Dental Dictionary

A

• abscesssevere and/or chronic localized inflammation in the gum tissue or at the tooth root that usually presents with infection, swelling, pain, and pus, and can cause damage to surrounding teeth and bone if left untreated
• abutmenta natural tooth or dental implant that is used to support a fixed or removable dental prosthesis
• acid etchingpreparation of tooth enamel or dentin surface by the use of an acidic chemical to ensure successful bonding
• acrylic resincompound that may be used to fabricate dental prosthetics, such as denture teeth and crowns
• ADAAmerican Dental Association, an organization of professional dentists within the United States, commonly known for providing public dental health education
• adhesionpart of the bonding process, characterized by chemical or physical agents connecting two or more surfaces with or without the use of adhesive
• adhesiveany substance that causes two or more surfaces to maintain connection with one another for an indefinite period of time
• air abrasionthe use of a tool that blasts air and abrasive material at a tooth to remove small amounts of tooth structure
• alloy/amalgamcompound made up of two or more elements and containing properties not found in the individual elements
• alveolarpart of the jaw bone where teeth are anchored
• anesthesia (local)medication used to block pain in one area for treatment
• anesthesia (general)medication used to induce partial or complete unconsciousness during treatment
• anteriorrefers to teeth or tissues in the front part of the mouth
• ANUGAcute Necrotizing Ulcerative Gingivitis, a condition characterized by small ulcers in the gums and aggravated by stress or smoking
• apextip of the tooth root
• apicoectomysurgical amputation of a tooth root to treat a dead tooth
• applianceoral device such as braces, mouth guards, or retainers
• archcurved structure of upper or lower teeth
• archwiremetal wire used in braces to guide teeth into proper alignment
• arthrogramdiagnostic x-ray involving injection of contrast dye into joint to view the bone structures
• artificial crownprosthetic tooth restoration that covers or replaces a tooth, may attach to partial tooth or dental implant
• attritionnatural wear causing loss of structure
• augmentationprocedure that treats a deficiency of soft tissue or bone structure
• avulsion/evulsionremoval of tooth from socket due to trauma

B

• bandmetal ring cemented in place around a tooth to allow brackets to attach to the teeth
• bandingorthodontic process of fitting and cementing bands to teeth
• baseinsulating substance used beneath restorations to protect tooth pulp from changes in temperature
• benefitpayment for covered dental services by third party insurer
• benigna term used to indicate mild, non-threatening, or non-malignant
• bicuspidtooth located in front of the molars and behind cuspids
• bilateralterm meaning both right and left sides are indicated
• biopsythe removal of a small amount of tissue for examination and/or testing
• bioinertmaterial property indicating it causes no physical reaction, such as inflammation or immune response
• bite/occlusionphysical relationship between upper and lower teeth when closed
• bleachingwhitening of the teeth, generally using a chemical oxidizing agent and/or laser treatment
• block injectionanesthetic placed to cause numbness over a large area of the jaw and mouth
• block graftbone graft stabilized with screw, generally used to correct large bone defect
• bondmechanical or chemical adhesion connecting two surfaces, orthodontic appliance seal
• bondingprocess of attaching brackets to teeth for braces or restoring teeth with composite resin to repair tooth color or shape
• bone atrophy/resorptionloss of bone in jaw, commonly caused by periodontal disease
• bracesorthodontic devices used to reposition teeth over time to correct misalignment, generally consisting of brackets and archwires
• bracketceramic or metal piece cemented to the tooth to hold an archwire for orthodontic treatment
• bridge/partial denturedental prosthetic device used to replace one or more missing teeth, generally attaches to surrounding teeth or implants for support
• bruxisminvoluntary grinding of the teeth, usually while sleeping, often causing tooth wear, sensitivity, headaches, and jaw pain
• buccalreferring to or toward the cheek

