DENTAL DICTIONARY
A
Abrasion: Tooth wear caused by things such as brushing too hard, holding things in your teeth and other actions.
Abscess: Acute (sudden) or chronic (long lasting) localized inflammation, usually with a collection of pus as well as tissue destruction and swelling.
Aesthetic: Relating to appearance and beauty.
Alveolar: The bone to which a tooth is attached.
Amalgam: An alloy (combination of 2 or more elements) used in direct dental restorations.
Analgesia: Reduction or elimination of pain.
Anatomical Crown: Portion of tooth normally covered by enamel
Anomaly: Deviation from normal structure, growth, development or function; abnormality.
Anterior: Front teeth; maxillary and mandibular centrals, laterals and canines.
Apex: The tip/end of the root of the tooth.
Apicoectomy: Removal of the apex of a tooth.
Avulsion: Traumatic separation of tooth from its socket.
B
Bilateral: Occurring on both the left and right side.
Biopsy: Removal of tissue for histologic evaluation.
Bitewing Radiographs: Radiographs obtained to view the interproximal (in between) spaces of teeth for dental diagnosis of caries and other dental diseases.
Bleaching/Whitening: Lightening the teeth using a chemical oxidizing agent with or without assistance of a light (heat).
Bridge: Fixed appliance which connects natural teeth or dental implants to artificial teeth to fill open spaces created by missing teeth.
Bruxism: Grinding of teeth.
Buccal: Directional term referencing surfaces towards the cheek.
C
Calculus: Commonly known as tartar; hard deposit of mineralized plaque bacteria adhered to tooth structures. Not able to remove with brushing and flossing due to the strong attachment to the tooth.
Caries: Tooth decay or cavity; missing tooth structure created by bacterial process.
Cementum: Hard connective tissue which covers the outer surface of the root surface of a tooth.
Cleft Palate: Congenital deformity resulting in the lack of fusion of the hard or soft palate can be either partial or complete.
Clenching: Clamping and pressing of teeth together while at rest; often associated with stress or physical effort (lifting weights).
Complete Denture: Prosthetic appliance worn to replace either maxillary, mandibular or both arches when there are no natural teeth remaining.
Complete Series: Also known as full mouth series or full set- An entire set of radiographs including bitewing radiographs and periapical radiographs. Usually involves 14 to 22 individual radiographs. A complete series allows the dentist to see all tooth surfaces; crowns, roots, and interproximal areas to adequately diagnose any dental disease.
Composite: Dental restorative material made of separate parts (resin, quartz, etc).
Core Buildup: Replacement of portion of tooth crown to provide a strong base for the retention of a indirectly fabricated crown restoration.
Cracked Tooth Syndrome: Collection of symptoms characterized by acute pain when chewing.
Crown: Artificial replacement of a natural tooth that has been specially shaped in preparation for the crown placement.
Crowns can also be placed over dental implants.
Crown Lengthening: Surgical procedure performed to expose more tooth by removing gum tissue and supporting bone. Sometimes necessary for restorative procedures, may also be used to aesthetic benefits.
Cusp: Pointed or rounded projection on the chewing surface of a tooth.
Cyst: Cavity lined with skin cells containing fluid or soft matter.
D
Debridement: Removal of subgingival (below the gums) and supragingival (above the gums) plaque and calculus which prevents a dentist from performing an evaluation.
Decay: Lay term for caries or carious lesion; decomposition of tooth structure.
Deep Sedation: Drug-induced depression of consciousness during which patients cannot be easily aroused by respond to repeated painful stimulation.
Dentin: Hard, mineralized tissue forming the majority of the tooth.
Diastema: A space, i.e. a space between two adjacent teeth in the same arch.
Direct Pulp Cap: Procedure where a therapeutic material is placed on exposed and vital pulp followed by a restoration to promote healing and to maintain the vitality of the pulp.
Distal: Directional term describing the surface or position of a tooth towards the back of the mouth, or away from the mid-line.
Dry Socket: Inflammation of the tooth socket after extraction of a tooth de to infection or loss of the blood clot.
Edentulous: Without teeth.
Enamel: Hard, calcified tissue covering the dentin of the coronal portion of the tooth.
Endodontist: Dental specialist who limits practice to treating disease and injury to the pulp.
