The AAO is the recognized orthodontic specialty organization in dentistry, founded in 1900. During the intervening one hundred years, the basic organizational structure of the specialty has been placed on a firm professional foundation.The association is composed of 15,000 members worldwide, with about 9,350 active members in the exclusive practice of orthodontics in the United States and Canada.The members must meet the educational requirements of the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association for a specialist, which is currently at least two academic years of advanced education in an accredited program.
This edition of the Glossary is an update and revision of the 1993 version, adding some new terms, clarifying or shortening some, and omitting others.Most of the general computer terms were omitted as they are now part of our common language.The goal was to have a brief document of the most commonly used terms in the specialty.Standard medical and dental dictionaries should be used for more sophisticated and technical verbiage. Glossaries developed in other dental specialties are also helpful. Many terms used in orthodontics are compounds of two or more words which become idiomatic expressions that mean more than the sum of their parts. It has been thought best for practical reasons to retain the traditional usage of combined terms in the alphabetical arrangement of entries even though consistency and scientific system are not among the virtues of this form of organization.
Orthodontics/Dentofacial Orthopedics That dental specialty which includes the diagnosis, prevention, interception, guidance and correction of malrelationships of the developing or mature orofacial structures.
AAO GLOSSARY COMMITTEE
Donald R. Poulton, Chair
Charles J. Burstone
T.M. Graber
Larson E. Keso
David L. Turpin
