HOSA Dental Terminology Practice

What condition is characterized by the excessive protrusion of maxillary incisors?

1. Overbite

2. Overjet

3. Underbite

4. Crossbite

The correct answer is: Overjet

The condition characterized by the excessive protrusion of maxillary incisors is known as overjet. This term refers specifically to the horizontal distance between the maxillary (upper) incisors and the mandibular (lower) incisors. When the maxillary incisors are excessively protruded, it increases the overjet measurement. In this case, having a significant overjet can affect both esthetics and function, as it may lead to challenges in biting and chewing as well as potential for trauma to the maxillary incisors. Understanding overjet is crucial for dental professionals, as it allows for the assessment of occlusal relationships and aids in the formulation of appropriate treatment plans for orthodontic intervention when necessary. The other terms, while related to dental occlusion, refer to different conditions: an overbite typically describes how much the upper incisors overlap the lower ones vertically, an underbite indicates that the lower jaw is positioned forward relative to the upper jaw, and a crossbite refers to a situation where some upper teeth bite inside the lower teeth, showing a discrepancy in how the upper and lower teeth fit together. Each of these demonstrates different positional relationships that are distinct from the excessive protrusion described in the question.