A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | V | W |
Abutment: A tooth or implant used to support a prosthesis. A crown unit used as part of a fixed bridge. Top
Abscess: A localized inflammation due to a collection of pus in the bone or soft tissue. This is usually caused by an infection. Top
Alloy: A mixture of two or more metals used to repair teeth. There are noble (mostly silver), high noble (mostly gold) and "base" metal alloys. Cost of a filling or crown depends on the alloy selected. Top
Amalgam: A dental filling material, composed of mercury and other minerals, used to fill decayed teeth. Top
Alveolus: An opening in the jawbone in which a tooth is attached. Top
Alveoloplasty: A surgical procedure used to recontour the supporting bone structures in preparation of a complete or partial denture. Top
Anesthetic: Drugs that eliminate or reduce pain. Also see local anesthetic. Top
Anterior: Refers to the teeth and tissues located towards the front of the mouth (upper or lower incisors and canines). Top
Apex: The tip or end of the root of the tooth. Top
Apicoectomy: The amputation of the apex of a tooth. Top
Baby Teeth: Also see primary teeth. Top
Base Metal: The alloys used for partials or crowns, which do not contain precious metals. Top
Bicuspid: A two-cusped tooth found between the molar and the cuspid. Also known as an eye tooth or canine tooth. Top
Biopsy: A process of removing tissue to determine the existence of pathology. Top
Bitewing X-rays: X-rays taken of the crowns of teeth to check for decay. Top
Bleaching: The technique of applying a chemical agent, usually hydrogen peroxide, to the teeth to whiten them. Top
Bonding: A process to chemically etch the tooth's enamel to better attach (bond) composite filling material, veneers, or plastic/acrylic. Top
Bone Loss: The breakdown and loss of bone supporting the teeth, usually caused by infection or long-term occlusal (chewing areas of the teeth) stress. Top
Bridge: A nonremovable restoration used to replace missing teeth. Top
Bruxism: The involuntary clenching or grinding of the teeth. Top
Buccal: The tooth surface that is next to the cheek. Usually only posterior teeth touch the check, so dentists usually use the term “buccal” when talking about back teeth. Top
Calculus: A hard deposit of mineralized plaque that forms on the crown and/or root of the tooth. Also referred to as tartar. Top
Canine Tooth: The second tooth from the big front tooth, commonly called the eye tooth or cuspid. Top
Cap: Another term for crown. Usually referring to a crown for a front tooth. Top
Caries: The technical and correct term for decay. The progressive breaking down or dissolving of tooth structure, caused by acid produced when bacteria digest sugars. Top
Cavity: The common term for tooth decay. Also, the dental term for the hole that is left after decay has been removed. Top
Cement: A special type of glue used to hold a crown in place. Cement also acts as an insulator to protect the tooth's nerve. Top
Cementum: The very thin, bonelike structure that covers the root of the tooth. Top
Central Incisors: The two large teeth in the middle of the mouth. Top
Central Tooth: The two upper and two lower teeth in the very center of the mouth. Top
Cephalometric X-rays: A procedure used to make precise measurements for braces. Top
Certified Dental Assistant (CDA): No definition. Top
Clenching: The forceful holding together of the upper and lower teeth, which places stress on the ligaments that hold the teeth to the jawbone and the lower jaw to the skull. Top
Complete Denture: replaces all of the upper teeth and/or all the lower teeth. Top
Complex Rehabilitation: The extensive dental restoration involving 6 or more units of crown and/or bridge in the same treatment plan. Using full crowns and/or fixed bridges which are cemented in place, your dentist will rebuild natural teeth, fill in spaces where teeth are missing and establish conditions which allow each tooth to function in harmony with the occlusion (bite). The extensive procedures involved in complex rehabilitation require an extraordinary amount of time, effort, skill and laboratory collaboration for a successful outcome. Top
Composite: A tooth-colored filling made of plastic resin or porcelain. Top
Consultation: A diagnostic service provided by a dentist other than the treating dentist. Top
