arch wire

arch wire,

an orthodontic wire fastened to two or more teeth through fixed attachments, used to cause or guide tooth movement. See also full-arch wire, sectional arch wire.

---

arch (pl. es),

n a structure with a curved outline, such as bone.

arch bar,

n See bar, arch.

arch, basal,

n See base, apical.

arch, branchial,

n the small pouches that emerge during embryonic development on each side of the pharynx. Also known as the
pharyngeal arches.

arch, dental,

n the composite structure of the dentition and alveolar ridge or the remains thereof after the loss of some or all of the natural teeth.

arch, dental, contraction,

n See contraction.

arch, dentulous dental

n a dental arch containing natural teeth.

arch, edentulous dental

n a dental arch from which all natural teeth are missing. Also called the
residual alveolar ridge.

arch expansion,

n See expansion.

arch form,

See form, arch.

arch, high labial,

n a labial arch wire adapted so that it lies gingival to the anterior tooth crowns; it has auxiliary springs extending downward in contact with the teeth to be moved.

arch, inferior dental,

n See arch, lower.

arch length,

n the length of a dental arch, usually measured through the points of contact between adjoining teeth.

arch length, available,

n the space available for all teeth.

arch length, deficiency,

n the difference between required and available arch length.

arch length, required,

n the sum of the mesiodistal widths of all teeth.

arch, lower,

n the arch-like curve of the cutting edges and surfaces of the teeth on the mandible. Also known as the
inferior dental arch.

arch, ovoid,

n an arch that curves continuously from the molars on one side to the molars on the opposite side so that two such arches placed back to back describe an oval.

arch, palatine,

n (glossopalatine arch), the pillars of the fauces; the two arches of mucous membrane enclosing the muscles at the sides of the passage from the oral cavity to the pharynx.

arch, partially edentulous dental,

n a dental arch from which one or more but not all teeth are missing.

arch, passive lingual,

n an orthodontic appliance effective in maintaining space and preserving arch length when bilateral primary molars are prematurely lost.

arch, pharyngeal,

n See arch, branchial.

arch, removable lingual,

n an arch wire designed to fit the lingual sur-face of the teeth. It has two posts soldered on each end that fit snugly into the vertical tubes of the molar anchor bands.

arch, stationary lingual,

n an arch wire designed to fit the lingual surface of the teeth and soldered to the anchor bands.

arch, tapering,

n a dental arch that converges from molars to central incisors to such an extent that lines passing through the central grooves of the molars and premolars intersect within 1 inch (2.5 cm) anterior to the central incisors.

arch, trapezoidal

n an arch that has the same convergence as a tapering arch but to a lesser degree. The anterior teeth are somewhat square to abruptly rounded from canine tip to canine tip. The canines act as corners of the arch.

arch, U-shaped,

n a dental arch in which there is little difference in diameter (width) between the first premolars and the last molars; the curve from canine to canine is abrupt, so a dental arch in the shape of a capital U is formed.

arch width,

n the width of a dental arch. The width, which varies in all diameters between the right and left opposites, is determined by direct measurement between the canines, between the first molars, and between the second premolars. These intercanine, interpremolar, and intermolar distances can be cited as arch width.

arch wire,

n a wire applied to two or more teeth through fixed attachments to cause or guide orthodontic tooth movement.

arch wire, full,

n a wire extending from the molar region of one side of an arch to the other.

arch wire, sectional,

n a wire extending to only a few teeth, usually on one side or in the anterior segment.

---

wire,

n slender and pliable rod or thread of metal.

wire, arch,

n wire used in orthodontics as a source of force to direct teeth to move in desired directions. The wire may be described according to the shape of its cross-section, such as ribbon, rectangular, or round.

wire, diagnostic,

n See wire, measuring.

wire edge,

n a thin, rough ridge created by particles that have been rearranged during hand instrument sharpening and appear on the surface adjoining the cutting edge.

wire, internal suspension,

n one of a network of wires placed inside the oral cavity connecting the zygoma and mandibular arch bar, which are used to immobilize the maxillary arch for healing after a LeFort I fracture. See also fracture, LeFort.

wire, Kirschner,

n.pr a surgical steel wire of heavy gauge with pointed ends; used in the reduction and fixation of bone fragments by passing it through the cancellous portion of the bone and spanning the fracture site.

wire, ligature,

n a soft, thin wire used to tie an arch wire to the band attachments.

wire, measuring,

n a wire or other similar metal placed in a root canal to determine the length of the canal. A radiogram is used to make the determination.

wire, orthodontic,

n stainless steel and wrought gold wire of various dimensions used in orthodontic treatment.

wire, Risdon

n.pr a wire arch bar tied in the midline.

wire, separating,

n wire threaded interproximally between two adjacent teeth and tightened by twisting the ends together to wedge the teeth slightly apart. Separating wire is used in preparation to adapt bands to teeth having tight contacts with adjacent teeth.

wire, transosseous

n a thin, flexible thread of metal that is laced through a hole drilled into the bone to bridge a fracture line and stabilize bone fragments. See also wire, Kirschner and wiring, perialveolar.

wire, wrought,

n 1. a wire formed by drawing a cast structure through a die; used in dentistry for partial denture clasps and orthodontic appliances.
n 2. a form of metal resulting from the swaging, rolling, and drawing of a metal ingot into a desired shape and size.

---

arch wire

A stainless steel orthodontic wire attached to braces or brackets to move the teeth in dentistry, or stabilize the jaw in LeFort fractures. See LeFort fracture.