| A |
|
| abrasion: |
Loss of tooth
structure caused by a hard toothbrush, poor brushing technique, or grinding or clenching the teeth |
| abscess: |
an infection of a tooth,
soft tissue or bone |
| abutment: |
tooth or teeth that support
a bridge |
| adhesive dentistry: |
contemporary term for dental
restorations involving "bonding" of composite resin or porcelain fillings to natural teeth |
| air abrasion: |
removal of tooth structure
by blasting a tooth with air and abrasive particles |
| alveolar bone: |
the portion of the jaw bone
that anchors the roots of teeth |
| alveoplasty: |
a surgical procedure to
reshape the bone that anchors teeth |
| amalgam: |
common filling material,
also known as "silver fillings" containing mercury (50%), silver, tin, copper and zinc |
| analgesic: |
a state of pain relief |
| anesthesia: |
partial or complete elimination
of pain sensation; freezing a tooth is an example of local anesthesia; general anesthesia produces partial or complete unconsciousness |
| anterior: |
refers to the area located
at the front of the mouth |
| anterior
teeth: |
the six front teeth in the
upper or lower jaw |
| antibiotic: |
a drug that stops or slows
the growth of bacteria |
| antibiotic prophylaxis: |
using antibiotics on patients
who are at a high risk for bacterial endocarditis to help kill any bacteria that enter the bloodstream |
| ANUG: |
an acronym for Acute Necrotizing
Ulcerative Gingivitis, commonly known as trench mouth or Vincent's disease |
| apex: |
the tip of the root of a
tooth |
| apicoectomy: |
surgical removal of the
root tip |
| attrition: |
loss of tooth structure
due to natural wear |
B |
|
| base: |
compounds placed under a
dental restoration to insulate the nerve |
| bicuspid or pre-molar: |
fourth and fifth teeth from
the front, ahead of the molars |
| bifurcation (trifurcation): |
juncture of two (three)
roots in posterior teeth |
| biopsy: |
removal of a small piece
of tissue for microscopic examination to determine its level of health |
| bite: |
relationship of the upper
and lower teeth when closed (occlusion) |
| bitewing: |
decay detecting x-rays that
show only the crown portion of the teeth |
| bleaching: |
chemical or laser treatment
of natural teeth for whitening effect |
| bonding: |
adhesive dental restoration
technique; a tooth-colored composite resin to repair and/or change the color or shape of a tooth |
| braces: |
devices attached to teeth
used by orthodontists to gradually reposition teeth to a more favorable alignment |
| bridge: |
a dental prosthesis (appliance)
fixed to remaining teeth replacing one or more missing teeth |
| bruxism: |
grinding or clenching of
the teeth, most commonly while the patient is asleep |
C |
|
| calcium: |
chemical element needed
for healthy teeth and bones |
| calculus: |
hard buildup, commonly known
as "tartar," that forms on teeth due to inadequate plaque control |
| canker: |
mouth sore appearing as
a small ulcer, often whitish usually lasting ten to fourteen days |
| cantilever bridge: |
fixed bridge that attaches
to only one tooth adjacent to the missing tooth |
| cap: |
common term for a dental
crown |
| caries: |
tooth decay or cavities |
cavitron:
|
dental tool that uses high
frequency ultrasonic waves to clean teeth |
| cellulitis: |
soft tissue infection causing
extensive, hard swelling |
| cementum: |
hard outer covering on the
roots of teeth |
| clasp: |
the portion of a removable
partial denture that "clips" onto teeth |
| cleaning: |
removal of plaque and calculus
(tartar) from teeth |
| composite: |
tooth coloured filling material
usually hardened with a high intensity light or chemical catalyst |
| cosmetic dentistry: |
dental treatments performed
to enhance appearance |
| cross bite: |
reverse biting relationship
of upper and lower teeth; for example an "under bite" |
| crown: |
(1) the portion of a tooth
above the gum line;
(2) dental restoration covering all or most of the natural tooth |
| curettage: |
removal of diseased tissue
from a periodontal pocket |
| cusp: |
a point or bump on the chewing
surface of a posterior tooth |
| cuspid: |
an "eye tooth", third tooth
from the front |
| cyst: |
a soft or hard tissue sac
filled with fluid |
D |
|
| DDS: |
Doctor of Dental Surgery
- equivalent to DMD |
| DMD: |
Doctor of Medical Dentistry
- equivalent to DDS |
| deciduous teeth: |
commonly called "baby teeth,"
the first set of teeth (usually twenty, five in each quadrant) |
| dentin: |
inner layer of tooth structure,
immediately under the surface enamel |
| dental Implant: |
titanium screw surgically
placed in the bone to provide support for a dental restoration or appliance |
| denture: |
removable (partial or complete)
set of artificial teeth |
| denturism: |
the production of dentures
dispensed directly by laboratory technicians |