Cosmetic Dentistry: Any dental treatment or repair that is solely rendered to improve the appearance of the teeth or mouth. Top
Crown: The portion of a tooth that is covered by enamel. Also a dental restoration that covers the entire tooth and restores it to its original shape. Top
Crown Lengthening: A surgical procedure exposing more tooth for restorative purposes. Top
Curettage: A deep scaling of that portion of the tooth below the gum line. Purpose is to remove calculus and infected gum tissue. Top
Cuspid: Also see canine tooth. Top
Cusp(s): The protruding portion(s) of a tooth's chewing surface. Top
Decay: Also see caries. Top
Deciduous: Also see primary teeth. Top
Dental Assistant (DA): No definition. Top
Dental Floss: A thin, nylon string, waxed or unwaxed, that is inserted between the teeth to remove food and plaque. Top
Dental Hygienist: A dental professional specializing in cleaning the teeth by removing plaque, calculus, and diseased gum tissue. He/She acts as the patient's guide in establishing a proper oral hygiene program. Also known as RDH (registered dental hygienist). Top
Dentin: The part of the tooth that is under both the enamel, which covers the crown, and the cementum, which covers the root. Top
Denture: A removable appliance used to replace teeth. See also complete denture and partial denture. Top
D.D.S.: Doctor of Dental Surgery or D.M.D., Doctor of Dental Medicine. Degrees given to dental school graduates. Both degrees are the same; dental schools identify at their discretion graduates as DMD or DDS. Top
Diagnostic Photographs: Pictures taken to determine treatment, particularly useful for braces. Top
Diagnostic Cast: A mold of the mouth made by taking an impression of the teeth. Top
Direct Pulp Cap: The procedure in which the exposed pulp is covered with a dressing or cement that protects the pulp and promotes healing and repair. Top
D.M.D.: Doctor of Dental Medicine. See also D.D.S. Top
Dry Socket: A localized inflammation of the tooth socket following an extraction due to infection or loss of a blood clot. Top
Enamel: The hard, calcified (mineralized) portion of the tooth that covers the crown. Enamel is the hardest substance in the body. Top
Endodontics: The dental specialty that deals with injuries to or diseases of the pulp, or nerve, of the tooth. Top
Eruption: A tooth coming through the gum into the oral cavity Top
Extraction: The removal of a tooth. Top
Excision: Surgical removal of bone or tissue. Top
Exostosis: The overgrowth of normal bone. Top
External Bleach: The use of external bleaching agents to handle tooth discoloration. Top
Extracoronal: The outside of the crown of the tooth. Top
Extraoral: The outside of the mouth. Top
Extraction: The removal of teeth - may be simple or surgical. Top
Eye Tooth: Also see bicuspid. Top
Filling: Material used to fill a cavity or replace part of a tooth. Top
First Bicuspid: The teeth behind the cuspids. These teeth have two cusps. Top
First Molar: The teeth behind the second bicuspids. These teeth also have a level surface with four cusps. Top
Fistula: A bump or boil on the gum tissue, which is a tract, in which an abscessed tooth can drain. A path by which trapped bacteria can escape from an infected tooth. Top
Floss: Also see dental floss. Top
Fluoride: A chemical compound used to prevent dental decay, utilized in fluoridated water systems and/or applied directly to the teeth. Top
Frenum: Muscle fibers covered by a mucous membrane that attaches the cheek, lips and or tongue to associated dental mucosa. Top
Frenectomy: The removal of a frenum. Top
Full Dentures: Complete replacements for the upper or lower teeth. Top
Full Mouth X-rays: Twelve to 18 films taken to check on dental diseases. Top
Gingiva: The soft tissue that covers the jawbone. Also referred to as the gums. Top
Gingivectomy: The removal of gingiva. Top
Gingivitis: An inflammation or infection of the gingiva; the initial stage of gum disease. Top
Gingivoplasty: A surgical procedure to reshape or repair the gingiva, or gum. Top
Graft: A piece of tissue or synthetic material placed in contact with tissue to repair a defect or supplement a deficiency. Top
Gum: See gingiva. Top
Gum Disease: See periodontal disease. Top
High Noble Metal: See metals, classification of. Top
Immediate Denture: A denture constructed for immediate placement after removal of the remaining teeth. Top
