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A
- Abutment:
A tooth or implant used to support a prosthesis. A crown unit
used as part of a fixed bridge.
- Abscess:
A localized inflammation due to a collection of pus in the bone
or soft tissue, usually caused by an infection.
- Amalgam:
A dental filling material, composed of mercury and other minerals,
used to fill decayed teeth.
- Alveoloplasty:
A surgical procedure used to recontour the supporting bone structures
in preparation of a complete or partial denture.
- Anesthetic:
A
class of drugs that eliminates or reduces pain.
- Anterior:
Refers to the teeth and tissues located towards the front of
the mouth (upper or lower incisors and canines).
- Apex:
The tip or end of the root of the tooth.
- Apicoectomy:
The amputation of the apex of a tooth.
B
- Bicuspid:
A two-cusped tooth found between the molar and the cuspid also
known as an eye tooth or canine tooth.
- Biopsy:
A process of removing tissue to determine the existence of pathology.
- Bitewing
x-rays:
X-rays taken of the crowns of teeth to check for decay.
- Bleaching:
The technique of applying a chemical agent, usually hydrogen
peroxide, to the teeth to whiten them.
- Bonding:
A process to chemically etch the tooth's enamel to better attach
(bond) composite filling material, veneers, or plastic/acrylic.
- Bone
loss: The
breakdown and loss of the bone that supports the teeth, usually
caused by infection or long-term occlusal (chewing areas of
the teeth) stress.
- Bridge:
A nonremovable restoration that is used to replace missing teeth.
- Bruxism:
The involuntary clenching or grinding of the teeth.
C
- Calculus:
The hard deposit of mineralized plaque that forms on the crown
and/or root of the tooth. Also referred to as tartar.
- Canine
tooth: The
second tooth from the big front tooth, commonly called the eye
tooth or cuspid.
- Cap:
Another term for crown; usually referring to a crown for a front
tooth.
- Caries:
The correct technical term for decay which is the progressive
breaking down or dissolving of tooth structure, caused by the
acid produced when bacteria digest sugars.
- Cavity:
A layman's term for tooth decay. Also, the dental term for the
hole that is left after decay has been removed.
- Cement:
A
special type of glue used to hold a crown in place. It also
acts as an insulator to protect the tooth's nerve.
- Cementum:
The very thin, bonelike structure that covers the root of the
tooth.
- 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.
-
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, the
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.
- Composite:
A tooth-colored filling made of plastic resin or porcelain.
- Consultation:
A diagnostic service provided by a dentist other than the treating
dentist.
- Cosmetic
dentistry: Any
dental treatment or repair that is solely rendered to improve
the appearance of the teeth or mouth.
- 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.
- Crown
lengthening: A
surgical procedure exposing more tooth for restorative purposes.
- Curettage:
A
deep scaling of that portion of the tooth below the gum line.
Purpose is to remove calculus and infected gum tissue.
- Cuspid:
See canine tooth.
- Cusp(s):
The
protruding portion(s) of a tooth's chewing surface.
D
- Decay:
See caries.
- Deciduous:
See primary teeth.
- Dental
floss:
A thin, nylon string, waxed or unwaxed, that is inserted between
the teeth to remove food and plaque.
- 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.
- Dentin:
The
part of the tooth that is under both the enamel which covers
the crown and the cementum which covers the root.
- Denture:
A
removable appliance used to replace teeth. A complete denture
replaces all of the upper teeth and/or all the lower teeth.
See also partial denture.
- DDS:
Doctor of Dental Surgery or DMD, Doctor of Dental Medicine.
Degrees given to dental school graduates. Both degrees are the
same particular dental schools identifiy at their discretion
their graduates as DMD or DDS.
- 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.
- Dry
socket:
A localized inflammation of the tooth socket following an extraction
due to infection or loss of a blood clot.
E
- Enamel:
The
hard, calcified (mineralized) portion of the tooth which covers
the crown. Enamel is the hardest substance in the body.
- Endodontics:
The dental speciality that deals with injuries to or diseases
of the pulp, or nerve, of the tooth.
- Extraction:
The
removal of a tooth.
- Excision:
Surgical removal of bone or tissue.
