Comprehensive introduction of orthodontic terms

If you are thinking about orthodontic treatment of your teeth, you may come across specialized and complex terms that you do not understand the meaning of when visiting an orthodontist or reading various materials. In this article, we are going to explain **orthodontic terms** to you in simple language. Our goal is to better understand the orthodontist's explanations about the type of jaw and teeth abnormalities, orthodontic devices, and the treatment process, and take steps to achieve your beautiful and healthy smile without any worries. So stay with us until the end to learn about common orthodontic terms and their English equivalents. Orthodontic braces (Braces) Orthodontic brace is a device used in orthodontic treatment, which is used to correct dental and jaw abnormalities. This system includes brackets, wires, and sometimes bands or elastics that are attached to the teeth. By applying gradual pressure to the teeth, braces guide them to their correct position. This tool has two types, fixed and mobile. Orthodontic bracket (Brackets) Orthodontic bracket is one of the main components of orthodontic brace. Brackets are small, usually square-shaped pieces that are attached to the teeth and connected to metal wires to gradually move them to their correct position by applying pressure on the teeth. Brackets are made of various materials such as metal, ceramic or plastic, and their main purpose is to correct dental and jaw abnormalities, improve the function of teeth and create a beautiful smile. orthodontic wire (Archwire) Another key component in orthodontic appliances is the orthodontic wire, which is connected to the brackets and has the task of transmitting power to the teeth. These wires are usually designed in an arched shape and made of stainless metal to apply the necessary pressure to the teeth for movement. By changing and adjusting these wires during the treatment, the orthodontist can control the movement of the teeth and improve dental abnormalities. (For information on dental wire price, refer to the page of orthodontic costs.) orthodontic O-ring Orthodontic O-ring is a small elastic that is wrapped around the orthodontic bracket to keep the orthodontic wires in the bracket groove. In fact, the O-ring maintains the tension on the orthodontic wire so that sufficient force is applied to move the teeth. The orthodontist replaces the O-rings in each wire adjustment session. Orthodontic elastics (Elastics) Orthodontic elastics, which are also called orthodontic elastics, are rubber or silicone bands with high elasticity, which are used by being placed between the brackets of two jaws to correct the position of the upper and lower teeth and improve the bite settings. There are different types of elastics that are chosen depending on the patient's treatment needs and the type of deformity. Regular use of these braces plays an important role in accelerating the orthodontic treatment process. orthodontic band Orthodontic band or molar band (Molar Bands) is a stainless steel metal ring that is placed around a molar or molar tooth to be used as a strong support point for braces and other orthodontic treatment tools. The orthodontic brace helps to maintain the orthodontic headgear, correct large gaps and align the jaw and bite. Bonding Continuing to examine the concept of orthodontic terms, we come to Bonding. Orthodontic bonding refers to the process of attaching brackets and other components of the orthodontic device to the teeth. For this, the dentist first cleans and dries the teeth and then sticks the parts on the teeth with a special glue to start the process of moving them. Finally, after the end of orthodontics, the orthodontist removes the brackets from the teeth, which is called orthodontic debonding. Orthodontic hook (Hook) An orthodontic hook is a fixed or movable metal piece that protrudes from the corner of the bracket. The task of this small component is to connect and hold orthodontic bands and elastics. A hook is used to make specific adjustments in complex treatments and to help accelerate and facilitate the movement of teeth. Dental Night Guard Dental night guard is another **orthodontic term** that refers to a protective device to prevent damage to the teeth, jaw, gums and soft tissue of the mouth against possible injuries. This device is usually made of soft or hard materials and is placed on the upper or lower jaw teeth. Nightguard protects your mouth against impact during intense activities and sports and is a solution for problems such as grinding teeth and jaw joint disorders. Orthodontic retainer You have probably come across the term "retainer" when searching for **orthodontic terms in English**. A retainer is a dental device that is used after the end of orthodontic treatment to maintain the correct position of the teeth and prevent them from moving. This tool can be fixed or mobile, and the purpose of its use is to prevent the teeth from returning to their previous position and maintain the treatment results. Orthodontic separator (Separator) An orthodontic spacer is a small piece of rubber or metal that is temporarily placed between molars to create a limited space between them. This space is needed to place tools such as orthodontic braces. Ceramic Orthodontics Ceramic orthodontics is a type of fixed orthodontics in which transparent or tooth-colored ceramic brackets are used instead of traditional metal brackets. Invisible ceramic orthodontics are less noticeable and have a more beautiful appearance. Damon Orthodontics Damon orthodontics is one of the orthodontic terms that introduces a type of orthodontic system with special brackets and flexible wires. Damon brackets have a self-adjusting mechanism that allows the orthodontic wire to move freely within the bracket. This feature reduces friction, accelerates the treatment process, achieves better results and increases patient comfort. Lingual Orthodontics In lingual or hidden orthodontics, brackets and wires are placed on the inner surface of the teeth (tongue side) instead of the outer surface and are not easily visible. This method makes the smile of the patients beautiful during the treatment and because it is hidden, it is a popular option for those who do not want the orthodontic brace to be seen in their mouth. Hidden orthodontics effectively moves the teeth into their correct position, but requires more expertise from the orthodontist and may cause some discomfort at the beginning of the treatment. Fixed Orthodontics What is fixed orthodontics? Fixed orthodontics is a type of orthodontic treatment in which metal or ceramic brackets are permanently attached to the teeth (until the end of the treatment period) and allow the orthodontist to gradually move the teeth to their correct position by making regular adjustments. This orthodontic