Impacted Tooth: An unerupted or partially erupted tooth that is positioned against another tooth, bone or soft tissue so that complete eruption is unlikely. Top
Impaction, Bony: A condition in which a tooth is unable to erupt normally because it is positioned against a bone. Top
Impaction, Gingival: A condition in which a tooth is unable to erupt normally because it is positioned against the gum Top
Implant: An artificial device, usually made of a metal alloy or ceramic material, that is implanted within the jawbone as a means to attach an artificial crown, denture, or bridge. Top
Incisors: The four front teeth, referred to as central and lateral incisors, located in the upper and lower jaws and used to cut and tear food. Top
Indirect Pulp Cap: A procedure in which the nearly exposed pulp is covered with a protective dressing to protect the pulp from additional injury and to promote healing and repair via formation of secondary dentin. Top
Inlay: A cast gold filling that is used to replace part of a tooth. Top
Internal Bleach: The use of internal bleaching agents on front teeth to address tooth discoloration due to internal causes, such as endodontic treatment (root canal). Top
Interproximal: The area between two adjacent teeth. Top
Intracoronal: The area within the crown of a tooth. Top
Intraoral: The inside of the mouth. Top
Labial: The area pertaining to or around the lip. Top
Lateral Incisors: Next to the central incisor, one on each side. Top
Lateral Tooth: The teeth adjacent to the centrals. Top
Laughing Gas: Also see nitrous oxide. Top
Lingual: The area pertaining to or around the tongue. Top
Local Anesthetic: The injection given in the mouth to numb the areas where a tooth or area needs a dental procedure. Often referred to as novocaine. Top
Malocclusion: The improper alignment of biting or chewing surfaces of upper and lower teeth. Top
Mandible: The lower jaw. Top
Margin: The point at which prepared tooth structure ends and unprepared tooth begins. Top
Maryland Bridge: The trade name that has become synonymous with any resin bonded fixed partial denture (bridge). Top
Mastication: The act of chewing. Top
Maxilla: The upper jaw. Top
Metals, Classification of: The noble metal classification system has been adopted as a more precise method of reporting various alloys in dentistry commonly used in crowns, bridges and dentures. These alloys contain varying percentages of Gold, Palladium and/or Platinum. High noble contains more than 60% of Gold, Palladium, and/or Platinum (with at least 40% gold); noble contains more than 25% Gold, Palladium and/or Platinum; predominantly base contains less than 25% Gold, Palladium and/or Platinum. Top
Molars: The broad, multicusped back teeth, used for grinding food. Considered the largest teeth in the mouth. Adults have a total of twelve molars (including the four wisdom teeth, or third molars), three on each side of the upper and lower jaws. Top
Night Guard: A plastic mouthpiece to prevent damage from grinding teeth at night. May be a hard or soft material. Top
Nitrous Oxide: A controlled mixture of nitrogen and oxygen gases (N2O) that is inhaled by the patient in order to decrease sensitivity to discomfort. Also referred to as laughing gas. Top
Non-Vital Tooth: A tooth that contains no living nerve tissue. Top
Novocaine: A generic name for the many kinds of anesthetics used in the dental injection, such as Xylocaine, Lidocaine, or Novocaine. See local anesthetic. Top
Occlusal X-ray: An intraoral x-ray taken with the film held between the teeth in biting position. Top
Occlusal Surface: The chewing surface of the back teeth. Top
Occlusion: Any contact between biting or chewing surfaces of upper and lower teeth. Top
Onlay: A cast gold or porcelain filling that covers one or all of the tooth's cusps. Top
Oral Surgery: The removal of teeth and the repair and treatment of other oral problems, such as tumors and fractures. Top
Orthodontics: A specialized branch of dentistry that corrects malocclusion and restores the teeth to proper alignment and function. Several different types of appliances are used in orthodontics, one of which is commonly referred to as braces. Top
Osseous Surgery: The repair of bone structure supporting teeth damaged by gum disease. Top
Overbite: A condition in which the upper teeth excessively overlap the lower teeth when the jaw is closed. This condition can be corrected with orthodontics. Top
