Orthodontic supplies are tools that are used to help straighten teeth, prepare the teeth and mouth for braces, and support the braces process. Removable orthodontic supplies can be removed from the mouth because they don't attach to teeth. They are customized to fit into the mouth to aid in orthodontic treatment. While fixed orthodontic supplies/appliances are the most commonly used appliances for orthodontic treatment in use today. As the name suggests they are bonded to the teeth and are not removable by the patients.
The most common type of fixed appliance is traditional dental braces, which are bonded to individual teeth and linked by an archwire. Four types of wires are used by orthodontists, such as austenitic stainless steel, beta-titanium, cobalt-chromium-nickel, and nickel-titanium. The wires have different uses during orthodontic treatment based on their physical properties.