braces, dental

braces, dental Devices used by orthodontists to move the position teeth or adjust underlying bone. Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) problems can also sometimes be corrected with dental braces. Teeth can be moved by removable appliances or by fixed braces. If there is crowding of teeth, some teeth may need to be extracted before braces are applied. Retainers may be necessary long after dental braces are placed, especially in orthodontic treatment of adults.