Question about term

[mariahfromchicago]

I know that none of you are orthos. But out of curiosity, do any of you know what Z-step means and what that will do?

[Sunny]

Not a term I've heard at work Mariah. Do you know what part of your treatment this is related to, as I can ask one of the orthodontist's I work with?

[mariahfromchicago]

I don't know... The way they pronounce Z is zee.
Makes me wonder... Z step (like zee) could it be the same as Z step (when pronouced as Zed)???

[mariahfromchicago]

All the ortho said was that they were putting a bend in the wire. They called it Z Step.

[Zoso]

Probably a bend in the archwire. Do you have a tooth/teeth that need to be either uprighted or de-rotated?

[mariahfromchicago]

yes, but on the lowers. I thought it was a type of bend. I wonder if it's in the shape of a z.

[mariahfromchicago]

Uprighted? What's that? I don't think so :\

[Zoso]

Uprighting it just what it sounds like - set upright. Not a fancy ortho term - just English

[Sunny]

Mariah, maybe your ortho is going to tweak the alignment of a tooth or two, by using a step in the archwire that is referred to as a z-step.

When we refer to the uprighting of a tooth, we are referring to correcting the vertical placement of the tooth.

Ask your ortho what it is and what it will do. It's always good to learn what different terms mean.

[Zoso]

That's interesting, Sunny. Maybe it's another case of your choice of words not making your meaning clear, but what you say ("When we refer to the uprighting of a tooth, we are referring to correcting the vertical placement of the tooth.") you sound like you are talking about levelling or intrusion/extrusion, whereas I have always been given to understand that "uprighting" refers to taking a tipped tooth and torquing it up to the correct angle. Thus / becomes | (very crudely)

Edited to add: Of course, bends can be used to make vertical corrections, but I've only run across the specific term "z-bend" with respect to correcting tipped or rotated teeth. I am speculating here, but this makes me wonder if it is therefore referring to a bend in the z-axis rather than the shape of the bend...

[mariahfromchicago]

I don't think I have any rotated teeth on my uppers. I think it is only lowers.