Retainer Health Dictionary

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Retainer: From 1 Different Sources

n. (in dentistry) 1. the component of a partial *denture that keeps it in place. 2. an *orthodontic appliance that holds the teeth in position at the end of active treatment. 3. the component of a *bridge that is fixed to a natural tooth.
Health Source: Oxford | Concise Colour Medical Dictionary
Author: Jonathan Law, Elizabeth Martin

Ort

An abbreviation for oral rehydration therapy. (See also rehydration therapy.)

ortho- A prefix meaning normal, correct, or straight, as in orthopaedics, a branch of surgery concerned with correcting disorders of the bones and joints.

orthodontic appliances Fixed or removable devices, commonly known as braces, worn to correct malocclusion, or to reposition overcrowded or buck teeth. Usually fitted during childhood and adolescence, they move teeth using sustained gentle pressure. A fixed appliance has brackets attached to the teeth through which an arch wire is threaded and tightened to exert pressure. These are usually kept in place for about a year, after which time a retainer plate may be needed to hold the teeth in place until tooth and jaw growth has finished.

Removable appliances, consisting of a plastic plate with attachments that anchor over the back teeth, are used when only one or a few teeth need correcting. They apply force by means of springs, wire bows, screws, or rubber bands fitted to the plate.... ort

Bridge

n. (in dentistry) a fixed replacement for missing teeth. The artificial tooth is attached to one or more natural teeth, usually by a crown. Bridges may also be fitted on dental *implants. The supporting teeth (or implants) are referred to as abutments, and the artificial teeth that fit over them are referred to as retainers. The replacements of missing teeth are known as pontics. Adhesive bridges are attached to one or more adjacent teeth by a metal plate that adheres to the enamel on the tooth surface prepared by the *acid-etch technique; these bridges require minimal tooth preparation compared with conventional types of bridges.

brief resolved unexplained episode (BRUE) a sudden, brief (less than 30 to 60 seconds), and resolved episode in an infant that includes one or more of the following: decreased or irregular breathing; change in muscle tone; pallor or cyanosis or altered responsiveness. The episode is frightening for the person caring for the infant. BRUE is a description rather than a diagnosis and the term is used only when there is no explanation for the event after a thorough history and examination.... bridge

Orthodontic Appliance

an appliance used to move teeth as part of orthodontic treatment. A fixed appliance is fitted to the teeth by stainless steel bands or brackets that hold a special archwire, to perform complex tooth movements; it is used by dentists with specialist training (orthodontists). A removable appliance is a dental plate with appropriate retainers and springs to perform simple tooth movements; it is removed from the mouth for cleaning by the patient.... orthodontic appliance

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