Occlusal
In the direction of the occlusal surfaces, concerning the occlusal surfaces
Occlusal splint
Various forms of plastic splints for nocturnal use which are placed between the dental arches protecting teeth against parafunctional movements. In any case, they prevent teeth from grinding and in the best case, they support the relaxation of the masticatory muscles.
Occlusion
This term refers to the way that the teeth in the upper and lower jaws actually come together. In common language: the bite.
Occlusion Splints
These are removable plastic covers, usually for the upper teeth, which separate the different sets of teeth when they come together in the bite. Occlusion splints are generally worn at night in order to prevent the patient from grinding or pressing their teeth together. They are usually used for reducing pain in the jaw or […]
Open bite
Open bite describes the fact that antagonistic teeth don’t get into contact, but are separated from each other over a more or less large distance. Most of the times, it’s caused by a dysfunction of the tongue, which is permanently positioned between the upper and lower front teeth or by thumb sucking. If this bad […]
OPG
Abbreviation for orthopantomogram, a radiographic overview of teeth and jaws
Oral Vestibular Shield (OVS):
Simple and inexpensive, this removable brace resembles a pacifier, but only consists of a simple silicon or plastic plate, which is located in the oral vestibule between the lips and the incisors. There is usually a handle that protrudes between the lips. The OVS is often used in early treatment of children of primary school […]
Oral vestibule
The oral vestibule is the narrow space between the teeth and jaws on one side and the lips and cheeks on the other side.
Orthodontic appliance
Orthodontic appliances are also called braces in every day language.
Orthodontic Indication Groups
The statutory health insurance pays for orthodontic treatment according to the 2004 orthodontic guidelines. The findings that entitle the patient to orthodontic treatment are regulated by the KIG system. The Orthodontic Indication Groups (KIG) are a system that was introduced in Germany in 2002 to assess the need for treatment in the statutory health insurance. […]
Orthodontic treatment
Orthodontics is a special part of dentistry which is concerned with the diagnostics and treatment of malocclusions (crooked teeth and improper bites). Unlike the other special parts of dentistry, which generally deal with particular diseases, it’s not that clear in orthodontics. For many years, it has simply been assumed that dental and jaw malformations are […]
Orthodontics
In most languages, this is the normal word used to describe the field of orhodontics, although in Germany during the 1930’s, it was replaced by the term “Dento-facial Orthopaedics”. This renaming can only be understood within the context of the euphoria which resulted from the introduction of the so-called Functional Orthodontics in Germany in the […]
Orthodontist
A dentist who is specialized in correcting malpositions of teeth and jaws. The training consists of a study of dentistry, followed, in most German provinces, by one year of general dental work and three years of specialized training. The professional training requires one year of work at a university dental clinic, while the other two […]
Osteotomy
Osteotomy refers to the incision and cutting of bone (e.g. extracting an impacted tooth).
Overbite
In normal layman’s speech, the term overbite refers to the vertical and horizontal overbite of the upper in relation to the lower front teeth. Regarding the neutral occlusion the overbite shows a range from 2mm to 4mm. A large overbite is a sign for retrognathism of the lower jaw (distocclusion, Angle Class II), a reduced […]
Overgrowth
Overgrowth of the lower jaw that is often associated with underdevelopment of the upper jaw or even the entire midface and a crossbite (inverted overbite) of the front teeth. See progenia
Overjet
Overjet is an English technical term and refers to the sagittal overjet of the front teeth. The term is also common in the German technical language.