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Orthodontics is the specialty of dentistry
concerned with the supervision, guidance and correction of the growing or mature
dentofacial structures, including those conditions that require movement of
teeth or correction of malrelationships and malformations of their related
structures and the adjustment of relationships between and among teeth and
facial bones by the application of forces and/or the stimulation and redirection
of functional forces within the craniofacial complex. Dr. Ganzkow is
proud to be a preferred
Invisalign dentist.
Orthodontic Terms
ARCHFORM - the shape of the dental arch
CLOSED BITE - Or deep bite. A malocclusion where your upper teeth
completely cover your lower teeth when you bite down.
CROSSBITE - A malocclusion where some of your upper teeth are positioned
lingually (inside of) to your lower teeth.
CROWDING - An orthodontic problem caused by having too many teeth in too
small of a space.
CROWN ANGULATION - a tooth movement in which the root of the tooth is
tipped forward or backward to correct the angle of the crown.
CROWN INCLINATION - a tooth movement in which the root of the tooth is
tipped toward cheeks (lips) or toward the lingual (palate) of the mouth.
DEEP BITE - excessive overbite, or closed bite.
DRIFT - Movement of teeth into an opening (ie., extraction site).
EXTRUSION - Tooth movement in the direction of eruption. Natural
extrusion: all teeth will continue to erupt into the mouth until there is
contact with an opposing tooth.
MECHANICAL EXTRUSION - the use of orthodontics to apply force on a tooth
in the direction of eruption.
FIXED APPLIANCE - any orthodontic component that is cemented or bonded to
the teeth.
FLARED TEETH - A term used to indicate the position of the teeth. The
upper teeth are flared lingually (toward the lip).
INCLINATION - the angle of the long axis of a tooth from a particular
line of reference; the tilt or tip of a tooth.
INTERPROXIMAL STRIPPING - reduction of the enamel between teeth; used to
create space for the movement of crowded teeth.
INTRUSION - The movement of a tooth into bone.
LINGUAL APPLIANCES - An orthodontic appliance fixed to the tongue side
(inside) of your teeth.
LINGUAL ARCH - An orthodontic wire attached from molar to molar on the
inside of your teeth.
MALOCCLUSION - Poor positioning of teeth.
MALOCCLUSION, CLASS I - A Malocclusion where your bite is OK (your
top teeth line up with your bottom teeth) but one or more of your teeth may be
slightly rotated, crowded, or out of alignment.
MALOCCLUSION, CLASS II - A Malocclusion where your upper front teeth
stick out past your lower teeth; also known as "overbite" or "buck teeth."
MALOCCLUSION, CLASS III - A Malocclusion where your lower teeth
stick out past your upper teeth; also known as an "under bite".
OPEN BITE - A malocclusion in which the teeth do not completely close or
come together in the front of your mouth.
ORTHODONTIA - Braces
OVERBITE - The vertical overlapping of the upper teeth over the lower.
OVERJET- The horizontal projection of upper teeth beyond the lower.
RETRUDED - A term used to describe the situation where the incisal
surface if a tooth is angled towards the lingual or palatal (towards the back of
your mouth.)
ROTATION - Any rotational movement along a tooth's long axis.
SPEE, CURVE OF - The natural curvature of the occlusal plane.
STOP - A bend or auxiliary attachment placed on a wire to prevent the
archwire from sliding or moving in the slot of the bracket.
TIPPING - A tooth movement in which the root of the tooth is tipped
labially (lip) or lingually (tongue) to correct the angle of the crown of the
tooth.
TORQUE - A type of force used in the rotation of a tooth
TRACTION - the act of pulling or drawing the teeth.
TRANSLATION - Movement in which the entire tooth moves forward or
backward without tipping or rotating.
TYPODONT - A plastic model of a typical mouth, showing the alignment of
teeth; typically used for teaching purposes.
Orthodontic Procedures
ACID ETCHING - A procedure whereby a mild acid is applied to your teeth to
prepare them for bonding (bracket cementation.)
BONDING - the process of cementing orthodontic bands & brackets to your
teeth.
CEPHALOMETRIC X-RAYS - An x-ray of the head that shows whether your teeth
are arranged in the proper alignment, and whether they are growing properly.
