Dentoalveolar Protrusion
A condition in which the teeth and supporting alveolar bone are positioned more anteriorly than the skeletal bases, resulting in a prominent dental profile.
Full Definition
Dentoalveolar protrusion describes forward inclination or positioning of the teeth together with their surrounding alveolar bone, occurring independently of the underlying skeletal jaw relationship. It is commonly seen in Class II and Class I malocclusions and contributes to increased overjet and a convex soft-tissue profile. In clinical documentation, it is critical to differentiate dentoalveolar protrusion from true skeletal prognathism, as the treatment approaches differ substantially. Editors should hyphenate the term consistently ('dentoalveolar') and be alert to authors using 'bimaxillary protrusion' when only one arch is affected. Treatment typically involves extraction of premolars followed by retraction of the anterior teeth.
Usage
Usage note: Hyphenate as 'dentoalveolar' (no space). Distinguish from the skeletal condition of prognathism.
In Context
- "Premolar extractions were planned to address the significant dentoalveolar protrusion evident on clinical examination." — Treatment planning record
- "The case summary confused dentoalveolar protrusion with prognathism; the editor flagged the distinction for author clarification." — Editorial review