Category Archives: Clinical Conditions

Definition An ankylosed tooth means the root of a tooth is permanently connected to the jaw. It cannot move because the tooth no longer has the protective periodontal ligament around it. The root of the tooth will then become permanently attached to the jaw bone. An ankylosed tooth looks exactly like a regular tooth, except […]

Definition NOTE: The following information is for reference when specifically dealing with dentoalveolar tooth movements with clear aligners and excludes all medical, functional, developmental and skeletal causes for open bites. An anterior open bite is generally defined as a condition where the upper & lower posterior teeth are touching when the patient bites down, but the anterior teeth […]

Definition A Black Triangle is the space or gap seen at the cervical embrasure, below the contact point of some teeth. The interdental gingiva doesn’t fully fill the void between teeth at the gingival margin. Causes Black triangles can happen with any method of alignment, including traditional braces. This is a natural consequence of alignment […]

Definition In a normal dentition, primary or permanent, the buccal cusps of the upper posterior teeth occlude on the buccal aspect of the lower teeth, the lingual cusps of the upper posterior teeth align with the occlusal surface of the lower teeth, and the upper anterior teeth are positioned to the labial surface of the […]

opics covered: Definition, causes and recommended solutions for prescribing crowded cases Techniques for prescribing crowded cases including; proclination, expansion, distalization, and IPR Definition Crowding of teeth is where there is insufficient room for the normal complement of adult teeth. Causes There are many possible causes for malocclusion, including the size and shape of the teeth, […]

Definition A frenum (or frenulum) is a small fold of tissue that secures or restricts the motion of a mobile organ in the body. The primary function of oral frenula is to keep the lips and tongue in harmony with the growing bones of the mouth during development. The frenums of most concern are those found under the tongue, front […]

Definition Gingival (gum) recession is the process in which the margin of the gum tissue that surrounds the teeth moves apically away from the cementoenamel junction, exposing more of the tooth or the tooth’s root. Healthy, attached gingival tissue can only exist in the presence of healthy, supporting alveolar bone; when one or more of the […]

Definition A posterior open bite occurs when the patient bites down and only the anterior teeth come into contact although the posterior teeth are not in occlusion. Causes There are many possible causes for a posterior open bite, and accordingly, different methods of resolving this undesirable phenomenon. In this article, we will only discuss open bites […]

Definition A short clinical crown is defined as any tooth with less than 2mm of sound tooth structure, opposing parallel walls. Simply stated they are crowns that don’t protrude from the gums very much. The term “clinical crown” refers to the visible portion of the tooth that a doctor can observe directly. Causes Common causes […]

Definition Short roots are a rare developmental anomaly characterized by full root formation, but with genetically determined foreshortening. The affected root is smaller or presents the same size of the dental crown, has a tendency towards bilateral involvement and presents no other etiological factors. We are using this term in a general sense as a broad […]