- Exostosis:
The overgrowth of normal bone.
- Extracoronal:
The outside of the crown of the tooth.
- Extraoral:
The
outside of the mouth.
F
- Filling:
Material used to fill a cavity or replace part of a tooth.
- Fluoride:
A chemical compound used to prevent dental decay, utilized in
fluoridated water systems and/or applied directly to the teeth.
- Frenum:
Muscle
fibers covered by a mucous membrane that attaches the cheek,
lips and or tongue to associated dental mucosa.
- Frenectomy:
The
removal of a frenum.
G
- Gingiva:
The soft tissue that covers the jawbone. Also referred to as
the gums.
- Gingivectomy:
The removal of gingiva (gum).
- Gingivitis:
An inflammation or infection of the gingiva (gum tissue); the
initial stage of gum disease.
- Gingivoplasty:
A surgical procedure to reshape or repair the gingiva (gum).
- Graft:
A
piece of tissue or synthetic material placed in contact with
tissue to repair a defect or supplement a deficiency.
- Gum:
See gingiva.
- Gum
disease: See
periodontal disease.
H
I
- Immediate
denture:
A denture constructed for immediate placement after removal
of the remaining teeth.
- Impacted
tooth: An
unerupted or partially erupted tooth that is positioned against
another tooth, bone or soft tissue so that complete eruption
is unlikely.
- 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.
- 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. The central incisors are the two large teeth in the middle
of the mouth and the lateral incisors are next to the central
incisor, one on each side.
- 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.
- Inlay:
A
cast gold filling that is used to replace part of a tooth.
- Interproximal:
The area between two adjacent teeth.
- Intracoronal:
The area within the crown of a tooth.
- Intraoral:
The inside of the mouth.
L
- Labial:
The
area pertaining to or around the lip.
- Lingual:
The area pertaining to or around the tongue.
- 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.
M
- Malocclusion:
The improper alignment of biting or chewing surfaces of upper
and lower teeth.
- Mandible:
The
lower jaw.
- Maryland
bridge:
The trade name that has become synonymous with any resin bonded
fixed partial denture (bridge).
- Mastication:
The act of chewing.
- Maxilla:
The upper jaw.
- 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.
- Molars:
The broad, multicusped back teeth, used for grinding food are
considered the largest teeth in the mouth. In adults there are
a total of twelve molars (including the four wisdom teeth, or
third molars), three on each side of the upper and lower jaws.
N
- Nitrous
oxide: A
controlled mixture of nitrogen and oxygen gases (N2O) that is
inhaled by the patient in order to decrease sensitivity to pain.
Also referred to as laughing gas.
- Novocaine:
A generic name for the many kinds of anesthetics used in the
dental injection, such as Xylocaine, Lidocaine, or Novocaine.
.
O
- Occlusal
x-ray: An
intraoral x-ray taken with the film held between the teeth in
biting position.
- Occlusal
surface:
The chewing surface of the back teeth.
- Occlusion:
Any contact between biting or chewing surfaces of upper and
lower teeth.
- Onlay:
A cast gold or porcelain filling that covers one or all of the
tooth's cusps.
- Oral
surgery:
The removal of teeth and the repair and treatment of other oral
problems, such as tumors and fractures.
- Orthodontics:
A specialized branch of dentistry that corrects malocclusion
and restores the teeth to proper alignment and function. There
are several different types of appliances used in orthodontics,
one of which is commonly referred to as braces.
- 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.
P
- Palate:
The hard and soft tissues forming the roof of the mouth.
- Palliative:
Treatment that relieves pain but is NOT curative.
- Panorex:
An extraoral full-mouth X-ray that records the teeth and the
upper and lower jaws on one film.
- Partial
denture: A
removable appliance used to replace one or more lost teeth.
- Pediatric
dentistry:
The specialized branch of dentistry that deals solely with treating
children's dental disease. Also referred to as pedodontics.
- Periapical:
The
area that surrounds the root tip of a tooth.
- Pericoronitis:
An inflammation of the gum tissue around the crown of a tooth,
usually the third molar.
- Periodontal:
Relating to the tissue and bone that supports the tooth (from
peri, meaning "around," and odont, "tooth").
