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Dentistry vocabulary · Orthodontics

Braces

Meaning in dentistry, with examples

/ˈbreɪsɪz/nounCore term

In dentistry, braces means: A fixed orthodontic appliance made of small brackets glued to the teeth and joined by a wire, which slowly moves the teeth into better positions.

In Turkish: diş teli, sabit ortodontik aparey, braket tedavisi

How it is used

Patients get braces, wear them and have them taken off. Orthodontists more often say fixed appliance. Ceramic braces are tooth-colored, and lingual braces are fixed to the back of the teeth.

Example sentences

  1. She'll need to wear braces for about eighteen months.

  2. Food gets stuck in my braces after every meal.

Common collocations

  • wear braces
  • get braces
  • have braces taken off
  • ceramic braces
  • fixed braces
  • malocclusionA problem with the way the teeth meet or line up, such as crowding, gaps, a deep overbite or an underbite. It is the main reason for orthodontic treatment.
  • retainerAn appliance used after braces or aligners to keep the teeth in their new positions. It can be removable, or a thin wire bonded behind the front teeth.
  • clear alignerOne of a series of thin, transparent plastic trays made to fit the teeth closely. Each tray moves the teeth slightly, and the patient changes to the next one every week or two.
  • crowdingA lack of space in the jaw for all the teeth to line up straight, so that they overlap, twist or are pushed out of the arch.

More terms: Orthodontics

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.