Orthodontic
/ˌɔːrθəˈdɒntɪk/noun
Relating to the correction of irregularities in the alignment of the teeth and jaws.
Did you know?The Greek word for tooth, odous—with its combining form odont-—also survives in words such as mastodon, literally “breast tooth.”
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*h₃er-tós; *h₃dónts
“Two roots behind the word: one meaning “straight” or “fitting,” and another meaning “tooth.””
Ancient Greek
Greek
orthós
“Straight, upright, correct, or proper.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
odoús, odóntos
“Tooth; the genitive form odóntos supplied the combining form odont-.”
19th Century
English
orthodontia
“The branch of dentistry concerned with correcting irregular teeth and jaws.”
19th Century
English
orthodontic
“Relating to orthodontia or the correction of dental irregularities.”
Modern English
English
orthodontic
“Concerned with aligning teeth and correcting related jaw-position problems.”