Palate: The hard and soft tissues forming the roof of the mouth. Top
Palliative: Treatment that relieves pain but is NOT curative. Top
Panoramic X-ray (Panorex): An extraoral full-mouth X-ray that records the teeth and the upper and lower jaws on one film. Top
Partial Denture: A removable appliance used to replace one or more lost teeth. Top
Pediatric Dentistry: The specialized branch of dentistry that deals solely with treating children's dental disease. Also referred to as pedodontics. Top
Pedicle Soft Tissue Graft: The replacement of damaged gum tissue. Top
Periapical: The area that surrounds the root tip of a tooth. Top
Pedodontics: Also see pediatric dentistry. Top
Pericoronitis: An inflammation of the gum tissue around the crown of a tooth, usually the third molar. Top
Periodontal: Relating to the tissue and bone that supports the tooth (from peri, meaning "around," and odont, "tooth"). Top
Periodontal Disease: The inflammation and infection of gums, ligaments, bone, and other tissues surrounding the teeth. Gingivitis and periodontitis are the two main forms of periodontal disease. Also called gum disease or pyorrhea. Top
Periodontal Pocket: An abnormal deepening of the gingival crevice. Caused when disease and infection destroy the ligament that attaches the gum to the tooth and the underlying bone. Top
Periodontal Surgery: A surgical procedure involving the gums and jawbone. Top
Periodontics: The dental specialty that deals with and treats the gum tissue and bone that supports the teeth. Top
Periodontitis: Inflammation of the supporting structures of the tooth, including the gum, the periodontal ligament, and the jawbone. Top
Periradicular: The area that surrounds a portion of the root of the tooth. Top
Permanent Teeth: The thirty-two adult teeth that replace the primary teeth. Also known as secondary teeth. Top
Pit: A recessed area found on the surface of a tooth, usually where the grooves of the tooth meet. Top
Plaque: A film of sticky material containing saliva, food particles, and bacteria that attaches to the tooth surface both above and below the gum line. When left on the tooth it can promote gum disease and tooth decay. Top
Pontic: An artificial tooth used in a bridge to replace a missing tooth. Top
Porcelain Laminate Veneer: A thin porcelain shell bonded to the tooth to correct imperfections in shape, color, size, and position of teeth. Top
Posterior Teeth: The teeth in the back of the mouth (bicuspids and molars). Top
Premolar: Another name for bicuspid. Top
Preventive Dentistry: Education and treatment devoted to and concerned with preventing the development of dental disease. Top
Preventive Treatment: Any action taken by the patient, assisted by the dentist, hygienist, and office staff that serves to prevent dental or other disease (i.e., sealants, cleanings and space maintainers). Top
Primary Teeth: The first set of teeth that humans get, lasting until the permanent teeth come in. Also referred to as deciduous teeth or baby teeth. Top
Prophylaxis: The scaling and polishing procedure performed to remove calculus, plaque, and stains from the crowns of the teeth. Top
Prosthodontics: The dental specialty dealing with the replacement of missing teeth and other oral structures. Top
Pulp: The hollow chamber inside the crown of the tooth that contains its nerves and blood vessels. Top
Pulp Canal: Also see pulp chamber. Top
Pulp Capping: The use of medicine on decayed areas of teeth to protect pulp and aid in healing. Top
Pulp Chamber: The very inner part of a tooth containing nerve cells and blood vessels. Top
Pulpectomy: Removal of the entire pulp from the canals in the root. Top
Pulpitis: An often painful inflammation of the dental pulp or nerve. Top
Pulpotomy: The removal of a portion of the tooth's pulp. Top
Pyorrhea: Also see periodontal disease. Top
Quadrant: The dental term for the division of the jaws into four parts, beginning at the midline of the arch and extending towards the last tooth in the back of the mouth. There are four quadrants in the mouth; each quadrant generally contains five to eight teeth. Top
Rebase: The process of refitting a denture by replacing the base material. Top
Receded Gums: A condition characterized by the abnormal loss of gum tissue due to infection or bone loss. Top
