A simple explanation of some terms used in Orthodontics
| Occlusion | the way the teeth bite together |
| Class 1 occlusion | The ideal biting relationship (most common Caucasian bite) |
| Class 2 occlusion | The lower teeth are behind the Class 1 position |
| Class 3 Occlusion | The lower teeth are biting in front of the ideal position |
| Overjet | horizontal overlap of the upper incisors compared to the lower incisors ideal is usually approx 2-3mm |
| Overbite | Vertical overlap of the upper incisors compared to the lower incisors -ideal usually approx 2-3mm |
| Incisor teeth | 2 Front teeth either side of the midline |
| Canine Teeth | Third tooth from the midline (often fang shaped) |
| Premolar teeth | (teeth before the molars) positioned 4th and 5th from the midline |
| Molar teeth | large double teeth at the back of the mouth |
| Alignment | how well the teeth fall on an ideal arch shape |
| Angulation | AKA tip – a tilt of a tooth along a horizontal axis perpendicular to the arch |
| Inclination | AKA Torque a tilt of a tooth along a horizontal axis parallel to the arch |
| Rotation | a twist of a tooth along its long axis |
| Levelling | reducing the overbite to normal |
| Relationship | similar to ‘occlusion’ how close to ideal the teeth bite |
| Crowding | The amount of excess dental tissue to the arch length |
| Arch length | The length of the average line judged to describe the shape of the dental arch |
