Reno, Sparks, & Carson City orthodontists, Dr. Larkin, Dr. Lloyd, Dr. Mungcal, and the entire team at Legendary Smiles are dedicated to helping patients achieve beautiful smiles with the latest in orthodontic care.
Staying on top of the latest advancements in technology and only offering our patients options that have been proven to help patients and justify their costs. From braces to Invisalign and more, we have the most effective orthodontic solution for any orthodontic problem you might encounter.
Beyond that, our entire team believes that it is important that each of our patients is well educated, not only on their specific treatment plan, but also in the basics of orthodontics. Below, you will find information regarding treatments, common orthodontic problems, appliances and other basic orthodontic terms.
Archwire
An archwire is affixed to the brackets in order to connect two or more teeth and help move and guide the teeth into their ideal positions.
Band (orthodontic)
A band is a thin stainless steel ring that secures orthodontic attachments to a tooth. The band is created to fit the contours of the tooth and then cemented into place.
Bracket
Orthodontic brackets are made of metal, ceramic or plastic material. They are attached to a tooth (by bonding or banding) and help the archwire move teeth into their new positions.
Ceramic Brackets
Ceramic brackets are crystalline, alumina, tooth-shade or clear synthetic sapphire brackets which are aesthetically more attractive than traditional metal attachments.
Crowding
Crowding is a dental mal-alignment caused by inadequate space for the teeth.
Debanding
Debanding is the process of removing cemented orthodontic bands.
Elastics (rubber bands)
Elastics are used to move teeth in prescribed directions (commonly connected to molar band and upper ball hook) and are offered in standard and/or expressive colors to reflect your unique personality.
Gingiva
Gingiva is the tissue that surrounds the teeth. It consists of a fibrous tissue that is continuous with the periodontal ligament and mucosal covering.
Headgear
Headgear is a generic term referring to the extraoral traction (attached around the back side of the head) for growth modification, tooth movement and anchorage.
Imaging
Imaging is the process of acquiring representations of structures in either two or three dimensions.
Lingual
Lingual is a term used when referring to the tongue or to describe surfaces and directions toward the tongue.
Lingual Appliances
Lingual appliances are orthodontic appliances that are fixed to the lingual surface of the teeth.
Maxillary
Maxillary is used when referring to the upper jaw. It can also be used to describe teeth, dental restorations, orthodontic appliances, or facial structures.
Orthodontist
An orthodontist is a dental specialist who has completed an advanced post-doctoral course, accredited by the American Dental Association, of at least two academic years in the area of orthodontics.
Orthognathic Surgery
Orthognathic surgery alters the relationships of teeth and/or supporting bones and is usually accomplished in conjunction with orthodontic therapy.
Overbite
An overbite is a vertical overlapping of the upper teeth over the lower teeth and is measured perpendicular to the occlusal plane.
Radiograph
A radiograph is a permanent image, performed digitally in our orthodontic office and is produced by ionizing radiation. Sometimes called an X-ray after the most common source of image-producing radiation.
Retainer
A retainer is any orthodontic appliance, fixed or removable, that is used to maintain the position of the teeth following corrective orthodontic treatment.
Retention
Retention is the passive treatment period following active orthodontic correction during which retaining appliances may be used, like a retainer.
Straight Wire Appliance
A straight wire appliance is a variation of the edgewise appliance in which brackets are angulated to minimize multiple archwire bends. Brackets and molar tubes have specific orientation in three planes of space.
Contact Legendary Smiles Today!
Thank you for choosing Legendary Smiles for your orthodontic needs. We hope you found the information above very helpful. If you have more questions about specific treatments or our practice, please feel free to contact us and we will gladly address them. We are also happy to schedule an appointment for you at that time as well. We look forward to seeing you in our office soon!