Patient Education

 

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Orthodontic terms

• Archform: the shape of the dental arch. For example the orthodontist could say that you have a horseshoe archform or a "v"-shaped archform.
• Class I Malocclusion: a Malocclusion where your bite is OK (your top teeth line up with your bottom teeth) but your teeth are crooked, crowded or turned.
• Class II Malocclusion: a Malocclusion where your upper teeth stick out past your lower teeth.
• Class III Malocclusion: a Malocclusion where your lower teeth stick out past your upper teeth. This is also called an "underbite".
• Crossbite: a malocclusion where some of your upper teeth are inside of your lower teeth when you bite down.
• Crowding: an orthodontic problem caused by having too many teeth in two small of a space.
• Deep Bite: a malocclusion where your upper teeth cover your lower teeth more than it should when you bite down.
• Diastema: a space between two teeth.
• Fixed Appliance: any orthodontic component that is cemented or bonded to the teeth.
• Full Orthodontic Treatment: getting braces.
• Interocclusal Registration: a wax bite which is used to see how your teeth come together.
• Interproximal Stripping: reduction of the enamel of the teeth on both sides of the tooth. This procedure is preformed to create space for crowded teeth.
• Lingual Appliances: orthodontic appliance fixed to the inside of your teeth. i.e. Lingual appliances are attached to the part of your teeth next to your tongue.
• Lingual Arch: an orthodontic wire attached from molar to molar in the inside of your teeth.
• Lingual Retainers: a variation of the lingual arch going from cuspid to cuspid.
• Malocclusion: poor positioning of your teeth.
• Occlusion: the alignment of your upper and lower teeth when you bite down.
• Open bite: a malocclusion in which the teeth do not close or come together in the front of your mouth.
• Orthodontics: is a specialty of dentistry that diagnoses and treats dental and facial irregularities.
• Orthodontic treatment: is recommended to correct tooth position. Tooth movement is accomplished by light pressure exerted on the teeth. The pressure is applied by a variety of orthodontic appliances. Research has improved these appliances to apply gentile forces over the course of treatment.
• Overbite: vertical overlapping of the upper teeth over the lower.
• Overjet: horizontal projection of upper teeth in front of the lower.
• Proper Occlusion: a beautiful smile where all of your teeth are straight and your top teeth line up with your bottom teeth.

Orthodontic procedures

• Banding: the process of cementing orthodontic bands to your teeth.
• Bonding: the process of attaching brackets to your teeth using special safe glue.
• Cephalometric X-Rays: an x-ray of the head that shows whether your teeth are aligned properly, and whether your jaws are positioned in the correct spot.
• Consultation: a meeting with your orthodontist where he/she discusses your bite and whether orthodontic treatment is recommended.
• Debanding: the removal of cemented orthodontic bands.
• Debonding: the removal of the brackets from your teeth.
• Extraoral Photograph: facial photos.
• Impressions: the first step in making a model of your teeth. You bite into a container filled with alginate, and the alginate hardens to produce a mold of your teeth.
• Interceptive Orthodontic Treatment: orthodontic treatment usually done when you are 6-8. The objective of interceptive orthodontic treatment is to expand your palate and make other corrections, so that your later orthodontic treatment goes quicker. This is often called “Phase 1” treatment.
• Ligation: a process where an archwire is attached to the brackets on your teeth.
• Panoramic X-ray: an x-ray taken by a machine that rotates around your head to give the orthodontist a picture of your teeth and jaws.
• Records Appointment: one of the initial appointments with your orthodontist. The orthodontist or his/her assistant takes pictures of you, x-rays, and impressions.
• Retie Appointment: a process which occurs every 4-6 weeks when you have braces. At these visits the orthodontist either makes adjustments to the wires, or changes the wires.

Parts of your braces

• Appliance: anything the orthodontist attaches to your teeth to move your teeth or to change the position of your jaw.
• Arch Wire: a metal wire which is attached to your brackets to move your teeth.
• Band: a metal ring that is usually placed on you teeth to hold on parts of your orthodontic appliance.
• Bracket: a metal or ceramic part that is glued onto a tooth and serves as a means of fastening the arch wire.
• Chain, Orthodontic power chain: a stretchable plastic chain used to hold archwires into brackets and to move teeth resulting in closing spaces.
• Ligating module: a small plastic piece, shaped like a donut, which is used to hold the arch wires in the brackets on your teeth.
• Mouthguard: a device that is used to protect your mouth from injury when you are participating in sports. The use of a mouthguard is especially important for orthodontic patients, to prevent injuries.
• Palatal Expander: a device used to make your jaw wider.
• Retainer: an appliance that the orthodontist gives you to wear after removing your braces. The retainer attaches to your teeth and holds them in the correct position. Retainers can be either fix or removable.
• Seperator: a plastic or metal part which the orthodontist uses to create space between your teeth for bands.
• Wax: a clear wax used to prevent your braces from irritating your lips when your braces are first put on, or at other times.

Orthodontist's tools

• Band Remover: a special plier which the orthodontist uses to remove bands from your teeth.
• Bite Stick: A device the orthodontist uses to help put on your bands. The orthodontist puts the band in place, then asks you to bite down on the bite stick to help push the band in place.
• Cheek Retractors: small plastic pieces used to draw back your lips and cheeks so the orthodontist can more easily see your teeth and work in your mouth.
• Curing Light: a special light used to harden the glue.
• Distal End Cutter: a special plier used to cut off the ends of your arch wires.
• Mathieu Plier: a special plier which locks when it closes so it holds on to small parts.
• Ligature Cutter: a special plier use to cur off arch wires and ligatures.

Laird Orthodontics is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and proudly serves the surrounding areas of East York, North York, Danforth, Rosedale, Yonge and Eglinton, Leaside, Bridle Path-Sunnybrook-York Mills, Davisville, Lawrence Park South and Thorncliffe.