| abrasion |
loss of tooth structure caused by a hard toothbrush, poor brushing technique, or Bruxism (grinding or clenching the teeth). |
| abscess |
an infection of a tooth, soft tissue or bone |
| abutment |
tooth or teeth that support a fixed or removable bridge |
| adhesive dentistry |
contemporary term for dental restorations that involve "bonding" of composite resin or porcelain fillings to natural teeth |
| air abrasion |
removal of tooth structure by blasting a tooth with air and abrasive, a relatively new technology that may avoid the need for anesthetic |
| allergy |
unfavorable systemic response to a foreign substance or drug |
| alveolar bone |
the jaw bone that anchors the roots of teeth |
| amalgam |
a most common filling material, also known as "silver fillings,"containing mercury (app 50%), silver, tin, copper and zinc used for fillings |
| analgesia |
a state of pain relief; an agent lessening pain |
| anesthesia |
partial or complete elimination of pain sensation; numbing a tooth is an example of local anesthesia; general anesthesia produces partial or complete unconsciousness |
| anterior teeth |
the six upper or six lower front teeth |
| antibiotic |
a drug that stops or slows the growth of bacteria |
| ANUG |
an acronym for Acute Necrotizing Ulcerative Gingivitis, commonly known as trench mouth or Vincent's disease, aggravated by stress and/or smoking |
| apex |
the tip of the root of a tooth |
| apicoectomy |
surgical removal of the root tip to treat a dead tooth |
| apicoectomy |
surgical removal of the root tip to treat a dead tooth |
| arch |
describes the alignment of the upper or lower teeth |
| attrition |
loss of structure due to natural wear |
| base |
cement placed under a dental restoration to insulate the pulp (nerve chamber) |
| bicuspid or pre-molar |
transitional teeth behind the cuspids |
| bifurcation (trifurcation) |
juncture of two (three) roots in posterior teeth |
| biopsy |
removal of a small piece of tissue for microscopic examination |
| bite |
relationship of the upper and lower teeth on closure (occlusion) |
| bite wings |
caries (decay) detection x-rays |
| black hairy tongue |
elongated papillae on the tongue, promoting the growth of microorganisms |
| bleaching |
chemical or laser treatment of natural teeth for whitening effect |
| block injection |
anesthesia of a nerve trunk that covers a large area of the jaw; a mandibular block injection produce numbness of the lower jaw, teeth, half the tongue |
| bonding |
adhesive dental restoration technique; a tooth-colored composite resin to repair and/or change the color or shape of a tooth |
| bone resorption |
decrease in bone supporting the roots of teeth; a common result of periodontal (gum disease) |
| braces |
devices used by orthodontists to gradually reposition teeth to a more favorable alignment |
| bridge |
stationary dental prosthesis (appliance) fixed to teeth adjacent to a space; replaces one or more missing teeth, cemented or bonded to supporting teeth or implants adjacent to the space |
| bruxism |
grinding or gnashing of the teeth, most commonly while the patient is asleep |
| bruxomania |
persistent "nervous" grinding of the teeth while the patient is awake |
| calcium |
chemical element needed for healthy teeth, bones and nerves |
| calculus |
hard residue, commonly known as "tarter," that forms on teeth due to inadequate plaque control, often stained yellow or brown |
| canker sore |
mouth sore appearing whitish, often with a red halo, of ten to fourteen day duration |
| cantilever bridge |
fixed bridge that attaches to adjacent teeth only on one end |
| cap |
common term for dental crown |
| caries |
tooth decay or "cavities" |
| cast or model |
reproduction of structures made by pouring plaster or stone into a mold |
| Cavitron |
dental tool that uses high frequency ultrasonic waves to clean teeth |
| cellulitis |
soft tissue infection causing extensive, hard swelling, a potentially dangerous condition requiring immediate attention |
| cementum |
hard tissue that covers the roots of teeth |
| chart |
log of dental or medical records |
| clasp |
device that retains a removable partial denture to stationary teeth |
| cleaning |
removal of plaque and calculus (tarter) from teeth, generally above the gum line |
| composite resin |
material composed of plastic with small glass or ceramic particles; usually cured with filtered light or chemical catalyst |
| cosmetic (aesthetic) dentistry |
treatments performed to enhance appearance; not a recognized specialty |
| CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) |
Artificial procedures employed by a rescuer after cessation of breathing or heart stoppage |
| Cross bite |
reverse biting relationship of upper and lower teeth; aka "under bite," as in Class III malocclusuion (prognathic jaw) |
| crown |
|
| curettage |
removal of diseased tissue from a periodintal pocket |
| cusp |
mound on posterior teeth |
| cuspid or canine |
the four "eye teeth" |
| cyst |
a soft or hard tissue sac, hard or filled with fluid |