Enteral: Absorbed via the GI tract or oral mucosa.
Erosion: Thinning or wearing of enamel.
Evaluation: Patient assessment that may include gathering of information through interview, observation, examination and use of tests which allow the dentist to diagnose existing conditions.
Excision: Surgical removal of bone or tissue.
Exostosis: Overgrowth of bone; often appear as bony ridges along the mandible or maxilla.
Extraction: Removal of tooth or tooth parts.
Extraoral: Outside of the mouth.
Exudate: Material containing fluid, cells and/or other debris often resulting from inflammation or necrosis.
E
F
Facial: Directional term referencing the surface of a tooth facing towards the cheeks or lips.
Filling: Lay term for the restoring of lost tooth structure with materials such as metal, alloy, plastic or porcelain.
Fixed Partial Denture: Prosthetic tooth replacement option to replace one or more missing teeth that is attached to implant replacements.
Fluoride: Mineral used to help prevent the decay of natural teeth.
Frenum: Muscle fibers which attach the cheek, lips and or tongue to associated mucosa.
Furcation: Anatomic area of a multirooted tooth (molars) where the roots meet, forming an arch.
G
General Anesthesia: Drug-induced loss of consciousness during which the patient are not arousable, even by painful stimulation. Ventilation may be required to maintain airway.
Gingiva: Soft tissue encircling erupted teeth.
Gingivectomy: Removal gingival tissue.
Gingivitis: Inflammation of gingival tissue without attachment loss; can lead to periodontal disease if not treated and maintained. Reversible.
Gingivoplasty: Surgical procedure used to reshape the contours of the gingival tissue.
Graft: A piece of tissue either from the patient or a donor, placed in contact with damaged tissue to repair a defect or supplement a deficiency.
I
Immediate Denture: Prosthetic appliance produced for placement in the mouth immediately after the extraction of remaining natural teeth.
Impacted Tooth: Unerupted or partially erupted tooth position against another tooth, bone or soft tissue in a way that complete eruption is unlikely.
Implant: Device placed surgically within the maxillary or mandibular bone as a means for providing replacement of teeth.
Incisal: Biting edges of incisor and canine teeth.
Incisor: Tooth used for cutting and gnawing; located in the front of the mouth.
Inhalation: Gaseous or volatile agent is introduced into the lungs and absorbed through the blood/gas interface as a way to sedate patient for dental procedures.
Inlay: Restoration made outside the oral cavity to restore a portion of the occlusal surface of a tooth.
Interproximal: The space in between adjacent teeth in the same arch.
Intraoral: Inside the mouth.
L
Laminate Veneer: Covering on the facial surface of a tooth intended to restore discolored, damaged, misshapen or misaligned teeth.
Lichen Planus: Condition presenting with white patches, red and swollen tissues, or open sores in the mouth. May cause discomfort such as burning or pain.
Local Anesthesia: Elimination of sensation in one part of the body by topical application or regional injection of medication.
Malocclusion: Improper alignment or biting/chewing surfaces between upper and lower teeth.
Mandible: Lower jaw.
Maxilla: Upper jaw.
Mesial: Directional term referencing the surface closest the midline of the dental arch.
Minimal Sedation: Minimally depressed level of consciousness acquired through pharmacological methods. Patients are able to respond to tactile stimulation and verbal command.
Molar: Teeth located in the back of the mouth; characterized by large crowns with broad chewing surfaces to facilitate grinding of food during chewing.
Mouthguard: Molded device intended to be worn to aid in prevention of injury to the teeth and surrounding tissues.
M
N
Nightguard: Removable molded device worn during sleep to prevent damage to teeth from bruxism (grinding).
O
Occlusal: The biting surfaces of the premolar and molar teeth.
Occlusion: Contact between biting or chewing surfaces of upper and lower teeth.
Onlay: Dental restoration manufactured outside the oral cavity to cover one or more cusp tips and associated occlusal surface, but not the entire external surface.
Operculum: Flap of tissue residing over an unerupted or partially erupted tooth.
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon: Dental specialist who limits practice to diagnosis, surgical and treatment of disease, injuries, deformities, defects and esthetic aspects of the oral and maxillofacial regions.
