Dental
Glossary
A-B
C-D E-G
H-N O-P
R-U
| A | ||
| Abrasion: | Wearing away of a tooth due to abrasives, such as toothbrush / toothpaste. | |
| Abscess: | The formation of a sac of bacteria. Symptons are swelling, pain, throbbing, and a sensation of heat. | |
| Anaesthesia: | Drug to block off any pain impulses from the nerves, new drug that stays in tissue for 2-3 months. | |
| Analgesic: | Pain killer. | |
| Ankylosis: | Teeth that do not fully erupt because they are attached to the bone. | |
| Antibiotics: | Medication to fight off bacteria causing infection. | |
| Asepsis: | Sterilization of the surroundings and instruments to prevent infections. | |
| Atridox: | An effective treatment for Periodntal Disease. | |
| Attrition: | Wearing away of a tooth due to the opposing tooth grinding. | |
| B | ||
| Bicuspid: | A two-cusped tooth found between the molar and the cuspid. Also called a premolar. | |
| 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 to the teeth to whiten them. May / may not use a heat lamp as well. | |
| Bonding: | Adhering a tooth colored substance to repair and/or change the color or shape of a tooth. | |
| 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. Prosthetic replacement of one or more missing teeth cemented or attached to abutment teeth or implants adjacent to the space. | |
| Bruxism: | The involuntary clenching or grinding of teeth. | |
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| C | ||
| Calcification: | The pulp is hardened due to calcium and phosphorous salts. | |
| Calculus: | Hardened plaque. | |
| Cavities: | When acids decalcify the tooth enamal and disintegrates the dentin. ·Caused by acids produced by enzymatic action on ingested carbohydrates. | |
| Cementum: | The dull yellow surface of a root. | |
| Cingulum: | An enlargement or bulge on the lingual aspect of the front teeth. | |
| Contact point: | Area where two adjacent teeth touch each other. You floss the contact point. | |
| Crossbite: | When the lower teeth overlap the upper teeth when closing the mouth. Example: A 'Bull dog' bite. | |
| Crowding: | Lack of space produces teeth that are overlapping | |
| Cusp: | A point or peak on the top surface of a tooth. | |
| D | ||
| Deciduous dentition: | (Baby Teeth) the primary dentition, also known as the milk teeth (20). | |
| Dentin: | The hard tissue under the enamel and cementum in the tooth.. | |
| Denture: | Full denture: when the patient has no teeth (edentulous).
Immediate: getting a denture at the time the patient gets teeth
extracted. Partial: when the patient has a few teeth (partially edentulous). |
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| Diastema: | The space present when the central incisor are separated. | |
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| E | ||
| Edgewise: | Orthodontic appliance. Type of wire used in braces. | |
| Enamel: | The hard shiny surface of a tooth. | |
| Erosion: | A dissolution of tooth due to reason unknown. | |
| Excision: | Cutting and harvesting the tissue usually for study of possible pathology | |
| Extraction: | Removal of a tooth. | |
| F | ||
| Fistula: | Tract made by infection exiting often through the gingiva and resembling a pimple. | |
| Full denture: | Prosthetic appliance when the patient has no teeth (edentulous). | |
| Fusion: | Tooth appears double but two separate nerves are present due to two teeth fusing together. | |
| G | ||
| Gemination: | Tooth appears double due to splitting of a single tooth germ. | |
| Gingiva: | The soft tissue that surrounds a tooth (the gum). | |
| Gingivitis: | Inflammation of the gingiva (bleeding gums). | |
| Graft: | A piece of tissue taken from one area and placed at another. | |
| Groove: | A sharply defined linear depression on the tooth or gum.. | |
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| I | ||
| Immediate denture: | Getting a denture at the time the patient gets teeth extracted. | |
| Impacted Tooth: | A tooth that is full or partially blocked from exiting the gum line. | |
| Implant: | A substitute for a lost tooth. It functions as additional support, most often providing the very important option of esthetics, non removable rather than removable tooth replacement. Implants are fabricated from body compatible bio-materials, most often titanium or one of its alloys. It can vary in shape from a blade-like shape to a screw type shape. | |
| Incision and drainage: | Cutting of tissue in order to allow the infection to flow out and reduce pain and the swelling. | |
| Incision: | Cutting. | |
| Inlay: | Restoration used when less than 2/3 of a tooth is present and the cusps are not missing. | |
| Intravenous sedation: | Sedating someone with an IV drug. Example: Valium. | |
| L | ||
| Laminate Veneer: | Fingernail like restoration made of porcelain or composite. | |
| M | ||
| Mandible: | The lower jaw. | |
| Maxillae: | The upper jaw. | |
| N | ||
| Nightguard: | Occlusal guard, soft material. | |
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| O | ||
| Occlusal guard: | Appliance used to prevent grinding (nightguard). | |
| Onlay: | Restoration used when 2/3 of a tooth or less and part of the cusps are missing. | |
| Open bite: | The front teeth do not touch when the back teeth touch. | |
| Overbite: | When the upper front teeth overlap the lower front when teeth when closing your mouth. | |
| Overdenture: | Denture made over existing teeth or root tips that have had root canal. These roots are left there in order to reduce bone loss. | |
| Overjet: | The horizontal distance between the upper and lower front teeth. | |
| P | ||
| Palate, Hard: | The front part of the roof of the mouth. | |
| Palate, Soft: | The back part of the roof of the mouth. | |
| Papillale: | Gums between the teeth. | |
| Partial denture: | When the patient has a few teeth (partially edentulous). This teeth are replaced by a prosthetic appliance. | |
| Pericoronitis: | Gingival tissue area of an erupting tooth that is inflamed. Most often the Wisdom Tooth. | |
| Periodontitis: | Inflammation of the bone causing bone loss. | |
| Plaque: | Film of materials made up of saliva, moulds and bacteria. Dead cells, blood cells, food particles and bacterial residues. | |
| Post and core: | Used in order to build up tooth to be able to place a crown on it. Dr. Lee does this procedure as a custom fit and separate procedure. | |
| Pulp: | The center of a tooth made up of vessels and nerve tissue. | |
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| R | ||
| Recontouring: | Reshaping the teeth. | |
| Retainer: | Appliance to hold the teeth in a certain position, usually associated with orthodontics. | |
| Root canal: | Removal of the nerve tissue due to infection from cavities or trauma, and filled with gutta percha, a type of rubber. | |
| Root planning: | Scraping root below the gums, usually done by the hygienist. | |
| S | ||
| Scaling: | Scraping of the tooth above the gums, usually done by the hygienist. | |
| Sinus: | Air spaces above the upper teeth in the skull. | |
| Space maintainer: | Appliance used to prevent teeth from moving. | |
| Splint: | Appliance used to stabilize loose teeth. | |
| Suture: | Stitches. | |
| T | ||
| TEETH | Incisors, Central: | The two front teeth, the cutting teeth (upper and lower). |
| Incisors, Lateral: | The next teeth on either side of the central incisors (upper and lower). | |
| Canines: | The cornerstone of the mouth, the fangs or the cuspid found in upper and lower jaw. | |
| Premolar: | The middle teeth or the bicuspid (upper and lower). | |
| Molars: | The back teeth, the chewing teeth (upper and lower). | |
| TMJ(TMD): | Temporomandibular joint(disorder), the place near the ear where the lower jaw "joins" the skull. If a defect of the disc or other parts are involved, a clicking is most common. Headaches and neckaches are also side effects of TMJ disorder. | |
| U | ||
| Uvula: | A small fleshy structure hanging from the center of the soft palate. The vibration of this structure causes snoring sounds. | |
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