As your choice for a trusted Champaign and Monticello orthodontist, it’s our goal at Huls Orthodontics to make your visit with us as comfortable as possible. We’re proud to offer a variety of effective orthodontic treatments, including metal braces, ceramic braces, Invisalign, and so much more. Not just that, but we’re always here to give you the compassionate and individualized care that you truly deserve. We want you to fully comprehend the orthodontic process so that you can feel confident in the choices that you make regarding your orthodontic health. For your benefit, we’ve even provided you with a list of common orthodontic terms and their descriptions. We hope this helps!
Appliance
Anything that is attached to your teeth that moves your teeth or corrects your bite.
Archwire
A wire, affixed to the crowns of two or more teeth, that guides the direction of tooth movement.
Band (Orthodontic)
A thin metal ring, usually stainless steel, which serves to secure orthodontic attachments to a tooth.
Bracket
An orthodontic attachment (either attached directly to the tooth or a band) that’s made of metal, ceramic, or plastic and holds the archwire against each tooth.
Ceramic Brackets
Crystalline, alumina, tooth-shade or clear synthetic sapphire brackets that are aesthetically more attractive than traditional metal braces.
Chain
An elastic chain that is used to hold the archwires onto the brackets.
Coil Spring
A device that fits between brackets and over the archwire.
Debanding
The removal of cemented orthodontic bands.
Elastics (Rubber Bands)
Tiny rubber rings that tie the archwire into the bracket.
Fixed Retainer
A permanent retainer that is bonded to the back side of the front teeth to keep the teeth from shifting into misalignment after orthodontic treatment has been completed.
Habit Appliance
An appliance designed to deter thumb or finger sucking habits.
Headgear
A generic term for extraoral traction (attached around the back side of the head) for growth modification, tooth movement, and anchorage.
Herbst Appliance
A fixed or removable appliance designed commonly for overbite problems.
Impressions
Imprints or molds of the teeth used to design an orthodontic treatment plan.
Interceptive Treatment
Limited orthodontic treatment, usually performed between the ages of 6 and 10, designed to make future orthodontic treatment faster and less invasive.
Lingual Appliances
Orthodontic appliances fixed to the interior (tongue) side of teeth.
MARA Appliance
A growth appliance that helps correct overbites by positioning the patient's lower jaw forward.
Maxillary
Used in reference to the upper jaw and it can describe teeth, dental restorations, orthodontic appliances, or facial structures.
Mouthguard
A mouthpiece that is tailored to provide protection to the braces and teeth while the patient is playing a sport.
Palatal Expander
A device attached to the upper molars through bonding or by cemented bands to create a wider space in the upper jaw.
Radiograph
A permanent image, typically on film, produced by ionizing radiation.
Retainer
Any orthodontic appliance, fixed or removable, used to maintain the position of the teeth following corrective treatment.
Separator (Spacer)
A small elastic that fits snugly between certain teeth to move them slightly so that bands can be placed around them later.
Wax
A substance that’s meant to be placed over a bracket or poking wire to lessen any irritation that object is causing.
Contact Your Champaign and Monticello Orthodontist!
If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’ll be glad to help you in any way that we possibly can! If you’re interested in scheduling a visit with your Champaign and Monticello orthodontist for metal braces, ceramic braces, Invisalign, or any of our other great orthodontic treatments, feel free to fill out our appointment request form. We can’t wait to hear from you!