| DDS |
Doctor of Dental Surgery - equivalent to DMD |
| DMD |
Doctor of Medical Dentistry - equivalent to DDS |
| decay |
destruction of tooth structure caused by toxins produced by bacteria |
| deciduous teeth |
commonly called "baby teeth," the first set of (usually) twenty teeth |
| dentin |
inner layer of tooth structure, immediately under the surface enamel |
| dental implant |
a (usually) titanium cylinder surgically placed in the bone of the upper or lower jaw to provide support for a dental restoration or appliance |
| dentition |
the arrangement of natural or artificial teeth in the mouth |
| denture |
removable (partial or complete) set of artificial teeth |
| denturism |
the production of dentures dispensed directly by laboratory technicians |
| diastema |
space between teeth |
| enamel |
hard tissue covering the portion of tooth above the gum line |
| endodontist |
specialist who treats injuries, diseases and infections of the tooth pulp (nerve chamber) |
| epidemiology |
study of the incidence of disease in a population |
| eruption |
process of teeth protruding through the gums |
| exfoliate |
process of shedding deciduous (baby) teeth |
| exodontia |
practice of dental extractions |
| explorer |
sharp instrument used to detect decay on the surface of teeth |
| extraction |
removal of a tooth |
| eyeteeth |
the four upper and lower canine (cuspid) teeth |
| facing |
tooth colored overlay on the visible portion of a crown; may be acrylic, composite or porcelain |
| FAGD |
Fellowship Academy of General Dentistry |
| filling |
restoration of lost tooth structure with metal, porcelain or resin materials |
| fistula |
channel emanating pus from an infection site; a gum boil |
| flap surgery |
lifting of gum tissue to expose and clean underlying tooth and bone structures |
| freeway space |
distance between the upper and lower teeth with the lower jaw in rest position |
| forceps |
instrument used for removal of teeth |
| forensic dentistry |
practice of gathering legal evidence for body identification or judicial issues |
| fossa |
valley found on the sutrpface of posterior teeth |
| full denture |
removable dental prosthesis (appliance) replacing all upper or lower teeth |
| full mouth reconstruction |
extensive restorations of natural teeth with crowns and or fixed bridges to manage bite problems. |
| frenectomy |
removal or reshaping of thin muscle tissue that attaches the upper or lower lips to the gum, or the tongue to the floor of the mouth |
| GTR |
(guided tissue regeneration) a new technique for replacing bone tissue |
| general anesthesia |
controlled state of unconsciousness, accompanied by a partial or complete loss of pain sensation, protective reflexes, and the ability to respond purposefully to physical stimulation or verbal command |
| geographic tongue |
benign changes in the usual color and texture of tongue; does not require treatment |
| gingiva |
gum tissue |
| gingivectomy |
surgical removal of gum tissue |
| gingivitis |
inflammation of gum tissue |
| gum boil |
See fistula |
| gum recession |
exposure of dental roots due to shrinkage of the gums as a result of abrasion, periodontal disease or surgery |
| halitosis |
bad breath of oral or gastrointestinal origin |
| Heimlich Maneuver |
techinque employed by rescuer for obstruction of victim's airway |
| hematoma |
swelling of effused blood beneath tissue surface |
| HMO or DMO |
health (dental) maintenance organization which specifies a health care (dental) provider a patient may see. Profitability depends on minimization of treatment. |
| hydrogen peroxide |
disinfecting solution used in dental irrigation procedures or as mouth rinse |
| hygienist |
dental auxiliary who cleans teeth and provides patient education; administers local anesthetic, nitrous oxide and performs periodontal scaling |
| hyperemia |
increased blood flow; may cause dental sensitivity to temperature and sweets; may precede an abscess |
| impaction |
partial or completely unexposed tooth that is wedged against another tooth, bone, or soft tissue, precluding the eruption process |
| implant |
artificial device replacing tooth root; may anchor an artificial tooth, bridge, or denture |
| impression |
mold made of the teeth and soft tissues |
| incision and drainage |
surgical incision of an abscess to drain suppuration(pus) |
| incisors |
four upper and four lower front teeth, excluding the cuspids (canine teeth) |
| infiltration |
local anesthetic procedure effective for upper teeth and soft tissue; placement of anesthetic under the gum, allowing it to seep into bone |
| inlay |
indirect - filling made by a dental laboratory that is cemented or bonded into place, direct - placement of dental composite resin restoration at chairside |
| interproximal |
surfaces of adjoining teeth |
| interocclusal |
space between upper and lower teeth |
| intraoral camera |
a smal video camera used to view and magnify oral
conditions; |
| jacket |
crown for a front tooth, usually made of porcelain |
| laminate |
