FlashKeepers

Dental Hygiene · Dental Assistant

Dental Assisting: Orthodontic Basics

Orthodontic appliance types, chairside assisting steps, and basic bracket and wire terminology for dental assistants.

35 cards · basic cards · AI-written, checked twice. Edit anything.

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What is the purpose of orthodontic treatment?
To correct misaligned teeth and jaws
What is an orthodontic bracket?
A small attachment bonded to a tooth that holds the archwire
What is an archwire?
A wire that connects the brackets and applies force to move teeth
What is a ligature in orthodontics?
A small wire or elastic that holds the archwire in the bracket slot
What is an elastomeric tie?
A small colored rubber ring used to hold the archwire in the bracket
What is an orthodontic band?
A metal ring cemented around a molar to anchor an appliance
What is a buccal tube?
A small metal tube on a band or bracket that holds the end of the archwire
What is an orthodontic separator (spacer)?
A small elastic or metal ring placed between teeth to create space before banding
Which type of archwire is commonly used early in treatment because it is flexible?
Nickel-titanium (NiTi) wire
Which type of archwire is typically used later in treatment for finishing tooth position?
Stainless steel wire
What is a power chain?
A connected series of elastomeric rings used to close spaces between teeth
What are orthodontic elastics (rubber bands) used for?
Worn by the patient between the upper and lower arches to correct bite alignment
What is a hook on a bracket or archwire used for?
Attaching elastics
What is the bracket slot?
The groove in a bracket that holds the archwire
What is torque in orthodontic terminology?
A rotational force applied to move a tooth root

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