Everything about
dentistry & orthodontic treatment

3

3D scan

The scanner wand is moved over the rows of teeth, the built-in laser transfers the data to the computer – and you can admire your teeth straight away. The 3D scan then forms the basis for orthodontic treatment planning. » learn more

A

ASR (interproximal reduction)

ASR stands for approximal enamel reduction (also known as interproximal reduction). It is used to relieve crowding and helps us to shape a harmonious dental arch for you. » learn more

Attachments

Attachments are small resin dots that help to make certain tooth movements with aligners easier or possible in the first place. » learn more

B

Bite blocks

Bite blocks are used to correct an incorrect bite height. » learn more

Bite correction

Bite correction covers all the therapeutic measures used to achieve a normal bite relationship.

Bite levelling

Bite levelling is a therapeutic adjustment of the bite by means of bite raising or bite lowering.

Bite lowering

Bite lowering is a reduction in the distance between the upper and lower jaw that has occurred through wear of the chewing surfaces of the teeth or through tooth loss.

Bite raising

Bite raising means increasing the distance between the upper and lower jaw in order to correct a bite that is too deep.

Bite ramps

Bite ramps are small bumps built into the inside of your aligner. They are mainly used to correct a deep bite.

Bite relationship

The bite relationship describes the position of the lower jaw relative to the upper jaw when the teeth are fully closed together.

Buccal

Buccal refers to the outer surface of a tooth – the surface facing the cheek.

C

Canine

The canine is the third single-rooted tooth in both the primary (baby) dentition and the permanent dentition. » learn more

Cephalometric X-ray

A cephalometric X-ray is an X-ray image of the skull taken from the side.

Clear brackets

Transparent brackets that are attached to the outside of your teeth. » learn more

ClinCheck

ClinCheck is the name of the simulation of the treatment result of your invisible braces. » learn more

Cover bite

The cover bite, a form of deep bite, is a special type of distal bite. In a cover bite, some of the upper front teeth usually tilt backwards and the others tilt forwards.

Crossbite

In a lateral crossbite, the lower back teeth bite over the upper back teeth. A crossbite can occur on one side or on both sides.

Crowding

With crowding, the front teeth overlap one another. In some cases the misalignment is so pronounced that teeth are almost standing one behind the other.

D

Disc displacement

Disc displacements are unphysiological positions of the articular disc in relation to the condyle – partial or total, with or without reduction, in maximum intercuspation or during excursive movements of the lower jaw. » learn more

Distal

Distal means in the direction from the middle of the dental arch towards the end of the dental arch.

E

Essix retainers

Transparent retainers that you wear at night to protect your smile.

Expansion plate

The expansion plate is a removable orthodontic appliance with expansion screws and traction screws for widening the jaw.

Extraction

Extraction is the removal of a tooth.

F

Front teeth

The front teeth are the four incisors and two canines in each of the upper and lower jaws.

G

Gaps between teeth

Spaces between the teeth. Gappy teeth often have a considerable impact on appearance.

Gingiva

Gingiva is the Latin term for the gums.

Gummy smile

A gummy smile is when an excessive amount of gum is visible when you laugh or open your mouth slightly.

H

Happy Moments

At the end of their orthodontic treatment, patients have the opportunity to capture their new smile in a professional photo shoot.

Hawley retainer

The Hawley retainer consists of metal clasps and a sturdy plastic plate. » learn more

I

Increased overjet (Class II)

An increased overjet (Class II) is the most common type of misalignment. The lower jaw sits too far back, creating a gap between the upper and lower incisors.

Intraoral

Intraoral refers to the inside of the mouth.

Invisalign

Invisalign aligners are almost invisible, removable aligners that you wear day and night and that gently move your teeth into the desired position. » learn more

L

Lingual braces

With lingual braces, the brackets are attached to the inside of the teeth and are therefore not visible from the outside. » learn more

M

Mandible

The mandible (Latin: mandibula) is the lower jaw.

Memotain wire

This is a state-of-the-art retainer wire that is precisely fitted to your teeth.

Mixed dentition

Mixed dentition is the term for a set of teeth with both baby teeth and permanent teeth.

Molars

The molars are the teeth furthest back in the jaw and have the largest chewing surfaces.

N

Night guards

Night guards (bruxism splints) are plastic bite splints or occlusal splints. » learn more

O

Occlusion trainer

Bite firmly on the occlusion trainer. It helps your aligners to sit properly. » learn more

On-time guarantee

If your treatment takes longer than planned, you will not incur any additional costs.

Open bite

With an open bite, the front teeth of the upper and lower jaw do not touch each other, even when the teeth are clenched together. In extreme cases, only the rearmost back teeth touch when biting.

Overjet

Overjet is the horizontal overlap of the teeth, i.e. the relationship between the upper and lower front teeth in the horizontal plane.

P

Palate

The palate is the roof of the oral cavity.

Panoramic X-ray

This is an X-ray image on which all the teeth and their roots can be seen.

Permanent dentition

The permanent dentition replaces the primary (baby) dentition. » learn more

Permanent teeth

Permanent teeth are the teeth that come through to replace the baby (primary) teeth.

Power Ridges

Power Ridges are small grooves in your aligner that serve as pressure distribution points.

Protrusion

The forward “tilting out” of the front teeth is called protrusion. To correct it, either the back teeth have to be moved backwards to bring the front teeth back into the jawbone, or even healthy teeth have to be extracted. In adults, this tooth movement often starts suddenly with inflammation of the gums and bone loss (periodontitis).

R

Records

We take a 3D scan, photos and X-rays. These form the basis for perfect planning. » learn more

Retention

In the retention phase, you wear a night-time aligner, or we bond a wire to the inside of your teeth to make sure they do not shift back. » learn more

S

Satisfaction guarantee

Nobody leaves us without a beautiful smile. If you are not happy with your Invisalign result, we will continue to treat you with brackets until you are happy.

Sleep apnoea

Sleep apnoea means pauses in breathing during the night. » learn more

SureSmile

SureSmile is a computer-controlled treatment system that works with intelligent wires as part of fixed orthodontic treatment. These robot-bent wires are precisely fitted to your teeth. » learn more

U

Underbite

With an underbite, the lower jaw bites too far in front of the upper jaw. The incisors sometimes meet edge to edge or even bite the wrong way round, one behind the other, in what is known as a crossbite.

V

Vivera retainers

Transparent retainers (made by Align Technology) that you wear at night to protect your smile. » learn more