HOSA Dental Terminology Practice

What is an osteotomy?

1. An operation to join two bones

2. An incision made to the bone

3. A procedure to remove teeth

4. A dental cleaning process

The correct answer is: An incision made to the bone

An osteotomy refers to an incision or surgical cutting of the bone. This procedure is often performed to correct bone deformities, realign bones, or relieve pressure on certain structures in the body. It can be an essential step in various orthopaedic and dental surgeries, allowing for corrective measures that improve function or appearance. While the other options describe different procedures, they do not accurately represent the definition of an osteotomy. For instance, joining two bones describes a different surgical procedure typically referred to as arthrodesis or bone fusion. Removing teeth falls under tooth extraction procedures, and dental cleaning involves routine hygiene practices that do not involve surgical incisions to the bone. Understanding this distinction highlights the specific nature of osteotomy in a clinical context.