BRACES 101: The different parts of your braces — Tipton Orthodontics

Not only is it important to know how your braces work, but also should you ever need to call our office in case you sustain any damage to your braces, we can help you more effectively if you can tell us exactly which piece is in trouble! Here’s a handy diagram and corresponding list of all the parts that make up your braces.

Elastic Tie: Tiny rubber band that fits around the bracket to hold the archwire in place.

Archwire: The main wire that acts as a track to guide the teeth along. It’s changed periodically throughout treatment, as teeth move to their new positions.

Loop in Archwire: Frequently used for closing space left by an extraction. Many archwires don’t have a loop.

Bracket: Small attachment that holds the archwire in place. Most often, a bracket is cemented directly onto the tooth’s surface, eliminating the need for a band.

Headgear Tube: Round, hollow attachment on the back bands. The inner bow of the headgear fits into it.

Coil Spring: Fits between brackets and over archwire to open space between teeth.

Tie Wire: Fine wire that is twisted around the bracket to hold the archwire in place.

Band: A thin ring of metal fitted around a tooth and cemented in place. The band provides a way to attach the brackets to the tooth.

Hook: Welded or removable arm to which elastics (rubber bands) are attached.

Elastic (Rubber Band): Small rubber band that is hooked between different points on the appliance to provide pressure to move the teeth.

Call us at Tipton Orthodontics if you have any questions about your braces or want to see if treatment is right for you.

Dr. Tipton Patient Reviews

Tipton Orthodontics provides the latest most-advanced technology to achieve optimal results in minimal time. Just see what his patients are saying!!Dr. Tipton is very kind and never seems rushed. He gives you the time and attention you deserve. That is very rare these days from a dentist or doctor.
-Kimberly D.

There are many things that I like about Dr. Tipton. What stands out the most is that he has an amazing staff, from the front desk to the back office. They are very friendly, always smiling, and very thorough with updates after each of my son’s visits.
-Stacie A.

I personally enjoy the casual and lax atmosphere at Tipton Orthodontics as well as how kind and understanding Dr. Tipton and his staff are.
-Colleen F.

All the staff at Tipton Orthodontics is very friendly and very helpful. They make us feel welcome and explain exactly what is going to happen before it happens!
-Denise S.

Dr. Tipton is friendly and cares about individual patients. He gives me personal attention and makes me feel important. He called me the day after I got my braces on just to check on me. That was very thoughtful and way above and beyond what was expected.
-Jerom N.

Tipton Orthodontics is very skilled and thanks to them, my teeth are now getting straight.
-Seungwan R.

Smoke Screen – Making Quitting Stick

Everybody knows that smoking causes lung cancer, but did you also know that smokers and tobacco are susceptible to a variety of oral health problems at a faster rate than non-smokers?

It’s true! Smoking is responsible for almost 75% of gum disease in adults; and, similar to smokers, adults who smoke pipes and cigars, as well as those using smokeless tobacco, are just as susceptible to gum disease and other tobacco related health problems.

As soon as you use tobacco products, you become more likely to experience any of these oral-health problems:

• Oral cancer
• Gum disease
• Tooth loss
• Loss of bone in the jaw
• Gum recession
• Delayed/impaired healing process after oral surgery or any other treatment
• Decreased success rate of dental implant (tooth replacement) procedures
• Mouth sores
• Loss of your sense of taste and smell
• Bad breath
• Tooth and tongue stains

If you are interested in protecting your oral health we strongly recommend you quit using tobacco products! The following steps are recommended by the Surgeon General to help you quit smoking and using tobacco:

• Get ready – set a quitting date and remove all materials from your home, car and office
• Get support
• Learn new skills and behaviors
• Get medication and use it correctly
• Be prepared for relapse or difficult situations

For support, start with Tipton Orthodontics! We can help by recommending different options to help you quit, and above all we will support you throughout the quitting process. We are dedicated to helping you protect your oral health – and quitting smoking is significant step in the right direction.