| Appliance A fixed or removable device which the orthodontist uses to change the position of teeth or jaws back to top |
| Arch Wire A wire which is attached to brackets to move teeth to their correct position back to top |
| Arch The ensemble of teeth in either jaw in a horseshoe shape back to top |
| Banding The process of cementing orthodontic bands to the teeth back to top |
| Bonding The process of attaching brackets to the teeth using a special glue back to top |
| Braces Appliances used to move teeth and jaws into the correct position back to top |
| Bracket A metal, ceramic or porcelain attachment that is glued to a tooth and serves as a means of fastening the arch wire back to top |
| Caries Dental decay resulting from the action of bacteria on sugary foods back to top |
| Class I malocclusion The teeth are mis-aligned and irregular but the underlying jaws are in normal positions back to top |
| Class II malocclusion The upper jaw and teeth protrude relative to the lower jaw and teeth. The teeth may also be irregular back to top |
| Class III malocclusion The lower jaw and teeth protrude relative to the upper jaw and teeth. The teeth may also be irregular back to top |
| Cross Bite A malocclusion where the upper teeth bite inside the lower teeth back to top |
| Crowding A malocclusion caused by insufficient space for the teeth back to top |
| Debonding Removal of brackets from the teeth back to top |
| Diastema A gap between two teeth, usually at the front of the mouth back to top |
| Disclosing tablets Food dye used to stain plaque and deposits on the teeth as an aid to tooth brushing back to top |
| Enamel The hard calcified tissue which covers the dentine of the crown portion of a tooth. Enamel is the hardest tissue in the human body back to top |
| Erosion A defect in the surface of a tooth, usually the result of the chemical action of acids in fizzy drinks back to top |
| Fixed Appliance Any orthodontic component that is cemented or bonded to the teeth and needs careful adjustment and monitoring back to top |
| Fraenum A piece of fleshy gum which is attached to the upper lip, the lower lip, or the tongue back to top |
| Functional Appliance A special appliance which is worn on the upper and lower teeth to change the way the teeth and jaws bite together back to top |
| Impacted tooth A tooth that is embedded in the jaw and is prevented from erupting normally back to top |
| Occlusion The meeting together of the upper and lower teeth and jaws back to top |
| Overbite The vertical overlap of the upper over the lower teeth back to top |
| Overjet The horizontal overlap of the upper teeth over the lower teeth back to top |
| Panoramic X-ray An X-ray taken by a machine that rotates around the head. It shows all the teeth in one X-ray back to top |
| Radiograph A photograph using X-rays which shows the teeth and jaws back to top |
| Retainer A fixed or removable appliance for maintaining the positions of the teeth and jaws after orthodontic treatment back to top |
| Study Models Plaster casts of the teeth which allow the position of the teeth and jaws to be examined back to top |
| Supernumerary An extra tooth back to top |
| Temporomandibular Joint The joint formed by the head of the lower jaw and the base of the skull back to top |
| Treatment Plan An outline of the clinical steps which are to be followed in aligning the teeth and jaws to health and function back to top |
| URA Upper Removable Appliance back to top |
| Wisdom teeth The third molars back to top |
| X-ray Special image taken to show the teeth and jaws back to top |
| You The patient, the most important person in the practice back to top |
Mon to Thurs
0900-1300
1400-1730
Fri
0900-1300
Friday PM by arrangement
82 The Hundred,
Romsey,
Hampshire
SO51 8BX
Tel: 01794 519589
Email: info@abbeyorthodontics.co.uk
If you are a general dental practitioner, please register here in order to refer your patients to us.