Glossary

Aligner

A brace where the teeth are moved by a series of clear plastic aligners, each of which moves the teeth incrementally and gradually towards the intended goal. Not as powerful or as versatile as fixed “appliances.

Appliance
An item used to move teeth. It may be removable or may be fixed to the teeth, or may be a combination of both.

Archwire
A wire that is used as part of a fixed appliance, or fixed brace. It is usually made of metal and is designed to line the teeth into a pleasing arrangement.

Band
A metal ring that is placed around a tooth as part of a fixed brace. Performs essentially the same purpose as a bracket but surrounds the tooth.

Biteplane
Similar to a biteramp. Usually used to unlock the bite. May be part of a removable brace or be added to a fixed brace.

Biteramp
Similar to a biteblock, but used to unlock the bite AND direct the teeth. May be part of a removable brace or be added to a fixed brace.

Bonding
The process of placing brackets on a tooth.

Brace
An appliance used to move teeth. It may be removable or fixed, or a combination of both.

Bracket
A component of a fixed brace, stuck to an individual tooth. May be stuck on the inside or the outside of the tooth. Performs essentially the same purpose as a band but does not surround the tooth.

Cephalometric X-ray
An Orthodontic profile X-ray taken to assess the relative sizes, positions and angles of the upper & lower jaws and their respective teeth.

Crossbite
Where an upper tooth bites inside a lower tooth.

Crowding
Where there are too many teeth for the space available in the mouth.

Deepbite
When the overbite is excessive.

Elastics
Usually made of latex,and used to move the teeth. May be placed between the upper & lower jaws, in which case they are usually removable & changed by the patient.

Expander
A device used to widen the jaw, usually the upper jaw. May be incorporated as part of a removable appliance, or may be stuck directly to the teeth using fixed bands.

Functional Brace
A brace that may be fixed, removable or a combination. It is used usually in growing patients only and utilises the forces generated by the patient’s own muscles to perform its function.

Impressions
A means of getting a permanent record of the teeth. A soft material is placed around the teeth, is then allowed to set over a period of 1-2 minutes, then sent to the laboratory where a set of permanent models are made.

Implant
An orthodontic implant is a small metal screw, that is screwed into the bone to allow a force to be applied while keeping it free of other teeth. It is usually placed for only a few months. Also known as a Temporary Anchorage device (TAD ) or as a Bone Anchorage device ( BAD ).

Lingual Braces
A type of fixed braces where brackets are placed on the tongue side of the teeth.

Malocclusion
A general term for poor alignment of teeth or jaws. May be due to any combination of spacing, crowding or poor bone relationships.

Malocclusion
– Class I malocclusion Where the upper and lower jaws are well balanced but the teeth are crowded or spaced.

Malocclusion
– Class 2 malocclusion Where the upper jaw is relatively far forwards compared to the lower jaw. Crowding or spacing of the teeth may be superimposed on this adverse jaw relationship.

Malocclusion
– Class 3 malocclusion Where the lower jaw is relatively far forwards compared to the upper jaw. Crowding or spacing of the teeth may be superimposed on this adverse jaw relationship.

Openbite
When there is a gap between the upper and lower teeth when the back teeth are biting together.

Overbite
The vertical overlap of the upper front teeth over the lower front teeth.

Overjet
The horizontal distance between the upper and lower front teeth – i.e. how far forwards the upper incisors are.

Panoramic X-ray
An X-ray that usually shows all the teeth in the mouth on one X-ray film.

Removable Brace
A brace that can be removed by the patient. Usually composed of wires to move the teeth, clasps to hold the brace in the mouth and a plastic plate to hold it all together. Not as powerful or as versatile as fixed appliances.

Retainer
A brace that is used to keep the teeth straight after treatment has been completed. It may be stuck on or be removable. A common misuse of this term is to confuse it with a removable brace.

Separator

An item placed between back teeth to create a small, less than 1mm, space. This space then allows placement of a band at a subsequent appointment. It is usually made of rubber.

Six Month Brace
A type of fixed brace that is designed to line up the front six teeth in a short period of time. Does not aim to treat any underlying bite problems.

Study Models
A record of the teeth. Commonly made of plaster, but recently digital versions have been developed.

Twin Block
An example of a functional brace.

Wisdom teeth
The third molars in a patient’s mouth. Usually begin to erupt in the late ‘teens or early 20’s. Sometimes the require removal and sometimes they do not develop at all.

 

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