Facebow The part of the headgear that connects the outside part to the brace inside the mouth.

Fixed Brace A brace that is stuck to the teeth. Usually composed of an archwire and a combination of brackets, tubes and bands to enable the force of the archwire to be applied to the teeth.

Frankel An example of a functional brace.

Functional Brace A brace that may be fixed, removable or a combination. It is used usually in growing patients only and utilises the forces generated by the patient’s own muscles to perform its function.

Headgear An addition to a brace, which extends around the back of the  head and applies a backward force to the, usually, upper teeth.

Herbst A form of functional appliance but one that is fixed.

Impressions A means of getting a permanent record of the teeth. A soft material is placed around the teeth, is then allowed to set over a period of 1-2 minutes, then sent to the laboratory where a set of permanent models are made.

Implant An orthodontic implant is a small metal screw, that is screwed into the bone to allow a force to be applied while keeping it free of other teeth. It is usually placed for only a few months. Also known as a Temporary Anchorage device (TAD ) or as a Bone Anchorage device ( BAD ).

Incisal Edge The sharp, cutting edge of a font, or incisor, tooth.

Incisor Teeth at the front of the mouth. Usually there are 2 incisors on each side, and in both jaws, so the average person has eight incisors overall.

Incognito An example of lingual braces.

Indirect Bonding A bonding process, where the brackets are placed on a plaster model of the patients teeth in a laboratory setting, before transferred to the patient’s mouth and stuck on the natural teeth using the chosen adhesive.

Invisalign An example of clear aligners.