DEBANDING - The removal of cemented orthodontic bands.
DEBONDING - The removal of the brackets from your teeth
EXTRAORAL PHOTOGRAPHS - facial photographs
IMPRESSIONS - The first step in making models of your teeth. You bite
into a tray filled with an impression material (such as alginate), within a few
minutes the material will harden accurately recording the shape and position of
your teeth.
INVISALIGN - Invisalign treatment will
consist of a series of aligners that you switch out about every two weeks. Each
aligner is individually manufactured with exact calculations to gradually shift
your teeth into place.
INTERCEPTIVE ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT - Orthodontic treatment that is
usually initiated around the ages of 6 to 8. The objective of interceptive
orthodontic treatment is to expand your palate and make other corrections, so
that your later orthodontic treatment goes quicker and is less painful.
LIGATION - The process of attaching an archwire to the brackets on your
teeth.
TIGHTENING YOUR BRACES - A process which occurs every 2 to 6 weeks while
in the active phase of orthodontia.
WAX BITE - A procedure used to illustrate how well your teeth come
together.
Orthodontic Appliances
APPLIANCE - Anything the orthodontist attaches to your teeth to move them or
to change the shape of your jaw
ARCH WIRE - A metal wire which is attached to brackets (cemented on the
teeth). These act as a guide or track along which teeth are to be moved. They
are changed throughout treatment.
BAND - These are thin bangs of metal, carefully fitted to the tooth and
then cemented in place. They carry brackets, tubes, or rotating levers (in other
words, they become a handle on your tooth.) They give the orthodontist a means
of grasping and controlling each individual tooth.
BRACKET - A metal or ceramic appliance that is cemented to your teeth and
serves as a means of fastening the arch wire. Once treatment has been completed,
the brackets are removed and the tooth surface polished free of cementing
materials.
BREAKAWAY - A small plastic piece with an internal spring used to provide
force in a facebow.
BUCCAL TUBE - A small metal appliance containing a slots to hold archwires,
lip bumpers, facebows, etc. involved in the movement of teeth.
CHAIN, ORTHODONTIC - A stretchable plastic chain used to hold archwires
into brackets and to move teeth.
FACEBOW, HEADGEAR - Facebows are wire apparatus used to move your upper
molars back in your mouth which creates room for crowded or protrusive anterior
teeth. Generally, the facebow consists of two metal parts which have been
attached together. The inner part is shaped like a horseshoe. This part goes in
your mouth and is connected to your buccal tubes. The outer part has two curves.
The curves go around your face, and connect to the breakaways or high pull
headgear. To properly use the product, the inner bow needs to be inserted into
your buccal tubes. An elastic neck band is placed around the back of the neck
while the triangular cast offs on both sides of neck band are attached to the
outer bow of the headgear. Completing the apparatus is a plastic safety strap
that is placed over the neck band and onto the outer bow of the headgear.
LIGATING MODULE - A small plastic piece, shaped like a donut, which is
used to hold the arch wires in the brackets on your teeth.
LIP BUMPER - Used to push the molars in the lower jaw back to create
space for other teeth. The lip bumper consists of an arch wire which is attached
to a molded piece of plastic. You mount the arch wire in the buccal tubes on
your lower jaw, and plastic piece rests against your lips. When you eat or talk,
you push the plastic piece back which pushes on your molars, in turn, pushing
the molars back.
MOUTHGUARD - A device that is used to protect the mouth from injury. The
use of a mouthguard is especially important for orthodontic patients while
engaging in sports to prevent injuries.
NECK PAD - A cloth covered cushion worn around the neck when putting on a
facebow. Generally, the breakaways are attached to the neckpad to provide force
for the facebow.
PALATAL EXPANDER - A device used to apply an expansion force to the upper
jaw (to make it wider),
RETAINER - A device that your orthodontist will require you to wear
following the removal of your braces. The retainer attaches to your teeth,
maintaining them in the proper position.
RUBBER BANDS - These provide a force that helps teeth move, usually
employing one arch or group of teeth against the other.
SAFETY STRAP - A plastic strap which prevents the facebow from coming
loose and possibly hurting you.
WAX - A clear wax used to prevent trauma to the lips and tongue from the
irritation of braces.
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