Dentofacial and Craniomandibular orthopedics

To further assist our patients understanding of our program of Dentofacial and Craniomandibular Orthopedics, we have provided a glossary of common terms and definitions. Since each patient has a custom designed program you may not hear all of these terms used during your treatment. If you hear any unfamiliar term or phrase that is not on this list, please feel free to ask any member of our team.

GLOSSARY

TMJ: Temporo-mandibular joint, or the joints for the lower jaw. Disorders of these joints can be significant because the other half of the joint is the head, which contains your irreplaceable brain and master or pituitary gland, which is the control center of the body and mind.

Cranial Base: The most significant zone of the head structure, located directly behind the eyes and nose, behind and above the upper jaw, and inside the ear (temporal) bone, which connects to the lower jaw. The major componenet of the cranial base is the sphenoid bone, which houses the pituitary gland, and through which the major blood supply and cranial nerves enter and exit.

Occlusal Plane: The horizontal plane common to your upper and lower teeth. Your teeth and jaw may not be symmetrical, and through a simple test we can see which side of your jaw is low or higher.

Cranial/Facial Pattern: This relates to the head and face symmetry. The six patterns are determined by the level of the eyes, ears, and jaw:

1. Right side bend: Right eye and ear higher; occlusal plane down to the right
2. Left side bend: Left eye and ear higher; occlusal plane down to the left
3. Right lateral strain: Right eye and ear higher; occlusal plane down to the left
4. Left lateral strain: Left eye and ear higher; occlusal plane down to the right
5. Right torsion: Right eye higher, left ear higher; occlusal plane usually down to the right
6. Left torsion: Left eye higher, right ear higher; occlusal plane usually down to the left

Lifts: Fixed dental orthodontics. Clear bonding material is fixed to the biting surface of the teeth to pivot, change, and re-establish the balance or symmetry of the cranial pattern.

Guides: Fixed orthopedic planes used in specific areas to correct jaw relationships and crossbites.

Dental Bows and Tubes: A stainless steel wire that surrounds the front of the dental arch. It slides into tubes attached to the molars. They are used to keep active lip and cheek pressure off the teeth during orthodontic change, move the molars back and develop the dental arches to allow proper alignment of the front teeth.

Lingual Arches: Thin high-tech wires that are attached at several points on the inside of the teeth to help develop, and create space in the arches.

Active Plates: Removable orthopedic appliances used specifically to develop jaw structure and dental arch forms.

Quadhelix: Fixed orthopedic appliance designed to develop the arches latterly with spring-type pressure. Bands on the first molars hold the appliance in the mouth.

Clear Bonds: Like braces without the metal brackets! A very thin high-tech orthodontic wire is bonded directly to the teeth to help their straightening.

R.O.: A soft, flexible mouthpiece appliance that is used for arch development as well as alignment of the individual teeth. It accomplishes more than bands and braces while being gentler on the teeth and gums. This is usually the “final stage” before equilibration and retention.

Occlusoguide: A “mini” R.O., made for children that have both baby and permanent teeth (“mixed dentition”). It helps to guide the emerging permanent teeth into the arch, as well as maintain changes made in Phase 1 treatment.

Equilibration: Polishing of the tooth-chewing surface to reduce uneven contacts, minimize interferences, and improve chewing (masticating) efficiency.

C.S.: Clear splints are new wireless retainers made of especially thin strong, almost indestructible plastic material that fit snugly over the surfaces of the teeth. These help to hold the teeth in position after ideal alignment of the teeth is achieved.

Sentalloy wire: The most advanced high-tech wire presently available. This super-resilient wire uses its “memory” to gently move malpositioned teeth into its performed ideal arch shape.