C

• CAD/CAMComputer -Aided Design/Computer-Aided Manufacturing
• calciummineral necessary to the formation and maintenance of healthy teeth and bones
• calculuscommonly called “tartar,” hard substance that forms on teeth due to insufficient plaque control, may be stained brown or yellow
• canker sorewhitish mouth sore, usually lasts 10-14 days, may have red “halo”
• cantilever bridgedental bridge that only attaches to teeth on one side
• capcommonly used term for dental crown
• cariescommon term for tooth decay or “cavities”
• cast/model3D reproduction used by filling an impression or mold with plaster and allowing it to dry
• CAT scanComputerized Axial Tomography scan, used to determine size, shape, and placement of bone, usually used for implant placement planning
• cavitymissing tooth structure caused by decay, abrasion, or erosion
• Cavitrondental tool used in cleaning teeth, uses high-frequency ultrasonic waves
• cellulitispotentially dangerous infection of the soft tissue, characterized by extensive hard swelling
• cementumhard tissue that covers the outer surface of a tooth root
• cephalometric imagingx-ray scan of the head that shows the relative positioning of the face, teeth, and jaws
• claspacrylic or metal portion of a partial denture that hooks to natural teeth
• cleaning/prophylaxisthe removal of plaque and calculus from the teeth above the gumline
• cleft palatecongenital deformity that is characterized by a partial or complete lack of fusion of soft and/or hard palate
• coil springspring used between brackets and archwire to open or close space between teeth
• complete dentureset of prosthetic teeth that are used to replace all upper or lower teeth
• composite resintooth colored material composed of plastic with small particles of ceramic or glass, generally cured with a chemical catalyst or filtered light
• coronalreferencing the crown of a tooth
• cosmetic dentistrydental services used to improve appearance, rather than health or function
• cross bitelower teeth lie in front of upper teeth when teeth are closed
• crownmay refer to the visible tooth above the gumline or to a prosthetic dental restoration that replaces part or all of a natural tooth
• crown lengtheningsurgical manipulation of gum tissue to expose more tooth structure, often used in conjunction with other treatment
• curettagethe removal of infected tissues from periodontal pocket or bone, often in conjunction with scaling and root planing (deep cleaning)
• cusppointed or rounded mound on or near the chewing surface of a tooth
• cuspidtooth located between incisors and bicuspids, also known as “eye tooth” or “canine”
• cystsac of tissue, usually hard or filled with fluid

D

• DDSDoctor of Dental Surgery, this degree is equivalent to DMD
• debridementremoval of plaque and calculus that is interfering with proper evaluation
• debandingremoval of cemented orthodontic bands from teeth
• debondingremoval of cemented orthodontic brackets from teeth
• decaythe destruction of tooth structure
• deciduous teethalso known as “baby” or “primary” teeth, these first teeth generally arrive between the ages of birth and 3 and will fall out later as permanent teeth begin to erupt in their place
• dental implantsmall cylinder, generally titanium, implanted into the upper or lower jawbone to anchor a dental appliance or restoration
• dentinhard inner layer of the tooth, just beneath the enamel, forms the bulk of the tooth structure
• dentistrymedical field characterized by the evaluation, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases and disorders of the teeth, mouth, gums, jaws, and other oral and maxillofacial areas by a trained and certified professional
• dentitionthe arrangement of teeth within the mouth
• dentureset of one or more prosthetic teeth
• diagnostic castimpression used to aid in planning treatment
• diagnostic imagingphotographs or radiographs taken for the purpose of diagnostic evaluation
• diastemathe space between two adjacent teeth
• discectomyremoval of intra-articular disc from a joint
• displaced toothtooth that has grown or shifted into an incorrect placement within the mouth
• distalpart of the tooth furthest from the center of the arch
• DMDDoctor of Medical Dentistry, this degree is equivalent to DDS
• dressingmedicines, bandages, or other materials applied to a wound to promote healing
• dry socketpainful localized inflammation of a tooth socket after extraction, caused by infection or loss of the blood clot needed for proper healing

