Adjustment: The orthodontic appliances are evaluated and appropriated changes are made to progress treatment.
Appliance: Anything Dr. Beck attaches to the teeth to move either the teeth or the jaw.
Arch wire: A wire made of a variety of alloy metals that, when secured to the orthodontic braces, places a force on the tooth to cause tooth movement.
Band: A type of orthodontic brace that fits around your back teeth and looks like a ring.
Bracket: A metal, ceramic or plastic attachment to a tooth that holds the archwire in place.
Cephalometric X-ray: An X-ray of the head used to attain dental information and analyze craniofacial morphology needed to prescribe orthodontic treatment.
Elastics (rubber bands): These are hooked to brackets to move teeth in a prescribed manner. Instructions are given to the patient on how to use these orthodontic rubber bands.
Extraoral: Occurring outside of the mouth
Gingiva: The gum tissue surrounding the teeth. As teeth move the gingival tissue also reorganizes and changes. With good toothbrushing it stays pink - an orthodontic toothbrush can help maintain healthy gingiva. Poor toothbrushing results in inflamed tissue that swells and bleeds and has shown to slow down tooth movement.
Growth and Development checks: Appointment where Dr. Beck follows the loss of baby teeth and the eruption of permanent teeth as well as the skeletal growth of a child. Often preventive measures can decrease the severity of the malocclusion.
Headgear: An appliance that consists of an intraoral part and extraoral part that work together to affect growth and tooth movement. New technology has created more patient friendly alternatives to the use of orthodontic headgear.
Herbst Appliance: An intraoral cemented orthodontic appliance used in place of a headgear and/or rubber bands to affect growth and tooth movement. The great news is that it is small, not easily seen and works 24 hours a day to achieve the desired skeletal changes and tooth movement.
Holding Arch: An intraoral cemented orthodontic appliance used to hold space for permanent teeth when there is a premature loss of baby teeth.
Impressions: An accurate representation of an individual's dentition and other areas of the mouth. An impression is made by placing a viscous liquid material into the mouth with a tray. The material sets and becomes an elastic solid, and when removed from the mouth, retains the shape of the teeth. Impressions are used for construction of study models, Invisalgin, aligners, retainers, and various other orthodontic appliances.
Intraoral: Occurring within the mouth.
Laser: This technology of selected light beam wavelength allows Dr. Beck to selectively remove the excess gingival tissue with minimal bleeding. A topical anesthetic is used for the procedure.
Lingual braces: Appliances with brackets and archwires attached to the inside of the teeth.
MtoM corrector: An intraoral cemented appliance used instead of headgear and/or rubber bands. It is similar to the Herbst appliance but smaller.
Mouth guards: A removable protective device used in the mouth that covers the teeth and gums to prevent and reduce injury to the teeth, bony arches, lips, gums and any orthodontic appliance. Most often, orthodontic mouth guards are worn to prevent injury from sports and treatment for bruxism (unconsciously grinding the teeth).
Orthognathic surgery: Surgery to alter relationships of the teeth and /or supporting bones usually accomplished in conjunction with orthodontic therapy.
Palatal expanders: Intraoral cemented appliances used to widen the upper jaw. This appliance can correct a crossbite.
Panoramic x-ray: An x-ray that rotates around the head to take a picture of the teeth, jaw and other bony structures.
Retainers: Orthodontic appliances worn after the braces are removed. The orthodontic retainers hold the upper and lower teeth in their corrected positions. Some retainers are removable and others are bonded to the inside of the teeth.
Separators: An elastic ring placed between the molars used to create space prior to placement of the braces.
Study Models: Plaster or stone model of teeth and adjoining tissues; also referred to as diagnostic casts.
Temporary Anchorage Devices (TADs): Miniscrews placed into the jaw bone used to facilitate tooth movement and replace headgear.
TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint): The joint where the lower jaw and upper jaw meet. It consists of bone, ligaments and a fibrous disc.