Connecting Heads

Orthodontic Terminology

Orthodontic terminology

Aligners                     Clear plastic which gradually “mould” the teeth into place. Suitable for mild cases.

Appliances                  Removable, Functional & Fixed

Cross-bite                   Posterior cross-bite  causes a lateral displacement

Crowding                     Usually caused by underdevelopment of the dental arches

May also be caused by early extraction of deciduous teeth

Delayed eruption         Teeth should erupt in pairs and within 6 months of each other

Dental arches                Should be Roman not Gothic in shape

Dento-Facial Orthopaedics/Functional Orthodontics  Alignment of the bones & muscles as well as teeth

Displacement               Lower jaw displaces to one side on closure – centre lines are not coincident

Malocclusion               Teeth and/or jaws are misaligned

Occlusion                      The way the teeth bite together

Class I                          Ideal – bones, muscles & teeth in balance

Class II                      Lower jaw is set back – retrognathic

Div  1                 Upper central incisors protrude

Div  2                Upper central incisors are retroclined

Class III                    Upper jaw is under developed – anterior cross-bite

Overbite                     Vertical dimension – usually closed

Orthodontics             Tends to be tooth alignment only

Open bite                    Often associated with a thumb or tongue habit

Overjet                         Horizontal or AP dimension – col. “underbite”

Retainers                     Removable or Fixed (usually only in the lower)

Spacing                        Upper midline diastema  – missing / extra teeth / thick fraenum

Splint                            Usually fitted in the lower to position the jaw forward