E

• edentulousterm meaning “without teeth”
• enamelhard tissue exterior of a tooth, covers the dentin
• endodonticsdental field concerned with care and treatment of tooth pulp and associated areas
• endodontistdental specialist focused on treating disease and injuries of the tooth pulp and associated areas
• epidemiologyscientific study of disease incidence and prevalence in a population
• equilibrationreshaping bite surfaces of teeth to correct imbalance, also known as occlusal adjustment
• eruptionprotrusion of teeth through gums
• evulsion/avulsionremoval of tooth from socket due to trauma
• excisionremoval of tissue or bone through surgical means
• exodontiadental extraction
• exostosisbone overgrowth
• extraoralrefers to the area outside the oral cavity
• extracoronalrefers to the area outside the crown of a tooth
• extractionremoval of a tooth
• exudatematerial containing fluid, cells, and/or debris caused by necrosis or inflammation
• eyeteethcommon term for cuspid or “canine” teeth

G

• general anesthesiathe use of medication to induce a controlled unconscious state in a patient during treatment, allows reduced or eliminated sensation of pain and reflexive motion
• gingivaalso called gum tissue, soft tissue that surrounds teeth within the mouth
• gingivectomysurgical removal of gum tissue/gingiva
• gingivitisstage of periodontal disease where gum tissue is inflamed and/or infected, but loss of tissues has not occurred
• graftsurgical addition of natural or synthetic tissue to repair or reinforce tissues with defect or deficiency
• Guided Tissue Regeneration (GTR)advanced surgical technique used to enhance bone regeneration/regrowth
• gum recessionshrinkage of gums due to periodontal disease, surgery, or other cause resulting in exposure of teeth roots

H

• halitosischronic bad breath, generally caused by oral or gastrointestinal disorder
• hematomablood swelling beneath the surface of the skin, gums, or other tissue
• hygienistdental professional who is trained and certified to perform dental cleanings, scaling and root planing, and other functions, provides patient education, and may administer local anesthetic or nitrous oxide
• hyperplasiaabnormal increase in cell growth leading to enlargement of tissue

I

• imagingincludes, but is not limited to, X-rays, CAT scans, MRIs, photographs, and other visual diagnostic formats
• immediate dentureteeth replacement prosthetic designed to be placed as soon as teeth are removed, generally will be replaced with permanent denture once healing is complete
• immediate implant placementdental implant placed during the same visit as the extraction of the tooth it replaces
• impacted tootha tooth that is partially or fully unable to erupt and remains embedded in soft tissue or wedged against bone or another tooth
• implantto insert or graft material into tissue
• implant, dentalsmall metal cylinder, usually titanium, placed in or on jawbone, used in conjunction with dental prosthetic as a tooth replacement solution
• implant dentistryfield of study and practice involving the surgical placement and maintenance of dental implants and implant-anchored tooth replacement prosthetics
• impressionmold of teeth and gums, made by biting a soft material, used for diagnostic and treatment planning purposes
• incision and drainagesmall surgical cut to drain pus from an abscess
• incisorsfour front center upper and lower teeth
• infiltrationuse of local anesthetic by placing under the gum tissue, effective in certain parts of the mouth only
• inlayfilling made outside the tooth, then cemented or bonded in place to restore lost structure
• interproximaladjacent surfaces between teeth within the same arch
• interocclusalbetween upper and lower teeth of the bite
• intracoronalinside the tooth crown
• intraoralinside the oral cavity
• intraoral cameraspecially designed camera for use in photographing inside the mouth, used for diagnostic purposes

J

• jacket crownprosthetic crown for a front tooth
• jawcommon term referring to maxilla or mandible bone

L

• laminate veneerthin material, generally tooth-colored, used to cover the front of a healthy tooth to restore the appearance from discoloration, damage, misalignment, or other such cosmetic issue
• laughing gascommon term used for nitrous oxide, an odorless gas that produces a mild sedative effect when inhaled
• lesiontissue injury, generally due to trauma, infection, or illness
• ligationprocess of attaching archwire to braces in orthodontic treatment
• ligaturethin wire used to hold archwire in the bracket in orthodontic treatment
• lingualrefers to area or surface on or around the tongue, opposite of facial
• lip bumperarchwire attached to a piece of molded plastic, holds back molars of lower jaw to provide more space for the other teeth
• local anesthesiamedication used to block nerve impulses to provide partial or complete elimination of pain during treatment

