(303) 427-6300

Douglas County Orthodontics

9227 E. Lincoln Avenue, Suite 100
Lone Tree, Colorado 80124

562 Castle Pines Parkway, Suite C-8
Castle Rock, Colorado 80108

photo of a smiling teenage girl with braces

Speak the "Language"

Parts of Braces

Appliance: A generic term used to refer to anything your orthodontist uses to move your teeth or change the shape of your jaw.








Headgear: (Dr. Hamersky does not use Headgears in his treatments) Headgear uses an external wire apparatus known as a facebow to gently guide the growth of your face and jaw by moving your teeth into proper position. The force is applied to the facebow by a spring-loaded neck strap or head strap. The straps have a safety release that disconnects if the facebow is pulled or snagged.

Hook: A welded or removable arm or bent wire to which elastics are attached.

Ligature: A thin wire that is twisted around your bracket or brace to hold your archwire in place.

Lip Bumper: (Dr. Hamersky does not use Lip Bumpers in his treatment) A lip bumper is an archwire attached to a molded piece of plastic. The lip bumper holds back the molars on your lower jaw by pushing against your lips to provide more space for your other teeth.


Expander Appliance: A device that is used to enhance the natural size of the jaws or curve of the teeth. They come in many different designs and types of expansion that is done.

Retainer: An appliance that is worn after your braces are removed to maintain the new positions of the teeth. They can be clear or made from wires as well as either removable or fixed into position all depending on your specific needs.

Separator (or Spacer): A small rubber ring that creates space between your teeth before a band can be properly placed.


Wax Soft: sticky wax is used to temporarily cover braces if they are irritating your lips.

Orthodontic Procedures







Impressions: The process of making mold of your teeth by biting into a soft material that retains the shapes of your teeth. This mold is then used to create plaster models of your mouth used in diagnosis and laboratory production of appliances.


Ligation: The process of twisting or attaching a wire around or though the brackets on your teeth.


Orthodontic Website
by Sesame Design™



Site Map