DICTIONARY OF TERMS
A - C | D - I | J - N | O - R | S - Z
O
Occlusal: The chewing or grinding surface of the bicuspid and molar teeth.
Occlusal plane: The imaginary surface on which upper and lower teeth meet.
Occlusion: The alignment and spacing of your upper and lower teeth when you bite down.
Open bite: A malocclusion in which the teeth do not close or come together.
Orthodontia: Braces.
Orthodontics: The treatment preformed to correct your bite and to make your smile look wonderful.
Orthodontist: A dentist who has been specially trained to do orthodontics.
Overbite: Vertical overlapping of the upper teeth over the lower.
Overjet: Horizontal projection of upper teeth beyond the lower.
P
Palatal Expander: A device used to make your jaw wider.
Panoramic X-ray: An X-ray taken by a machine that rotates around your head to give the orthodontist a picture of your teeth, jaws, and other important information.
Periodontist (Perio): A dentist who specializes in the treatment of diseases of your gums.
Plaque: A colorless, odorless, sticky substance containing acids and bacteria that cause tooth decay.
Posterior: An adjective used to describe things pertaining to the back of your mouth or to your back teeth.
Proper Occlusion: A beautiful smile where all of your teeth are straight and your top teeth line up with your bottom teeth.
Prosthodontist: A dentist who specializes in the replacement of missing teeth.
R
Radiograph: Another name for an X-ray.
The Records Appointment: One of the initial appointments. The Orthodontic Assistant takes pictures of you, X-rays, and impressions so that they can conclude what treatment needs to be done.
Relapse: Relapse is the movement of the teeth back towards their pre-treatment positions, following the removal of braces. Dr. DiMassa routinely provides retainers to patients following treatment to prevent relapse.
Retainer: A gadget that the orthodontist gives you to wear after removing your braces. The retainer attaches to your upper teeth and holds them in the correct position. You wear the retainer at night to make sure that none of your teeth move while your jaw hardens and your teeth become strongly attached to your jaw.
Retainers: A retainer is a device that works full- or part-time to hold teeth in place and to prevent them from drifting or moving after orthodontic treatment has been completed. Following Dr. DiMassa's directions, wearing your retainer is very important to maintain the results of your treatment.
Retruded: A term used when your front teeth are slated lingually, i.e. -- toward the back of your mouth).
Rotation: A movement in which the tooth turns along the long axis of the tooth.
