orthodontia

noun

or·​tho·​don·​tia ˌȯr-thə-ˈdän(t)-sh(ē-)ə How to pronounce orthodontia (audio)
1
2
: dental appliances (such as braces) used in orthodontic treatment

Examples of orthodontia in a Sentence

We took out a loan to pay for our son's orthodontia.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The rise of orthodontia and the fall of smoking have played roles in bringing about this new normal. Gary Baum, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Aug. 2024 Following 14 months with dental brackets on her teeth, the single mom of five debuted her fresh orthodontia to her family. Zoey Lyttle, Peoplemag, 14 June 2024 Most patients will need rhinoplasty and years of orthodontia as well and, in some cases, additional surgeries to help with things like speech. Megan Rose, ProPublica, 6 Mar. 2024 Mewing is viewed online as a free alternative to plastic surgery or orthodontia, which can cost up to tens of thousands of dollars. Hannah Yasharoff, USA TODAY, 11 Apr. 2023 Cheaper than orthodontia and cosmetic surgery even. Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 18 May 2010 This leaves less room for teeth, which have changed little in size or abundance over human history—and may help explain why crooked choppers and a need for orthodontia are so common, study author Noreen von Cramon-Taubadel tells the BBC. Douglas Main, Discover Magazine, 23 Nov. 2011 Twigs isn't the only celebrity to experiment with adult orthodontia. Kara Nesvig, Allure, 22 Dec. 2022 For those who do, the service must be completed in the year of the deduction—so a parent can’t pay the full bill for a child’s orthodontia and deduct it for 2022 if the work isn’t finished until 2023. Laura Saunders, WSJ, 25 Nov. 2022

Word History

Etymology

New Latin

First Known Use

circa 1849, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of orthodontia was circa 1849

Dictionary Entries Near orthodontia

Cite this Entry

“Orthodontia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/orthodontia. Accessed 9 Dec. 2024.

Medical Definition

orthodontia

noun
orth·​odon·​tia ˌȯr-thə-ˈdän-ch(ē-)ə How to pronounce orthodontia (audio)
1
2
: dental appliances (as braces) used in orthodontic treatment
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!