M

• malocclusionimproper alignment of upper and lower jaw or teeth
• mandiblelower jaw
• mandibular canalspace within the mandible which holds the blood vessels and nerves for the lower jaw and teeth
• masticationchewing, generally of food
• maxillaupper jaw
• maxillary sinusopen cavity inside the maxilla
• molarrearmost teeth, cusped, used for grinding food
• mouthguardappliance used to protect the mouth and teeth during rigorous activity, such as sports

N

• NSAIDanalgesic medication, stands for Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug
• night guardappliance used to protect teeth and jaw during sleep in cases of grinding
• nitrous oxidealso known as laughing gas, odorless inhalant that causes a mild sedative effect

O

• occlusionlineup of upper and lower teeth surfaces when mouth is closed, also known as “bite”
• onlayprosthetic restoration that covers the occlusal (biting/chewing) surface of a tooth, but not the whole tooth
• operculectomysurgical removal of the operculum
• operculumtissue flap covering partially or fully unerupted tooth
• oralreferring to the mouth
• oral and maxillofacial surgeonspecialist with at least 4 additional years of specialized training beyond the dental degree, diagnoses and treats oral diseases, injuries, deformities, defects, or other issues, including surgical treatments of the oral and maxillofacial areas
• oral and maxillofacial surgerysurgical treatment of the mouth, jaw, and related areas, may include extraction, repair of defects or fractures, removal of tumors or cysts, and others
• oral cavitythe inside of the mouth
• oral hygieneestablishment and maintenance of habits designed to keep mouth, gums, and teeth healthy
• oral pathologistdental specialist who focuses on study, diagnosis, and management of diseases affecting the oral cavity, jaws, and other connected areas
• oral pathologythe study, diagnosis, and management of diseases affecting the oral cavity, jaws, and other connected areas
• orthodonticsdental specialty concerned with the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of malocclusion and other neuromuscular or skeletal abnormalities of the orofacial structure
• orthodontistdental specialist who focuses on the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of malocclusion and other neuromuscular or skeletal abnormalities of the orofacial structure
• orthognathicrefers to the functional relationship between the mandible and maxilla (upper and lower jaws)
• osseousrefers to bone tissue
• osteoplastysurgical procedure that modifies bone structure
• osteotomysurgical procedure involving the cutting of bone structure
• overbiteorthodontic issue, when upper front teeth significantly overlap the lower

