Dental Dictionary

• • Abscess: An accumulation of pus often due to infection, indicating the presence of an infection.

• • Abutment: A tooth or implant serving as the anchor for a bridge or denture.

• • Amalgam: A durable material traditionally used for silver fillings.

• • Anesthetic: A substance used to temporarily eliminate sensation, ensuring a pain-free procedure.

• • Anterior: Referring to the front part of the mouth.

• • Apex: The tip of the root of a tooth.

• • Asepsis: A condition of being free from infection or microbial life.

• • Attrition: Natural wear of teeth due to activities like chewing.

• • Avulsed: Describes a tooth that has been completely knocked out of its socket.

• • Bitewing: A type of dental X-ray used primarily to check for cavities between teeth.

• • Bleaching: A cosmetic procedure to whiten teeth.

• • Bridge: A fixed dental restoration used to replace one or more missing teeth.

• • Bruxism: The involuntary grinding or clenching of teeth, often during sleep.

• • Canine: The pointed teeth just behind the incisors; used for tearing food.

• • Canker Sore: A small, painful ulcer in the mouth; its cause can vary.

• • Caries: Scientific term for tooth decay or cavities.

• • Cavity: A decayed part of a tooth.

• • Cementation: The process of bonding a dental restoration to a tooth.

• • Chlorhexidine: An antimicrobial agent used to control plaque and gingivitis.

• • Clasp: Part of a removable partial denture that helps secure it to natural teeth.

• • Cold Sore: A blister on the lip; a manifestation of the herpes simplex virus.

• • Composite: A tooth-colored filling material.

• • Cross-bite: A misalignment of the dental arches.

• • Crown: A “cap” that covers a damaged tooth to restore its shape, size, and strength.

• • Decay: The process of tooth enamel being destroyed by bacterial activity.

• • Dentistry: The medical field that focuses on the health of the teeth, gums, and mouth.

• • Dentition: The arrangement or condition of the teeth in a particular species or individual.

• • Denture: A removable replacement for missing teeth and surrounding tissues.

• • Desensitization: Treatment to reduce tooth sensitivity.

• • Diagnosis: The identification of a disease or condition.

• • Diastema: A gap or space between two teeth.

• • Distal: Directional term indicating away from the center of the mouth.

• • Edentulous: Being without teeth.

• • Endodontics: A dental specialty concerned with the study and treatment of the dental pulp.

• • Eruption: The process of teeth emerging through the gums.

• • Excision: Surgical removal of tissue.

• • Extruded: Describes a tooth that is partially displaced from its socket.

• • Filling: A material used to restore the function and appearance of a damaged tooth.

• • Flipper: A temporary partial denture used to fill in spaces of missing teeth.

• • Floss: A thin filament used to remove debris between teeth.

• • Fluoride: A mineral used to strengthen tooth enamel and prevent cavities.

• • Fluoride Treatment: Application of fluoride to the teeth to prevent tooth decay.

• • Fracture: Cracks or breaks in a tooth, often requiring immediate dental care.

• • Framework: The metal support structure of a partial removable denture.

• • Gingivitis: The initial stage of gum disease, characterized by swollen, red gums that may bleed easily.

• • Hemorrhage: Bleeding, which can occur after dental surgery or due to trauma.

• • Hemostasis: The stopping of bleeding.

• • Impaction: A condition where a tooth fails to fully emerge through the gums.

• • Implant: A titanium post surgically placed in the jawbone to support a replacement tooth.

• • Impression: A mold taken of the teeth and mouth.

• • Incisal: Referring to the cutting edge of the front teeth.

• • Incisor: Front teeth primarily used for cutting food.

• • Inlay: A solid restoration fitted to a cavity in a tooth and cemented into place.

• • Interproximal: The space between adjacent teeth.

• • Lingual: Pertaining to the side of the tooth facing the tongue.

• • Mesial: The side of the tooth towards the midline of the face.

• • Molar: Back teeth that are used for grinding food.

• • Mouthguard: A protective device for the mouth that covers the teeth and gums.

• • Nightguard: A type of mouthguard used to prevent damage from teeth grinding at night.

• • Occlusal: Relating to the chewing surface of the back teeth.

• • Occlusion: The alignment and spacing of your upper and lower teeth when you bite down.

• • Onlay: Similar to an inlay but covers one or more cusps or the entire biting surface of the tooth.

• • Open Bite: A condition where the upper and lower teeth do not touch when the mouth is closed.

