A closed coil spring is an orthodontic spring made from a tightly wound metal coil with no intentional gaps between turns. It is commonly placed on a braces wire (archwire) between teeth to apply a controlled pulling force. Dentists and orthodontists use it most often to close spaces or bring teeth closer together. It may be made from stainless steel or nickel-titanium, depending on the desired force behavior.

elastic chain is a stretchy, linked band used in orthodontics to move teeth. It is usually made from an elastomer (commonly polyurethane) and comes in strips of connected “loops.” It is most often attached to braces brackets or hooks to help close spaces or fine-tune tooth positions. In simple terms, it works like a small, continuous rubber band that can pull teeth together.

power chain is a connected strip of small elastic rings used in orthodontics. It is most commonly placed on braces to help move teeth and close small spaces. It works by applying a continuous pulling force across multiple brackets. Clinicians may also use it to stabilize tooth positions during certain stages of treatment.

cross elastics are small orthodontic rubber bands used to guide teeth or jaws into a better side-to-side (transverse) relationship. They are typically worn between an upper tooth and a lower tooth, “crossing” the bite. They are most commonly used with braces or clear aligners when correcting certain types of crossbite. They work by applying light, continuous force to encourage controlled tooth movement over time.

vertical elastics are small orthodontic rubber bands worn between the upper and lower teeth. They are commonly used with braces and sometimes with clear aligners that have elastic hooks or attachments. Their plain purpose is to help the top and bottom teeth “meet” more evenly when biting together. They are most often used during the finishing stages of orthodontic treatment to refine the bite.

Class III elastics are small orthodontic rubber bands worn between upper and lower teeth to help correct a Class III bite relationship (often described as an “underbite” tendency). They are most commonly used with braces or clear aligners, attaching to hooks, buttons, or precision cuts. Their job is to apply a gentle, continuous pulling force in a specific direction (a “force vector”). The exact elastic size and wear plan varies by clinician and case.

Class II elastics are small orthodontic rubber bands worn between the upper and lower teeth. They are commonly used with braces or clear aligners to help correct a “Class II” bite relationship. In plain terms, they guide the upper and lower teeth (and sometimes the jaws) toward a better fit. They are typically hooked from an upper canine area to a lower molar area, depending on the plan.

interarch elastics are small orthodontic rubber bands that connect the upper and lower teeth. They are commonly used with braces or clear aligners to help guide how the jaws and teeth fit together. They attach to hooks, buttons, or cutouts on orthodontic appliances to apply gentle pulling forces. Their main role is to refine the bite relationship during orthodontic treatment.

rubber bands are small elastic loops used in dentistry to apply gentle, controlled force or to hold components in place. They are most commonly associated with orthodontics (braces and some aligner systems). They can also be used for short-term tasks like creating space between teeth or stabilizing orthodontic parts.

elastics are small, stretchy polymer bands used in orthodontics to apply controlled forces to teeth and jaws. They are commonly worn with braces or clear aligners by hooking onto attachments in the mouth. Their main role is to guide tooth movement and bite correction by pulling in specific directions. They may also be used in related forms (like elastic chains) to help close spaces or maintain tension.