P

• palatehard and soft tissues that form the roof of the mouth, separating the oral and nasal cavities
• palatal expanderorthodontic device used to widen the upper jaw
• palliative treatmenttreatment for the purpose of pain relief only
• panoramic radiograph (x-ray)radiograph that includes the full upper and lower teeth and jaws as a single flattened image, used for diagnostic purposes
• partial dentureprosthetic device that is used to replace one or more missing teeth, but not the full upper or lower set, may be fixed or removable, also known as a bridge
• pediatric dentistdental specialist focusing on the dental treatment of infants, children, and adolescents
• pediatric dentistrydental specialty that focuses on preventive care and treatment for infants, children, and adolescents, includes care for special needs patients
• periapical (PA)area at the end of a tooth root
• pericoronalarea around the crown of a tooth
• peri-implantitisinflammation of the tissue surrounding a dental implant
• periodontalrefers to the tissues that surround and support the teeth
• periodontal diseaseincludes gingivitis and periodontitis, inflammation of the periodontal tissues, may include the development of periodontal pockets, bone loss, and tooth loss, can be treated but not cured
• periodontal surgerysurgery to treat diseased gum tissue in the mouth
• periodontal pocketa feature of periodontal disease, pocket-like deformity in the gums at the toothline
• periodonticsdental specialty focusing on placement of dental implants and the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases that affect the tissues that surround and support the teeth
• periodontistdental specialist who focuses on placement of dental implants and the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases that affect the tissues that surround and support the teeth
• periodontitisinflammation of the periodontal tissues, may include the development of periodontal pockets, bone loss, and tooth loss, can be treated but not cured
• permanent teeththe second and final set of teeth, also known as adult teeth, usually 32 in total
• plaquesoft, sticky substance that can accumulate on teeth, generally made up of food debris and bacteria
• ponticprosthetic tooth, part of a partial denture/bridge
• postthin rod that may be inserted into tooth root following root canal treatment, provides support for the tooth structure
• preventive dentistryaspect of dentistry that focuses on promotion of good oral hygiene habits to protect oral health and reduce or prevent development of oral health issues
• prophylaxisprofessional cleaning to remove plaque, calculus, surface stains from tooth structures, helps to prevent tooth decay and periodontal disease
• prosthodonticsdental specialty focusing on the use of prosthetic tooth replacement and restoration of natural teeth
• prosthodontistdental specialist focusing on the use of prosthetic tooth replacement and restoration of natural teeth
• pulpconnective tissue inside the tooth, contains nerves and blood vessels
• pulp capmedicated covering placed over small exposed area of pulp to aid in healing
• pulpectomycomplete removal of tooth pulp
• pulpitisinflammation of pulp tissue, common cause of toothaches
• pulpotomyremoval of diseased portion of pulp, leaving healthy pulp tissue intact

R

• radicularrefers to tooth root
• radiographalso known as an x-ray, image of bone and tooth structures produced through exposure to ionizing radiation
• reimplantationreinsertion of tooth into its socket following trauma that partially or completely removed it
• relineresurfacing of the tissue side of a removable denture to correct issue with fit
• resinmaterial used in dental restorations and other dental treatments
• resorptionloss of bone or structure
• retainerappliance used to ensure teeth do not return to prior misaligned state following orthodontic treatment
• rootportion of the tooth that attaches the tooth into the gums and socket
• root canalpulp cavity inside the tooth root
• root canal therapytreatment of disease or injury to tooth pulp, generally involves the removal of part or all of the pulp and replacement with inert material
• root planingprocedure used in the treatment of periodontal disease, involves deep cleaning of teeth at the roots to remove calculus and other substances
• rubber damlatex sheet used to isolate part of the mouth from saliva and potential contaminants during surgery

S

• scalingprofessional deep cleaning to remove plaque, calculus, and surface stains from teeth, common treatment for periodontal disease
• sealantthin, resinous material that is applied to occlusal surfaces of rear molars to help prevent decay
• separator/spacersmall rubber orthodontic ring used to create space between teeth before bands are attached
• sinus graftbone graft on the maxillary sinus to allow the placement of dental implants
• sleep apneainterruptions in breathing during sleep due to airway collapse
• space maintainerdental appliance used to fill space of prematurely lost baby tooth to prevent shifting of surrounding teeth
• stomatitisinflammation of mouth membranes

T

• tartarcommonly used term for dental calculus, hard, rough deposit on teeth that attracts plaque
• temporomandibular joint disorder/dysfunction (TMD)condition involving pain and tension in the jaw and facial area, may include restricted movement
• temporomandibular joint (TMJ)connecting hinge between lower jaw (mandible) and the base of the skull
• treatment planset of procedures agreed upon by doctor and patient to address oral health concerns
• trench mouthgum disease involving severe mouth ulcers, loss of tissue, and halitosis

U

• usual, customary, and reasonable (UCR) feeterm meaning that a fee for a given procedure has been set according to a common consensus on its rate
• unerupted toothtooth that has not yet emerged from the gum into the mouth

V

• veneerthin facing bonded onto the front surface of a tooth to improve appearance

W

• waxmay be used to stop irritation from braces
• wire tiefine wire that holds the archwire in place in braces by twisting around the bracket
• wisdom teeththird and final set of molars in the rear of the mouth, generally erupt between ages 18 and 25