thin plastic or porcelain veneer produced in a dental laboratory and then bonded to a tooth |
| laughing gas |
nitrous oxide; odorless inhalation agent that produces relative analgesic (sedation); reduces anxiety and creates a state of relaxation |
| lesion |
injury of bodily tissue due to infection, trauma or neoplasm |
| local anesthesia |
partial or complete elimination of pain sensation, in the immediate vicinity of its application or injection |
| malocclusion |
"bad bite" or misalignment of the upper and lower teeth |
| managed care |
program whereby patient-dentist assignment and dentist reimbursement is administered by a separate, external organization |
| mandible |
the lower jaw |
| margin |
interface between a restoration and tooth structure |
| MAGD |
Masters Academy of General Dentistry |
| Maryland bridge |
a bridge that is bonded to the back of the adjacent teeth; requires minimum tooth reduction |
| mastication |
process of chewing food |
| maxilla |
the upper jaw |
| meniscus |
capsular cushion between temporomandibluar joint and glenoid fossa |
| milk teeth |
deciduous (baby) teeth |
| molars |
three back teeth in each dental quadrant used for grinding food. |
| moniliasis (thrush) |
opportunistic fungal infection after administration of antibiotic; not uncommon in the mouth |
| mucogingival junction (MGJ) |
meeting of thick, protective gingival tissue around the teeth and the friable mucous lining of the cheeks and lips |
| NSAID |
non steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, often used as a dental analgesic |
| nerve |
tissue that conveys sensation, temperature, position information to the brain |
| nerve (root) canal |
dental pulp; the internal chamber of a tooth |
| night guard |
acrylic appliance used to prevent wear and temporomandibular damage caused by grinding or gnashing of the teeth during sleep |
| nitrous oxide |
a gas used to reduce patient anxiety |
| Novocain |
older brand name for a local anesthetic, currently replaced by safer, more effective agents |
| occlusion |
closure; relationship of the upper and lower teeth upon closure |
| onlay |
laboratory produced restoration covering one or more cusps of a tooth |
| oral and maxillofacial surgeon |
a dental specialist who manages the diagnosis & surgical treatment of diseases, injuries, and deformities of the mouth and supporting structures; Requires four additional years of training after dental school |
| oral cavity |
the mouth |
| oral hygiene |
process of maintaining cleanliness of the teeth and related structures |
| oral and maxillofacial surgery |
surgical procedures on the mouth including extractions, removal of cysts or tumors, and repair of fractured jaws |
| oral pathologist |
dentist specializing in the study of oral diseases |
| orthodontics |
dental specialty that treats misalignment of teeth |
| osseousy |
boney |
| overbite |
vertical overlap of the front teeth |
| overdenture |
denture that fits over residual roots or dental implants |
| overjet |
horozontal overlap of the front teeth |
| palate |
hard and soft tissue forming the roof of the mouth |
| palliative treatment |
non invasive relief of irritating conditions |
| parasthesia |
a partial loss of sensation; may be temporary or permanent |
| partial denture |
removable dental prosthesis (appliance) replacing one or more natural teeth |
| pathology |
study of disease |
| periapical (PA) |
region at the end of the roots of teeth |
| periodontal surgery |
recontouring or esthetic management of diseased gum and supporting tissue |
| periodontist |
dental specialist treating the gums and supporting soft and hard tissues retaining natural teeth and the surgical placement of dental implants |
| pedodontics or pediatric dentistry |
dental specialty focusing on treatment of children |
| periodontal chart |
record measuring the depth of gum pockets around the teeth |
| permanent teeth |
(usually) thirty-two adult teeth in a complete dentition |
| pit |
a small defect in the tooth enamel; junction of four formative lobes of a developing tooth |
| placebo |
inert medication or treatment that produces psychological benefit |
| plaque |
soft sticky substance that accumulates on teeth; composed of bacteria and food debris due to inadequate dental hygiene |
| pontic |
replacement tooth mounted on a fixed or removal appliance |
| porcelain crown |
all porcelain restoration covering the coronal portion of tooth (above the gum line) |
| porcelain fused to metal (PFM) crown |
restoration with metal coping (for strength) covered by porcelain (for appearance) |
| porcelain inlay or onlay |
tooth-colored restoration made of porcelain, cemented or bonded in place |
| porcelain veneers |
a thin layer of porcelain, fabricated by a laboratory) bonded to a natural tooth to replace lost tooth structure, close spaces, straighten teeth or change color and/or shape |
| post |
thin metal rod inserted into the root of a tooth after root canal therapy; provides retention for a "coping" that replaces lost tooth structure and retains crown |