Referral: When a dental patient from one office is sent to another dentist, usually a specialist, for treatment or consultation. Top
Registered Dental Assistant (RDA): No definition. Top
Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH): Also see dental hygienist. Top
Reline: The process of resurfacing the tissue side of a denture with a base material. Top
Replantation: The return of a tooth to its socket. Top
Resin Filling: The tooth-colored plastic material used in place of alloys for a more natural appearance. Top
Resorption: Breakdown and assimilation of the bone that supports the tooth (i.e., bone loss). Top
Restoration: Any material or creation used to replace lost tooth structure (filling, crown) or to replace a lost tooth or teeth (bridge, dentures, complete or partial). Top
Retainer: A removable dental appliance, usually used in orthodontics, that maintains space between teeth or holds teeth in a fixed position until the bone solidifies around them. Top
Retrograde Filling: A method of sealing the root canal by preparing and filling it from the root tip, generally done at the completion of an apicoectomy. Top
Root: The part of the tooth below the crown, normally encased in the jawbone. It is made up of dentin, includes the root canal, and is covered by cementum. Top
Root Canal: The hollow part of a tooth's root. It runs from the tip of the root into the pulp. Top
Root Canal Therapy: Process of treating disease or inflammation of the pulp or root canal. This involves removing the pulp and root's nerve(s) and filling the canal(s) with an appropriate material to permanently seal it. Top
Root Planing: The process of scaling and planing exposed root surfaces to remove all calculus, plaque, and infected tissue. Top
Scaling: A procedure used to remove plaque, calculus and stains from the teeth. Top
Sealant: A composite material used to seal the decay-prone pits, fissures, and grooves of children's teeth to prevent decay. Top
Second Bicuspid: The teeth behind the first bicuspids. These teeth have two cusps. Top
Second Molar: The teeth behind the first molars. These teeth have a flat surface with four cusps. Top
Secondary Teeth: Also see permanent teeth. Top
Six-Year Molar: The first permanent tooth to erupt, usually between the ages of five and six. Top
Socket: The hole in the jawbone into which the tooth fits. Top
Space Maintainer: A dental appliance that fills the space of a lost tooth or teeth and prevents the other teeth from moving into the space. Used especially in orthodontic and pediatric treatment. Top
Stainless Steel Crown: A pre-made metal crown, shaped like a tooth, which is used to temporarily cover a seriously decayed or broken down tooth. Used most often on children's teeth. Top
Subgingival Scaling: The removal of calculus and plaque found on the tooth below the gum line. Top
Supra Gingival Scaling: The removal of calculus and plaque found on the tooth above the gum line. Top
Systemic: Relating to the whole body. Top
Tartar: Also see calculus. Top
Temporomandibular Disorder (TMD): Also see temporomandibular joint syndrome. Top
Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ): The connecting hinge mechanism between the upper jaw and the base of the skull. Top
Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Syndrome: The problems associated with TMJ, usually involving pain or discomfort in the joints and ligaments that attach the lower jaw to the skull or in the muscles used for chewing. Top
Third Molar: The teeth behind the second molars. These teeth have a level surface with four cusps. Also known as wisdom teeth. Top
Tooth Surface: One of the five sides of a tooth above the gum line. Top
Torus: A bony elevation or protuberance of normal bone. It is generally seen on the upper palate located behind the front teeth or under the tongue inside the lower jaw. Top
Treatment Plan: A list of the work the dentist proposes to perform on a dental patient based on the results of the dentist's X rays, examination, and diagnosis. Often more than one treatment plan is presented. Top
Twelve-Year Molar: Another name for the second molar. Top
Veneer: An artificial filling material, usually plastic, composite, or porcelain, that is used to provide an aesthetic covering over the visible surface of a tooth. Most often used on front teeth. Top
Vital Tooth: A tooth that contains living nerve tissue Top
Wisdom Teeth: Also see third molar. Top