• • Orthodontics: The branch of dentistry dealing with the prevention and correction of irregular teeth, as by means of braces.

• • Overbite: The vertical overlap of the front teeth.

• • Overhang: Excess restorative material that extends beyond the cavity margin.

• • Palate: The roof of the mouth.

• • Panoramic Radiograph: An X-ray image that shows a wide view of the upper and lower jaw.

• • Perforation: An opening made through a structure.

• • Periapical: Surrounding the tip of the root of a tooth.

• • Periodontics: The dental specialty concerned with the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases affecting the gums and supporting structures of the teeth.

• • Permanent Teeth: The set of teeth that follow the primary teeth (adult teeth).

• • Pin: A long, thin piece of metal used to reinforce and support a tooth restoration.

• • Polish: To make smooth and shiny by rubbing or chemical action.

• • Pontic: The artificial tooth on a bridge or denture that replaces a missing natural tooth.

• • Post: A metal or carbon fiber post inserted into the root canal of a tooth to provide structural support.

• • Posterior: Referring to the back part of the mouth.

• • Pre-authorization: Approval from an insurance company for a procedure before it is done.

• • Pre-medication: Medication prescribed to be taken before a dental procedure.

• • Premolar: Teeth located between the canines and molars.

• • Prescription: A written order for the preparation and administration of a drug or device.

• • Primary Teeth: The first set of teeth in the human development sequence, also known as baby teeth.

• • Prophylaxis: A preventive cleaning procedure performed to clean the teeth.

• • Prosthesis: An artificial device used to replace a missing body part, such as a limb, tooth, eye, or heart valve.

• • Prosthodontics: The dental specialty pertaining to the diagnosis, treatment planning, rehabilitation, and maintenance of the oral function, comfort, appearance, and health of patients with clinical conditions associated with missing or deficient teeth and/or oral and maxillofacial tissues using biocompatible substitutes.

• • Pulp: The soft tissue within a tooth containing nerves and blood vessels.

• • Pulpectomy: The removal of the entire pulp from the pulp chamber and root canal.

• • Pulpotomy: The removal of a portion of the pulp, including the diseased aspect, with the intent of maintaining the vitality of the remaining portion of the pulp.

• • Radiograph: An image produced by radiography; an X-ray.

• • Recall: A routine follow-up visit for examination or treatment.

• • Recementation: The process of reattaching a crown, bridge, or other fixture that has come loose from a tooth.

• • Restoration: Any material or device used to restore the function or aesthetics of a tooth or teeth.

• • Retainer: An appliance used post-orthodontics to maintain the position of the teeth.

• • Retreatment: The process of repeating a dental procedure such as root canal treatment.

• • Root: The part of the tooth that extends into the bone and holds the tooth in place.

• • Root Canal: The natural cavity within the center of the tooth where the pulp chamber is located.

• • Root Canal Treatment: A treatment sequence for the infected pulp of a tooth which results in the elimination of infection and the protection of the decontaminated tooth from future microbial invasion.

• • Root Planing: A procedure that smooths the surface of the root so the gums can reattach to the tooth.

• • Rubber Dam: A flexible sheet of rubber or similar material used to isolate the operative site from the rest of the mouth.

• • Scaling: The removal of plaque and calculus (tartar) from the teeth.

• • Sealant: A plastic material used to seal the grooves and pits in the teeth to prevent decay.

• • Sedation: The use of medication to help relax a patient during a dental procedure.

• • Space Maintainer: A device used to maintain the space between teeth, usually due to the early loss of a baby tooth.

• • Splint: A device used to support, protect, or immobilize oral structures that have been loosened, fractured, or injured.

• • Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ): The joint on each side of the head that connects the mandible (lower jaw) to the temporal bone of the skull, located in front of the ear.

• • Torus: A bony growth in the oral cavity; plural: tori.

• • Veneer: A thin layer of material placed over a tooth, typically to improve the aesthetics of a tooth or to protect the tooth’s surface from damage.

• • Wisdom Tooth: The last of the three molars on each side of both upper and lower jaws; they are the last teeth to emerge, typically in late adolescence or early adulthood.

• • Xerostomia: Dry mouth, or a lack of saliva, which can lead to difficulties in speaking, eating, swallowing, and wearing dentures, as well as an increase in the risk of dental decay and oral infections.

This glossary is provided to enhance your understanding and communication during your dental visits. For any specific questions or concerns, please consult with our dental care professionals.