method is used to treat problems such as crooked teeth, jaw disharmony, and closing spaces between teeth, and may last from several months to several years. Removable Orthodontics Removable braces are a type of orthodontic treatment in which removable appliances are used to correct the position of teeth. In this method, the orthodontic device is not attached to the tooth. A person can take out the orthodontic plate from his mouth to eat and brush his teeth or to be in special situations and put it back easily. Removable orthodontics is usually used to correct mild dental problems and its treatment period is shorter than fixed orthodontics. Invisible Orthodontics You may have come across the term "transparent" or "invisible" orthodontics while browsing orthodontic terms in English. This term refers to a type of orthodontic treatment that uses clear, removable aligners instead of metal brackets. These aligners are custom designed and made for each patient and gradually move the teeth to the desired position. Mobility, appearance beauty, and treatment without attracting attention are among the advantages of this method. Functional Orthodontics Functional orthodontics is a treatment method to correct jaw and dental abnormalities using mobile devices. This method helps to improve the function of the jaw and teeth, regulate the growth of the jaws, and improve the relationship between the teeth. Functional appliances are usually used at a younger age to prevent more serious problems in the future and to balance the structure of the face and jaw. Interceptive Orthodontics The term interceptive orthodontics refers to orthodontic treatments that are carried out in the early stages of the development of teeth and jaws with the aim of identifying and correcting dental and jaw abnormalities at a younger age. This treatment using mobile or fixed devices can help prevent more serious problems in the future and provide more suitable conditions for the proper growth of teeth and jaws. Orthosurgery What does orthosurgery in orthodontics mean? Orthosurgery is a combination of dental orthodontic treatment and jaw surgery, which is performed to treat severe jaw and dental disorders. This treatment is used in cases where the complexity of the abnormality is so severe that orthodontic treatment alone is not able to correct it. Orthosurgery treatment requires cooperation between an orthodontic dentist and a maxillofacial surgeon. Orthognathic surgery Orthognathics refers to surgeries that correct the form and function of the jaws. This surgery, which is performed in adulthood and after skeletal growth stops, changes the position of the jaws and improves their beauty in addition to their function. Lingual Holding Arch A dental arch is a U-shaped metal bar that is placed behind the lower teeth. This tool is used for children who lose their milk teeth prematurely. The lingual retaining arch prevents the teeth from moving and maintains enough space for permanent teeth to grow. Orthodontic Facemask A face mask is a movable extra-oral device that is placed on the face in the form of a frame and connected to the teeth through bands. This mask helps to move the jaw and upper teeth of children and teenagers forward by creating a gentle force to correct their jaw deformity while the jaw bone is still growing. Palate expander A palatal expander is a device used to open the roof of the mouth or expand the arch of the upper jaw. This tool continuously applies gentle pressure to both sides of the palate, which results in the bones of the roof of the mouth moving away and increasing the width of the palate. Dental space maintainer When your child's baby tooth falls out prematurely, the orthodontist uses a retainer to prevent adjacent teeth from moving and to maintain the space between the teeth so that the permanent tooth has enough space to grow and fit correctly in the jaw arch. Orthodontic headgear An orthodontic headgear is a device that, by connecting to the front and neck teeth or the back of the head, directs the jaw and upper teeth backward or prevents them from moving forward. Herbst and Forsus device In terms of Herbst and Force orthodontics, tools that simultaneously push the teeth and the lower jaw forward to stimulate the growth of this jaw forward and push the upper molar teeth back so that the two jaws finally fit together. Orthodontic Lip Bumper A lip bumper or lip bumper is a U-shaped piece that is placed on the lower jaw teeth and slightly pushes the lip forward. By changing the lower jaw bone, this tool corrects the front teeth of this jaw. The bumper also increases the space between the lips and teeth. Malocclusion Alignment of upper and lower teeth is called occlusion. When the jaw and teeth are placed together unnaturally for any reason, it is called malocclusion. Crossbite Among **orthodontic terms**, crossbite is a condition in which the upper and lower teeth are not aligned and do not overlap properly. That is, when the mouth is closed, one or more upper jaw teeth enter the inner part of the row of lower jaw teeth. This condition can affect front or back teeth. Open Bite In this abnormality, when closing the mouth, the upper and lower jaw teeth do not completely touch each other, and an empty space remains between them. Overjet Overjet refers to the horizontal distance between the front teeth of the upper jaw and the lower jaw. If the horizontal space between the teeth when the jaws are closed is more than 3 to 4 mm, the person has tooth overjet. Overbite In overbite, there is a vertical distance between the front teeth of the two jaws. If the upper teeth cover more than 25% of the lower teeth when the mouth is closed, this condition is called an overbite. Deep Bite A deep bite is a severe overbite in which the front teeth of the upper jaw almost completely cover the front teeth of the lower jaw and prevent them from being seen. Underbite In underbite malformation, the teeth of the lower jaw are placed in front of the teeth of the upper jaw, and the lower jaw is protruding compared to the upper jaw. teeth crowding Crowding of teeth refers to a situation where the teeth are pressed together due to the lack of space in the arch of the jaw (large teeth or small jaw). This situation will cause the teeth to be messed up, crooked, rotated or overlapped. In this article, we examined the key concepts and the most common orthodontic terms. Orthodontics not only helps to improve the beauty of the smile, but also plays an important role in oral health. If you are looking to correct dental abnormalities and improve the condition of your jaw, visiting an orthodontist in Tehran can be a good solution. Dr. Saeed Qureshi, with his experience and knowledge in this field, can plan and carry out the best treatment plan for you. To have a beautiful and healthy smile, contact us today and take the first step.