Management of Malocclusion
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Orthodontics
is a specialty in dentistry and oral surgery that is concerned with the prevention, interception and correction of malocclusion.
Preventive orthodontics
is concerned with the client’s education, the development of the dentition and maxillofacial structures, the diagnostic procedures undertaken to predict malocclusion and the therapeutic procedures instituted to prevent the onset of malocclusion. Preventive procedures are undertaken in anticipation of development of a problem. Examples of preventive procedures include:
• Client education about time tables on exfoliation of deciduous teeth and eruption of permanent teeth
• Fiberotomy (severing of gingival fibers around a permanent tooth to prevent its relapse after corrective orthodontics)
• Operculectomy (surgical removal of an operculum to enable eruption of a permanent tooth)
• Extraction of a tooth that could pose a risk to development of malocclusion
Interceptive orthodontics
is concerned with the elimination of a developing or established malocclusion. Interceptive procedures are typically undertaken in the growing patient. Examples of interceptive procedures include:
• Crown reduction of a permanent tooth in malocclusion
• Extraction of a tooth in malocclusion
Corrective orthodontics
is concerned with the correction of malocclusion without loss of the maloccluded tooth or part of its crown. This is accomplished by means of tooth movement. Examples of corrective procedures include:
• Surgical repositioning of a tooth
• Orthognathic surgery to treat skeletal malocclusion
• Passive movement of a tooth using an inclined plane
• Active movement of a tooth using an elastic chain
Treatment plan (TP):
Written document that outlines the progression of therapy (advantages, disadvantages, costs, alternatives, outcome and duration of treatment)
Impression (IM):
Detailed imprint of hard and/or soft tissues that is formed with specific types of impression materials
Full-mouth impression (IM/F):
Imprints of the dentition and/or surrounding soft tissues of the upper and lower dental arches
Diagnostic cast (DC):
Positive replica created by pouring a liquid material into an impression or placing an impression into a liquid material; once the material has hardened, the cast is removed and used for the purpose of study and treatment planning; also called die
(DC/D)
when made from an impression of a particular tooth/area of interest or stone model
(DC/SM)
when made from a full-mouth impression
Bite registration (BR):
Impression used to record a patient’s occlusion, which is then used to articulate diagnostic casts
Fiberotomy (FT):
Severing gingival fibers around a permanent tooth to prevent its relapse after corrective orthodontics
Operculectomy (OP):
Surgical removal of an operculum to enable eruption of a permanent tooth
Surgical repositioning (SR):
Repositioning of a developmentally displaced tooth
Orthognathic surgery (OS):
Surgical procedure to alter relationships of dental arches typically performed to correct skeletal malocclusion
Bracket/button/hook (OA/BKT):
Device made of metal or plastic that is bonded to the tooth surface and aids in the attachment of wires or elastics; use
OA/CMB
if custom-made
Elastic chain/tube/thread (OA/EC):
Orthodontic elastics used to move teeth
Orthodontic wire (OA/WIR):
Metal wire with ‘memory’ used to move teeth
Arch bar (OA/AR):
Device attached to one dental arch to move individual teeth in between the device’s attachments
Orthodontic appliance (OA):
Device attached to a tooth or teeth to move a tooth or teeth
Orthodontic appliance adjustment (OA/A):
Abbreviation used at the time of adjustment of the orthodontic appliance
Orthodontic appliance installation (OA/I):
Abbreviation used at the time of installation of the orthodontic appliance
Orthodontic appliance removal (OA/R):
Abbreviation used at the time of removal of the orthodontic appliance
Orthodontic counseling (OC):
Client communication on the genetic basis, diagnosis and treatment of malocclusion and the legal and ethical implications of orthodontics
Ball therapy (BTH):
Removable orthodontic device in the form of a ball or cone-shaped rubber toy (for example to passively move linguoverted mandibular canine teeth)
Inclined plane (IP):
Fixed orthodontic device made of acrylic (IP/A), composite (IP/C) or metal (IP/M) with sloping planes (for example to passively move linguoverted mandibular canine teeth)
Orthodontic recheck (OR): Examination of a patient treated with an orthodontic appliance.