Orthodontic Assistant Terminology
Cephalometric (Ceph)
(mainly used in orthodontic offices) used to improve patients profile identifies the jaw relationship & growth patterns
lip incompetence
- Inability of the lips to close -mouth, with lips apart, at resting posture -Patients frequently mask LI by forcing the mouth to close. -Problems include mouth breathing and dry mouth.
Arch wire
A metal wire which is attached to your brackets to move your teeth
Power Chain/Orthodontic Chain
A stretchable plastic chain used to hold archwires into brackets to move teeth and consolidate space
Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT)
A three-dimensional digital imaging method that uses a cone-shaped beam of radiation that rotates around the patient.
Orthodontic Ligatures
A tiny rubber band, or sometimes a very thin wire, that holds the orthodontic wire in the bracket slot/brace.
O-ring
A tiny, o-shaped rubber band that is used as a ligature and holds the arch wire to bracket slots. O
Invisalign attachments
Adhesive in varies shapes and sizes, used to help anchor the aligners to the teeth and used for tooth movement during treatment.
Comprehensive Orthodontic Treatment
Complete orthodontic treatment performed to correct a malocclusion
maxillary labial frenum
Connects upper jaw structures
Supernumerary teeth
Development of one or more extra teeth
Self-Ligating Brackets
Does not require ligature ties; instead, the bracket has a slot that opens for placement and removal of the arch wire
Rubberbands/Elastics
Elastics used to help with bite correction.
Serial extraction
Extraction of selected teeth over a period of time.
Overjet
Horizontal projection of upper teeth over the lower.
Phase 1 Orthodontic Treatment
Interceptive treatment typically started to create orthopedic correction or a developing problem. Patients usually has a mixture of primary and permanent teeth.
Open bite (anterior)
No incisal contact between the maxillary and mandibular teeth
enameloplasty
Reshaping of occlusal or incisal surfaces of teeth
Expose and Bond
Surgical procedure used to expose an impacted tooth and a bracket with a chain is bonded to the tooth. The chain is used for an orthodontists to attach the chain to the wire and bring the tooth into the arch.
Phase 2 Orthodontic Treatment
The second phase of orthodontic treatment if the patient has completed phase 1. This treatment is to correct bite and aesthetics for full treatment of permanent teeth.
Lingual
The tongue side of the teeth in both jaws.
Separators (spacers)
Used to create space between teeth to place appliances.
Rapid Palatal Expander (RPE)
Used to widen palate
Overbite
Vertical projection of upper teeth over lower teeth
tongue thrust
a pattern of deviant or reverse swallow in which the tongue pushes against the teeth
Recontouring
a procedure in which small amounts of tooth enamel are removed to change a tooth's length, shape, or surface. Also called odontoplasty, enameloplasty, stripping, or slenderizing.
Impacted tooth
a tooth that is prevented from erupting normally because of its position
facial
another term for buccal
class 1 malocclusion
normal orientation of molars; abnormal orientation of incisors
lateral open bite
only one side of the dental arch is unable to meet
Panorex (PAN)
general overview of the mouth. best view of the wisdom teeth and used to identify eruption patterns.
lingual frenulum (frenum)
joins the inferior surface of the tongue and the mandible, stabilizing the tongue during the movement
Mandible
lower jaw
class 2 malocclusion
mandible is shorter than maxilla
posterior crossbite
mandibular teeth are outside of the maxillary teeth on the posterior teeth
Crossbite anterior
maxillary incisors are lingual to the mandibular incisors
dental occlusion
relationship of upper dental arch to lower dental arch when teeth come together
class 3 malocclusion
relatively protruded mandible (underbite)
decalcification
removal of calcium from bones
Maxilla
upper jaw
Malocclusion
upper or lower dental arches out of alignment
Space maintainer
Appliance used to keep space open until permanent tooth erupts
Arch
Pertaining to the maxilla or mandible
Protrusion of the mandible
bringing forward of the lower jaw
Buccal
pertaining to the cheek area
Bruxism
the involuntary grinding or clenching of the teeth that usually occurs during sleep and is associated with tension or stress
ectopic eruption
this occurs when a tooth erupts outside of the typical path of eruption; may need to intervene and remove primary teeth to allow permanent teeth to go into the right position
Posterior
toward the back
Anterior
toward the front