Orthodontist: Dental specialist who limits practice to the treatment of malocclusion and other skeletal abnormalities of the teeth and their surrounding structures.
Osteonecrosis: Severe loss of jaw bone.
Overdenture: Removable prosthetic that is placed over supporting retained teeth or implants.
P
Palate: The hard and soft tissue which together form the roof of the mouth separating the oral and nasal cavities.
Partial Denture: Prosthetic device used to replace missing teeth; can be fixed or removable.
Pediatric Dentist: Dental specialist who limits practice to treatment of children from birth to adolescence. Also known as a pedodontist.
Peri-implantitis: Infection which develops around an implant with the potential to result in bone loss.
Periodontal: Referencing the supporting and surrounding tissues of the teeth.
Periodontal Disease: Inflammatory disease of the gingival tissues and periodontal membrane of the teeth which results in deep gingival sulcus and loss of supporting alveolar bone. Not Reversible.
Periodontal Maintenance: Therapy required for preserving the state of health of the periodontium.
Periodontal Pocket: Deepened gingival sulcus; determined by periodontal charting with a perio probe. Periodontal pockets are measured in millimeters; any pockets measuring 4mm and above can be considered periodontal pockets.
Periodontist: Dental specialist who limits practice to treatment of diseases of the supporting and surrounding tissues of the teeth.
Periodontium: Tissue complex composed of gingival tissue, cementum, periodontal ligament and alveolar bone; responsible for attachment and nourishment of teeth.
Plaque: Soft, sticky bacterial substance which accumulates on teeth.
Post: Rod-like structure place into a prepared root canal to provide structural support to the tooth.
Prophylaxis: Removal of plaque, calculus and stain from the tooth structures. Prophylaxis is intended to control the local irritation caused by these factors.
Prosthodontist: Dental specialist who limits practice to restoration of natural teeth or replacement of missing teeth with artificial substitutes.
Pulp: Connective tissue occupying the center of a tooth containing blood vessels and nerve tissue.
Pulpectomy: Complete removal of both vital and nonvital pulp tissue from the root canal space.
Pulpitis: Inflammation of the dental pulp.
Pulpotomy: Removal of only diseased portion of the pulp with the intention to maintain vitality of remaining pulp tissue with use of a therapeutic dressing.
Q
Quadrant: One of four equal sections of the dental arches beginning at the midline and extending posterior to the molar. Each quadrant starts on an incisor and ends with a molar tooth.
R
Radiograph: Image or picture produced by radiation sensitive film, a phosphorous plate or digital sensor by exposure to ionizing radiation.
Recede/Recession: The pulling of gum tissue away from the teeth.
Reline: Resurfacing the tissue side of a removable prosthetic appliance with a new base material.
Removable Partial Denture: Removable prosthetic dental appliance used to replace one or more missing teeth.
Retainer: Appliance to stabilize teeth.
Root: Anatomic portion of the tooth covered by cementum and located in the socket; attached to the periodontium.
Root Canal Therapy: Treatment of disease and injury of the pulp.
Root Planing: Treatment procedure to remove cementum and dentin that is rough and contaminated with toxins or microorganisms.
S
Salivary Gland: Glands which produce and excrete saliva into the mouth.
Scaling: Removal of plaque, calculus and stain from teeth.
Sealant: Resin material applied to the occlusal surface of posterior teeth to prevent the formation of decay in these areas.
Splint: Device used to support, protect or immobilize oral structures which have been loosened, replanted, fractured or traumatized. May also be used to treat temporomandibular joint disorders.
Stomatitis: Inflammation of membranes of the mouth.
Supernumerary Teeth: Extra erupted or unerupted teeth that resemble teeth of normal shape.
T
Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ): Connecting hinge joining the base of skull and lower jaw.
Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMD or TMJD): Abnormal functioning of the TMJ; also refers to symptoms occurring in result of the dysfunction.
Torus: Bony elevation or protuberance of bone. Commonly located on the roof of the mouth.
Trismus: Restricted ability to open the mouth.
Unerupted: A tooth or teeth that have not penetrated into the oral cavity.
Unilateral: Occurring on one side only.
U
V
W
Xerostomia: Decreased salivary flow resulting in a dry sensation of the oral mucosa.