Archwire

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A narrow, metallic wire utilized in orthodontic treatment to apply pressure on brackets
2. A slim wire made of metal that is used to adjust and align teeth during orthodontic procedures
3. A small, flexible metallic strand employed to exert force on dental braces to correct tooth position

Etymology: "Arch" in "archwire" is the same "arch" as in the curved shape of a bridge or a doorway, and the wire takes its name from the bow it forms. In orthodontics, an archwire is a length of wire fitted across the brackets on a row of teeth, where it is bent into a gentle curve that follows the shape of the dental arch, the horseshoe-shaped line of the upper or lower jaw. Tightening or changing that curve is what gradually moves the teeth. The word is a simple compound: "arch" joined to "wire," with no deeper history behind the pairing. Its meaning comes straight from the object, so the term describes exactly what the device is, a wire shaped into the arch of the mouth.

Synonyms: wire, brace, band, support, connector