Not sure what all of the different parts of your braces are called? Our detailed braces diagram shows you everything from brackets and wires to coil springs.

Archwire – The archwire is the main wire that acts as a track to guide the teeth along. It is changed periodically throughout treatment as teeth move into their correct positions.

Band – The band is a thin ring of metal fitted around a tooth and cemented in place. The band provides a way for the orthodontist to attach the brackets to the tooth.

Bracket – The bracket is a 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.

Coil Spring – The coil spring fits between brackets and over the archwire in order to open space between the teeth.

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

Elastic Tie – The elastic tie is a tiny rubber band that fits around the bracket in order to hold the archwire in place.

Headgear Tube – The headgear tube is a round, hollow attachment on the posterior (back) bands. the inner bow of the headgear fits into it.

Hook – The hook is a welded or removable arm that is used to attach (or “hook”) the elastic rubber bands.

Loop in Archwire – The loop in the archwire is frequently used for closing the space left by a tooth extraction. Many archwires, however, do not have a loop.

Tie Wire – The tie wire is a fine wire that is twisted around the bracket to hold the archwire in place.