Orthodontic TERMINOLOGY

Orthodontics

■ Orthodontics has been defined as that branch of dentistry concerned with growth of the face,
development of the dentition, and prevention and correction of occlusal anomalies.

Overjet
is defined as the horizontal overlap of the incisors.
The relationship between upper and lower incisors in the horizontal plane.Normally the incisors
are in contact with the upper incisors ahead of the lower by only the thickness of the upper edges
ie 2-3 mm overjet is the normal relationship.
Increased overjet - more than 3 mm.
Reduced overjet - less than 2 mm
Negative or reverse overjet – the lower incisors are ahead of the upper incisors.
Overjet is measured from the labial surface of the lower incisor to the labial surface of the upper
incisor. Record the distance for both central incisors.
Get used to making the measurement in the middle of each incisal edge, keeping the ruler parallel
to the occlusal plane.
This will overcome the local effect of the incisors rotation and reduce measurement error that
may be caused by variation in head position. OJ is recorded to the nearest millimeter.

Overbite
is defined as vertical overlap of the incisors. (or) The overlap of the lower incisors by the upper
incisor in the vertical plane. Normally the lower incisor edges contact the lingual surface of the
upper incisors at or above the cingulum.
Normal overbite 2 - 3 mm
Increased or Deep bite more than 3 mm
Reduced overbite less than 2 mm.

Anterior open bite

■ The lower incisors are not overlapped in the vertical plane by the upper incisors and do not
occlude with them. (or)

■ When the patient is viewed from the front and the teeth are in occlusion, a space can be seen
between the upper and lower incisor edges.

Crossbite
– A deviation from the normal bucco- lingual relationship; may be anterior / posterior / or unilateral /
bilateral.
Anterior crossbite –
This can either be anterior in which case one or more upper incisors are in lingual occlusion the lower
incisors.
Under bite –

■ the lower front teeth protrude beyond the upper teeth.

■ An underbite is also known as an anterior crossbite.

Posterior crossbite -A transverse discrepancy in arch relationship.

The lower arch is wider than the upper so that the buccal cusps of the lower teeth occlude outside the
buccal cusps of the corresponding upper teeth.

Buccal crossbite
Buccal cusps of lower premolars or molars occlude buccally to the buccal cusps of the upper
premolars or molars.

Lingual crossbite
Buccal cusps of lower molars occlude lingual to the lingual cusps of the upper molars.
Scissors bite

A lingual crossbite at the lower teeth.

One or more upper buccal segment teeth occlude entirely buccal to the lower arch teeth.

Occlusion
Any contact between teeth of opposing dental arches, usually referring to contact between the
occlusal surfaces.
Ideal occlusion
A theoretical occlusion based on the morphology of the teeth. (or) The ideal relationship of the teeth
can be defined in terms of static (or morphological) and functional occlusion.

Normal occlusion
An occlusion which satisfies the requirements of function and aesthetics but in which there are minor
irregularities of individual teeth.

Malocclusion
can be defined as an appreciable deviation from the ideal that may be considered aesthetically or
functionally unsatisfactory.
(or)
 An occlusion in which there is a malrelationship between the arches in any of the planes of space or
in which there are anomalies in tooth position beyond the limits of normal.

Centric relation
It has been defined as the relationship of the mandible to the cranium that exists when the condyles
articulate with the thinnest avascular portion of their respective discs in their most anterior – superior
position against the slopes of the articular eminences, regardless of tooth contact.
Retruded contact position (RCP) or centric relation (CR)
• is the position of the mandible in relation to the maxilla with the condylar head in its terminal
hinge axis (uppermost and foremost within the glenoid fossa)
Habit posture
A postured position of the mandible habitually maintained either to facilitate the production of an
anterior oral seal or for aesthetic reasons.
Deviation of the mandible
a sagittal movement of the mandible during closure from a habit posture to a position of centric
occlusion.
When the mandible is habitually postured forwards there may be an upwards and backwards path of
closure into centric occlusion, rather than simple hinge closure.

Displacement of the mandible

When closing from the rest position, the mandible displaces (either laterally or anteriorly) to avoid a
premature contact.
A sagittal or lateral displacement of the mandible as a result of a premature contact.
Mandibular displacement is caused by premature contacts of the teeth that enforce a shift of the
mandible to obtain a position of maximum occlusion.
Premature contact
An occlusal contact which occurs during the centric path of closure of the mandible before maximal
cuspal occlusion is reached.
This may result in either displacement of the mandible or movement of the tooth or both.
Canine guidance
is present when contact is maintained on the working side canine teeth during lateral excursion of
the mandible.
Group function
is present when contacts are maintained between several teeth on the working side during lateral
excursion of the mandible.
 Line of occlusion
• The line of occlusion is a smooth (catenary) curve passing through the central fossa of each upper
molar an across the cingulum of the upper canine and incisor teeth.
• The same line runs along the buccal cusps and incisal edges of the lower teeth, thus specifying
the occlusal as well as interarch relationships once the molar position is established.

Alignment
Angulation
Mesio-distal tip of tooth within the dental arch.
Incisor angulation
An expression of the degree of tip in the mesiodistal plane.
Inclination
The labio-palatal tip of a tooth within the dental arch.
Incisor inclination

■ An expression of the degree of tip in the labiopalatal plane.

■ Retroclined

■ The upper and lower incisors are incline palatally / lingually to a greater extent than
normal.
Proclination
The labial tipping of incisor teeth often together with supporting dento-alveolus.
Bimaxillary protrusion
a simpler term but a misnomer since it is not the jaws but the teeth that protrude.
(Physical anthropologists use bimaxillary protrusion to describe faces in which both jaws
are prorelative to the cranium, such a face would have an anteriorly divergent profile if
jaw sizes were proportional. )

■ Diastema
A space between certain teeth, often maxillary central incisors.

■ Crowding

■ When the size of the dentition is greater than the space available to accommodate the
teeth in good general alignment then crowding may be said to occur.
Actual crowding (Clinically evident crowding)
 the incisor teeth remain upright and well positioned over the basal bone of the maxilla
and the mandible but the teeth are rotated or tip labially or lingually.
Potential crowding
The crowded teeth align themselves at the expense of lip, displacing the lip forward and
interfering with the lip closure. The incisors are proclined and off the basal bone.
Dento-alveolar compensation

■ The position of the teeth has compensated for the underlying skeletal pattern, so that the occlusal
relationship between the arches is less severe.