Braces 101 with Parker Orthodontics

If you sustain any damage to your braces and need to call Parker Orthodontics, we can help you more effectively if you can tell us exactly which piece is in trouble! Here’s a handy diagram and corresponding list of all the parts that make up your braces.


Elastic Tie: Tiny rubber band that fits around the bracket to hold the archwire in place.

Archwire: The main wire that acts as a track to guide the teeth along. It's changed periodically throughout treatment, as teeth move to their new positions.

Loop in Archwire: Frequently used for closing space left by an extraction. Many archwires don't have a loop.

Bracket: Small attachment that holds the archwire in place. Most often, a bracket is cemented directly onto the tooth's surface, eliminating the need for a band.

Headgear Tube: Round, hollow attachment on the back bands. The inner bow of the headgear fits into it.

Coil Spring: Fits between brackets and over archwire to open space between teeth.

Tie Wire: Fine wire that is twisted around the bracket to hold the archwire in place.

Band: A thin ring of metal fitted around a tooth and cemented in place. The band provides a way to attach the brackets to the tooth.

Hook: Welded or removable arm to which elastics (rubber bands) are attached.

Elastic (Rubber Band): Small rubber band that is hooked between different points on the appliance to provide pressure to move the teeth.

Hope this helps! Give us a call if you have any questions!

Parker Orthodontics is helping Mountain View Elementary “Win a $100,000 Green School Makeover”

Robyn, a Parker Orthodontics patient, recently asked us if we were interested in helping Mountain View Elementary compete for a “$100,000 Green School Makeover.” Dr. Jeffrey Collins and the entire Parker Orthodontics team are proud to support Mountain View Elementary in this pursuit.

The school is trying to collect the most empty drinking containers and bottles with UPC codes. They must be non-alcoholic containers and please NO GLASS. Please help support Mountain View Elementary by bringing in your empty containers to our office, we will be collecting them until the end of March.

Here are some examples of what you can bring:
Monster cans, Rock Star cans, Red Bull cans, Starbucks cans, Gatorade bottles, water bottles, and anything else that fits the guidelines above.

Thank you for your participation in advance! Please visit the “Help Mountain View win a 100k Green School Makeover” Facebook Page and the Dream Machine Recycle Rally Website to learn more about this journey.

Getting braces, all the cool kids are doing it!

Braces today are “cool” and—many would say—even “fun.” These were among the findings of a 2010 nationwide survey of moms whose children are going through or have had orthodontic treatment. New technologies such as In-Ovation and the Damon System, advanced computer software, color options, and even popular celebrities—Tom Cruise, Dakota Fanning, Danny Glover, Serena Williams—sporting stylish braces are making orthodontic treatment more comfortable, fashionable and cool for today’s teens.

The study, conducted on behalf of our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists for February’s National Children’s Dental Health Month, found 86 percent of moms reporting that braces are cooler today than when they were children. Sixty-nine percent of moms also said wearing braces makes their children feel cool, and 81 percent reported their children’s experience with orthodontic treatment as either positive or extremely positive.

Different color options and the ability to change colors, for example, provide exciting ways for young patients to customize appearances. That enthusiasm helps them to feel good about their orthodontic treatment with Dr. Jeff Collins, and may contribute to the success of treatment.

Has your child or teen visited Parker Orthodontics for a consultation? If not, please give us a call and let us help your child begin the journey to a gorgeous smile!

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month, from Parker Orthodontics

Each February for the past 61years, the American Dental Association (ADA) has sponsored National Children's Dental Health Month to raise awareness about the importance of oral health. Developing good habits at an early age and scheduling regular dental visits helps children get a good start on a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.

For kids wearing braces, brushing and flossing can become more difficult, requiring extra time and vigilance to remove food particles that accumulate on and between the teeth and in braces.

If the health of your teeth is ignored during treatment with braces, the results can be significantly compromised. Dr. Jeff Collins is available and happy to explain why effective brushing and flossing is one of the most critical actions needed from patients during orthodontic treatment. Have you visited us lately? Give us a call and schedule an appointment!