- 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.
- Periodontal
pocket: An
abnormal deepening of the gingival crevice. It is caused when
disease and infection destroy the ligament that attaches the
gum to the tooth and the underlying bone.
- Periodontal
surgery:
A surgical procedure involving the gums and jawbone.
- Periodontics:
The
dental speciality that deals with and treats the gum tissue
and bone that supports the teeth.
- Periodontitis:
Inflammation
of the supporting structures of the tooth, including the gum,
the periodontal ligament, and the jawbone.
- Periradicular:
The area which surrounds a portion of the root of the tooth.
- Permanent
teeth:
The thirty-two adult teeth that replace the baby, or primary
teeth. Also known as secondary teeth.
- Pit:
A recessed area found on the surface of a tooth, usually where
the grooves of the tooth meet.
- 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.
- Pontic:
An artificial tooth used in a bridge to replace a missing tooth.
- Premolar:
Another name for bicuspid.
- Preventive
dentistry:
Education and treatment devoted to and concerned with preventing
the development of dental disease.
- Preventive
treatment:
Any action taken by the patient, assisted by the dentist, hygienist,
and the office staff that serves to prevent dental or other
disease. Sealants, cleanings and space maintainers are examples
of preventive treatment.
- 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.
- Prophylaxis:
The
scaling and polishing procedure performed to remove calculus,
plaque, and stains from the crowns of the teeth.
- Prosthodontics:
The dental specialty dealing with the replacement of missing
teeth and other oral structures.
- Pulp:
The hollow chamber inside the crown of the tooth that contains
its nerves and blood vessels.
- Pulpectomy:
Removal of the entire pulp from the canals in the root.
- Pulpitis:
An often painful inflammation of the dental pulp or nerve.
- Pulpotomy:
The
removal of a portion of the tooth's pulp.
Q
- 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.
R
- Rebase:
The process of refitting a denture by replacing the base material.
- Receded
gums: A
condition characterized by the abnormal loss of gum tissue due
to infection or bone loss.
- Referral:
When a dental patient from one office is sent to another dentist,
usually a specialist, for treatment or consultation.
- Reline:
The
process of resurfacing the tissue side of a denture with a base
material.
- Replantation:
The
return of a tooth to its socket.
- Resorption:
The
breakdown and assimilation of the bone that supports the tooth,
i.e., bone loss.
- Restoration:
Any
material or devise used to replace lost tooth structure (filling,
crown) or to replace a lost tooth or teeth (bridge, dentures,
complete or partial).
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Root
canal: The
hollow part of the tooth's root. It runs from the tip of the
root into the pulp.
- Root
canal therapy:
The 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.
- Root
planing: The
process of scaling and planing exposed root surfaces to remove
all calculus, plaque, and infected tissue.
S
- Scaling:
A procedure used to remove plaque, calculus and stains from
the teeth.
- Sealant:
A composite material used to seal the decay-prone pits, fissures,
and grooves of children's teeth to prevent decay.
- Six-year
molar:
The first permanent tooth to erupt, usually between the ages
of five and six.
- Socket:
The
hole in the jawbone into which the tooth fits.
- 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.
- Stainless
steel crown:
A pre-made metal crown, shaped like a tooth, that is used to
temporarily cover a seriously decayed or broken down tooth.
Used most often on children's teeth.
- Subgingival
scaling:
The removal of calculus and plaque found on the tooth below
the gum line.
- Supra
gingival scaling:
The removal of calculus and plaque found on the tooth above
the gum line.
- Systemic:
Relating to the whole body.
T
- Tartar:
A hard yellowish deposit on the teeth,
consisting of organic secretions and food particles deposited
in various salts, such as calcium carbonate.
- Temporomandibular
joint (TMJ):
The connecting hinge mechanism between the upper jaw and the
base of the skull.
- 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.
- Third
molar:
The last of the three molar teeth, also called wisdom teeth.
There are four third molars, two in the lower jaw and two in
the upper jaw, one on each side. Some people are born without
third molars.
- Torus:
A bony elevation or protuberance of normal bone. Usually seen
on the upper palate behind the front teeth or under the tongue
inside the lower jaw.
- 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.
V
- 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.
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