| post-core |
post and buildup to replace lost tooth structure and retain crown |
| post-crown |
single structure that combines post-core and crown |
| PPO or PDO |
preferred provider (dental) organization which a health care (dental) provider may join, offering fee for service treatment at reduced fees |
| prognosis |
the anticipated outcome of treatment |
| prophylaxis |
cleaning of the teeth for the prevention of periodontal disease and tooth decay |
| prosthesis |
an artificial appliance for the replacement for a body part |
| prosthodontist |
dental specialist skilled in restoring or replacing teeth with fixed or removable prosthesis (appliance), maintaining proper occlusion; treats facial deformities with artificial prostheses such as eyes, ears, and noses |
| pulp |
the nerves, blood vessels and connective tissue inside a tooth |
| pulp cap |
a medicated covering over a small area of exposed pulp tissue |
| pulp chamber |
the center or innermost portion of the tooth containing the pulp |
| pulpectomy |
complete removal of the pulp (commonly done in children's teeth) |
| pulpitis |
inflammation of the pulp; common cause of toothache |
| pulpotomy |
partial removal of the pulp tissue |
| pyorrhea |
older term for periodontal (gum) disease |
| reimplantation |
insertion and temporary fixation of partially or completely avulsed tooth or teeth, resulting from traumatic injury |
| reline |
acrylic restoration of denture base to compensate for bone loss; direct: done at chairside; indirect: in conjunction with a dental laboratory |
| restoration |
replacement of portion of a damaged tooth |
| retained root |
partial root structure remaining in jaw after extraction or fracture of a natural tooth |
| root |
tooth structure that connects the tooth to the jaw |
| root canal |
common term for root canal therapy, also the interior space of the tooth root |
| root canal therapy |
process of removing pulp of a tooth and filling it with an inert material |
| root resection |
removal of a portion of diseased root structure, retaining the remaining natural tooth |
| rubber dam |
soft latex sheet used to establish isolation of one or more teeth from contamination by oral fluids and to keep materials from falling to the back of the throat |
| saliva |
clear lubricating fluid in the mouth containing water, enzymes, bacteria, mucus, viruses, blood cells and undigested food particles |
| saliva ejector |
suction tube placed in the mouth to remove saliva |
| salivary glands |
located under tongue and in cheeks, produce saliva |
| scaling and root planing |
meticulous removal of plaque and calculus from tooth surfaces |
| sealants |
thin resin material bonded in the pits and fissures of back teeth for the prevention of decay |
| secondary dentin |
reparative tooth structure produced by the pulp in response to tooth irritation |
| sequstrum |
loosened spicule of bone pushed to the surface |
| sinusitis |
infammation of the sinus that may mimc dental pain |
| sleep apnea |
the periodic interruption or delay in breathing during sleep |
| rubber dam |
dental device that holds the space lost through premature loss of baby teeth |
| rubber dam |
connection of two or more teeth so they function as a stronger single structure |
| supernumerary tooth |
extra tooth |
| suppuration |
bacterial contamination of tissue exudate; pus |
| tartar |
common term for dental calculus, a hard deposit that adheres to teeth; produces rough surface that attracts plaque |
| tmd (or tmj disorder) |
temperomandibular disorder; term given to condition characterized by facial pain and restricted ability to open or move the jaw |
| tmj |
the temporomandibular joint, the point where the lower jaw attaches to the skull |
| third-party provider |
insurance company, union, government agency that pays all or a part of cost of dental treatment |
| tooth bud |
early embryonic structure that becomes a tooth |
| tooth whitening |
a chemical or laser process to lighten the color of teeth |
| topical anesthetic |
ointment that produces mild anesthesia when applied to tissue surface |
| torus |
common bony protuberance on the palate or lower jaw |
| transplant |
placing a natural tooth in the empty socket of another tooth |
| trauma |
injury caused by external force, chemical, temperature extremes, or poor tooth alignment |
| trench mouth |
gum disease characterized by severe mouth sores and loss of tissue. See ANUG. |
| UCR |
usual, customary and reasonable fees |
| unerupted tooth |
a tooth that has not pushed through the gum and assumed its correct position in the dental arch |
| veneer |
plastic or porcelain facing bonded directly to a tooth to improve its appearance. See laminate. |
| vertical dimension |
arbitrary space between upper and lower jaws upon closure; may decrease over time due to wear, shifting or damage to the teeth |
| wisdom teeth |
third (last) molars that usually erupt at age 18-25 (when "wisdom is attained") |
| xerostomia |
dry mouth or decrease in the production of saliva |
