Fixed
Fixed orthodontic appliances include brackets, bands and wires association with dental braces. Brackets used in orthodontic braces consist of either metal, ceramic or plastic. Metal teeth braces may be silver or gold tinted depending on the patient preference. Ceramic brackets used for orthodontics braces are general clear or tooth-colored and opted for by patients who are concerned with the visibility of braces (such as adult dental orthodontics patients).
Other fixed orthodontic appliances apart from these types of braces include Pendex appliances, Distal jet appliances, coil springs, Forsus springs and Jasper jumpers (used in lieu of elastics). Lip bumpers may be used by an orthodontist to correct lower arch crowding.
An orthodontics dentist may also choose to use fixed devices that hold certain teeth in place while others are shifted, appliances such as lingual holding arches, Nance appliances and transpalatal arches. A quad helix is a dental appliance used for orthodontics and dentofacial orthodopedics.
Employed by an orthodontist to widen the upper jaw, palatal expanders include the Hyrax and Haas expanders. Functional appliances that normalize growth disparity between the upper and lower jaw include the Herbst appliance, twin block and Mara appliance, worn for long spans of time.