Appliances

A word commonly used to describe a fixed orthodontic appliance, usually comprised of brackets, bands and wires.

The Carriere Distalizer Is an orthodontic device developed to correct a bite without removing permanent teeth when teeth have erupted incorrectly. It will correct patients with protrusive upper teeth or patients with underbites prior to the placement of the braces. It can siginificantly shorten treatment time.

Elastics or rubber bands for braces help move the upper and lower teeth relative to each other, ultimately achieving a better bite. The orthodontic rubber bands are typically effective for correcting overbites, underbites, or other types of alignments of the jaw. They are also useful for moving a tooth out of alignment or to close a space in the mouth.

A Hawley retainer is made of clear pink acrylic plastic that is molded to your mouth and contains a wire to hold your teeth in position. The Hawley design permits desirable "settling" of the bite to occur by allowing slight incremental vertical movement of the posterior teeth which may enhance stability.

Invisalign® is a series of clear, removable teeth aligners that orthodontists use as an alternative to traditional metal braces.

A lingual arch is a space maintainer appliance that connects two molars in the lower dental arch in order to preserve arch length.

Expanders are commonly used to correct crossbites caused by narrow and constricted jaw forms. By widening the jaw, this creates more room for the permanent teeth which may be crowded.

Separators are tiny rubber bands or springs that your orthodontist places between your back teeth. These separators prepare your mouth for braces by creating a small gap between these teeth. This space allows for the placement of a metal band around your molar, which anchors your braces in your mouth.

This simple device is given to address severe thumb/finger sucking habit. It involves using a fixed wire crib attached to two back braces.

The Transpalatal Bar (TPA) is a fixed appliance that is attached to bands on the upper molar teeth. The bar that sits across the roof of the palate fits into a soldered clip located on the bands.