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