posterior bite blocks are temporary “platforms” placed on the back teeth (premolars and/or molars) to change how the upper and lower teeth meet. They are commonly used in orthodontics to open the bite (increase the space between teeth) during tooth movement. They can be made from bonded dental materials (often resin-based composite) or fabricated as part of a removable appliance. The goal is usually to guide occlusion (the bite) in a controlled way while other dental or orthodontic steps are performed.

bite turbos are small “bite-opening” additions placed on teeth to temporarily change how the upper and lower teeth touch. They are most commonly used during orthodontic treatment with braces or clear aligners. In plain terms, they create a little extra space so certain teeth or brackets don’t hit each other. They are usually made from tooth-colored dental resin (composite), though other designs and materials exist.

bite opening is a dental strategy that increases the space between the upper and lower teeth when you bite together. It is commonly used in orthodontics and restorative dentistry to create “working room” for tooth movement or repairs. It can be done temporarily with bonded materials (such as composite “bite turbos”) or with removable appliances. The exact method and amount of opening varies by clinician and case.

curve of Spee leveling is an orthodontic approach used to flatten or reduce the natural front-to-back curvature of the biting surface. It is most often discussed when planning deep-bite correction and full-arch alignment. It can be performed with braces, clear aligners, or a combination of techniques. The goal is to create a more balanced, stable bite relationship between the upper and lower teeth.

TSALD is a term some dental teams use as shorthand for a tooth-colored, adhesive, light-cured restorative material placed in small amounts. It is most commonly discussed in the context of minor repairs, small cavities, or as a thin “liner” layer under another filling material. The exact meaning of TSALD can vary by clinician, region, and manufacturer terminology. In everyday patient language, it generally refers to a tooth-colored resin material that bonds to teeth and hardens with a curing light.

tooth size discrepancy is a mismatch between the widths of upper and lower teeth. It describes whether teeth are proportionally “too large” in one arch compared with the other. It is most commonly discussed in orthodontics and smile design during treatment planning. It helps explain spacing, crowding, and why a bite may not “fit” ideally even when teeth look straight.

bolton analysis is a tooth-size measurement method used to compare the width of upper teeth to lower teeth. It helps identify a “tooth size discrepancy,” meaning the teeth in one arch are proportionally larger or smaller than the other. It is most commonly used in orthodontics (braces and aligners) and smile planning when spaces, crowding, or bite fit seem inconsistent. The results are usually expressed as ratios for the front teeth and for the full set of teeth used in the analysis.

digital models are computerized 3D representations of teeth, gums, and bite relationships. They are usually created from intraoral scans, desktop scans of impressions, or cone-beam CT (CBCT) data. Clinicians use them to plan treatment, design restorations, and communicate with dental labs. They can replace or supplement traditional plaster “stone” models in many workflows.

An intraoral scan (ortho) is a digital way to capture the shape of teeth and gums using a handheld camera-like scanner. It creates a 3D model that can replace many traditional “impressions” made with dental putty. It is commonly used in orthodontics for clear aligners, braces planning, retainers, and tracking tooth movement over time. The scan is stored as a digital file that can be used for planning and fabrication.

CBCT stands for cone beam computed tomography, a 3D dental imaging scan. It uses a cone-shaped X‑ray beam to capture many images and reconstruct a three-dimensional view. CBCT is commonly used in dentistry and oral surgery for detailed evaluation of teeth, jaws, and surrounding structures. It is different from a standard dental X‑ray, which is typically two-dimensional.