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| Medical Definitions
Othognathic Surgery:
The surgical correction of jaw deformities. The word orthognathic means "Straight Jaws"
Osteotomy:
The incision, sectioning, or cutting of bone, for the purpose of repositioning it.
LeFort I Maxillary Osteotomy:
A common orthognathic (jaw) surgery performed to correct maxillary hypoplasia (an underdeveloped jaw)
LeFort II Osteotomy:
An osteotomy of the nasal maxillary complex (nose and upper jaw) of the middle third of the face.
Le Fort III Osteotomy:
A surgical separation and repositioning of the naso-maxillary/malar complex (nose, upper jaw, and cheekbones), generally performed to bring the entire middle third of the face forward.
Occlusion:
The way the teeth come together. Occlusion may be normal or abnormal (malocclusion) and classified as follows: Class 1 = When the teeth meet in normal fashion.
Class 2 = When the mandibular teeth are behind the normal relationship with the maxillary teeth. Class 3 = When the lower dental arch is in front of the upper dental arch, sometimes called an "underbite"
Malocclusion:
Is a problem in the way the upper and lower teeth fit together in biting or chewing. The word malocclusion literally means "Bad bite." The condition may also be referred to as an irregular bite, crossbite, or overbite.
Mandible:
The lower Jaw
Maxilla:
The upper jaw, which contains the upper teeth, the palate, the maxillary
sinuses, the floor of the nose and part of the orbital rim.
Premaxilla:
The middle section of the upper gum containing the four upper front teeth.
Maxillofacial Advancement:
A procedure where the maxilla is moved forward to achieve a normal facial profile.
Surgical Splint:
A plastic and/or acrylic splint, or mouthpiece, used to maintain the
tissues in their position following orthognathic surgery.
Hyperplasia:
(Maxillary excess) Abnormal growth and/or enlargement. May cause protrusion of the upper jaw
or elongation of the face.
Hypoplasia:
(Maxillary deficiency) Incomplete or arrested development. For instance, maxillary hypoplasia is the medical term for an underdeveloped upper jaw.
Prognathic:
(Mandibular prognathism) Excess mandibular bone causes protrusion of the lower jaw beyond the normal alignment with the upper jaw. This can prevent effective biting and chewing
of food.
Retrognathia:
(Mandibular) Is a deficiency of the mandibular bone (underdeveloped lower jaw) Does not allow the upper and lower teeth to come together when chewing, speech may be affected.
Autogenous Bone Graft:
Bone borrowed from one part of the body (e.g the hip, rib or skull) transferred to the area where it is needed.
Prothesis:
An artificial substitute for a missing body part
Prostodontist:
A dentist who specializes in providing prosthetic appliances for oral structures.
Rhinoplasty:
Nasal reconstruction
Nasal Septum:
The dividing wall that runs down the middle of the nose.
Bilateral:
Affecting the left and right sides.
Abbe Flap:
In this operation the surgeon will take some of the lower lip tissue and
transfer it to the repaired upper lip to give a fuller upper lip area.
Alveolar Ridge:
The bony part of the upper and lower jaws that contain the teeth.
Uvula:
The dangling bag-like structure in the back of the throat.
Velum:
The soft palate.
Vermillion:
The dark pink tissue that makes up the lip.
Zygoma:
The malar bone, or cheek bone.
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