Levelling
Pronunciation: LEV-el-ing
The orthodontic phase of treatment aimed at aligning the occlusal plane by eliminating vertical discrepancies such as a deep curve of Spee or irregular tooth heights.
Full Definition
Levelling is one of the classic stages of fixed appliance orthodontic treatment, often described alongside alignment, space closure, and finishing. It involves the sequential use of archwires of increasing stiffness to bring tooth crowns into a single, coordinated arc. In clinical documents, 'levelling' (British English, double 'l') is the preferred spelling in UK orthodontic practice, while 'leveling' (single 'l') appears in American publications. Editors must apply regional spelling conventions consistently. Levelling is commonly conflated with alignment, but the two target different tooth-movement axes.
Usage
Usage note: UK spelling: 'levelling' (double 'l'). US spelling: 'leveling'. Apply consistently based on publication region. Do not conflate with 'alignment', which addresses rotations and inclinations rather than vertical discrepancies.
In Context
- "The levelling and alignment phase was completed after six months of fixed appliance treatment." — Orthodontic case report
- "The manuscript used 'leveling' throughout; this was standardised to 'levelling' for the UK journal submission." — Copyediting note