provides most of the force for the braces to move your teeth. The archwire also provides a track along which your teeth move.
Bands
These are thin bands of metal, carefully fitted to the tooth and then cemented in place. They carry brackets, tubes, hooks, or rotating levers (in other words, they become a handle of the brace on your tooth). They give the braces a way to grasp and control each individual tooth.
Brackets
Small attachments that are bonded to your teeth. Brackets transmit the forces of the braces from the archwire to your teeth.
Cheerios/O’s
These little rings, or colored modules, are used to attach the archwire to the brackets. There are plenty of colors to choose from including clear rings to help personalize your braces.
Hooks
This part of the braces are usually used to attach rubber bands. Small attachments help the braces apply force to the archwire or individual teeth.
Rubber bands
Often called “elastics”, rubber bands are used to provide special forces to your teeth. The braces cannot be achieve the necessary force needed with archwires alone and require excellent patient cooperation.
Tubes
This part of the braces are usually on the very back teeth, or molars, we will place a long, round, or rectangular tube. The archwire goes into the smaller tube and the headgear arm goes into the larger tube.
Tiewire/Lig-tie
These are the funny little fine wires of the braces, that fasten your archwire into the brackets. They are twisted, leaving a small “pigtail,” or twisted wire, which is then tucked under the archwire. Sometimes, in eating or brushing, this part of the braces may become bent out and form a little sticker. If this happens, push it back against the archwire, with something such as a earser tip of the pencil, until you can schedule an appointment to have your braces examined.