| diastema: |
a space between teeth |
E |
|
| enamel: |
hard tissue covering the
portion of tooth above the gum line, the hardest substance in the human body |
| endodontist: |
specialist who treats injuries,
diseases and infections of the tooth pulp (nerve chamber) |
| eruption: |
process of teeth protruding
through the gums |
| exfoliation: |
process of losing 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 |
| eye tooth: |
the upper and lower canine
(cuspid) teeth, third from the front |
| eimplantation: |
insertion and temporary
fixation of tooth that has been partially or completely knocked out, resulting from traumatic injury |
F |
|
| filling: |
restoration of lost tooth
structure with metal, porcelain or resin materials |
| fistula: |
a gum boil; pus coming to
the surface from an underlying infection site |
| flap surgery: |
lifting of gum tissue to
allow exposure and cleaning of 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 |
| 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 |
G |
|
| general anesthesia: |
controlled state of unconsciousness |
| geographic tongue: |
changes in the usual colour
and texture of tongue; does not require treatment |
| gingiva: |
gum tissue |
| gingivectomy: |
surgical removal of gum
tissue |
| gingivitis: |
inflammation of gum tissue |
| graft: |
surgical removal of healthy
gum tissue from one area of the mouth (donor site) and placement in another unhealthy area (recipient site) |
| 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 |
|
H
|
|
| halitosis: |
bad breath of oral or gastrointestinal
origin |
| heamatoma: |
swelling and bruising due
to blood seepage beneath surface tissues from a ruptured blood vessel |
| HMO or DMO: |
health (dental) maintenance
organization which specifies a health care (dental) provider a patient may see. |
| hydrogen peroxide: |
disinfecting solution used
in dental irrigation procedures or as mouth rinse |
| hygienist: |
dental auxiliary who cleans
teeth, administers local anesthetic and performs periodontal scaling, root planing and polishing |
| hyperemia: |
increased blood flow and
pressure in a tooth nerve; may cause sensitivity to temperature and sweets; may precede an abscess |
I |
|
| impaction: |
partial or completely unexposed
tooth that is wedged against another tooth, bone, or soft tissue, keeping it from erupting |
| implant: |
artificial device placed
in bone to replace a tooth; may anchor an artificial tooth, bridge, or denture, - see dental implant |
| impression: |
mold made of the teeth and
soft tissues |
| incision and
drainage: |
surgical cutting of an abscess
to drain pus |
| incisors: |
four upper and lower front
teeth first and second from front |
| infiltration: |
placement of local anesthetic
under the gum, allowing it to seep into bone |
| inlay: |
filling made by a dental
laboratory that is cemented or bonded into place |
| interproximal: |
surfaces of adjacent teeth |
| interocclusal: |
space between upper and
lower teeth |
| intraoral camera: |
a small video camera used
to view and magnify oral structures and conditions |
J |
|
| jacket: |
crown for a front tooth,
usually made entirely of porcelain |
L |
|
| laminate: |
thin plastic or porcelain
shell produced in a dental laboratory and then bonded to a tooth |
| laughing gas: |
nitrous oxide; odorless
gas that produces slight 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 |
M |
|
| malocclusion: |
"bad bite" or misalignment
of the upper and lower teeth |
| mandible: |
the lower jaw |
| margin: |
edge between a restoration
and tooth structure |
| maryland bridge: |
a bridge that is bonded
to the back of the adjacent teeth requiring removal of a minimum of tooth structure |
| mastication: |
process of chewing food |
| maxilla: |
the upper jaw |
| meniscus: |
"disc" or hard cushion between
temporomandibluar joint and skull bone |
| milk teeth: |
deciduous (baby) teeth |
| molars: |
three back teeth in each
dental quadrant used for grinding food. |
| moniliasis (thrush): |
fungus infection commonly
occurring after administration of antibiotic |
N |
|
| NSAID: |
non steroidal anti-inflammatory
drug, often used as a dental analgesic |
nerve chamber
(root
canal): |
the internal chamber of
a tooth containing the dental pulp |
| 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 |
O |
|
| occlusion: |
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 and surgical treatment of diseases, injuries, and deformities of the mouth and supporting structures |
| 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 (braces) |
| osseous: |
pertaining to the bones |
| overbite: |
vertical overlap of the
front teeth |
| overdenture: |
denture that fits over residual
roots or dental implants |
| overjet: |
horizontal overlap of the
front teeth |
P |
|
| 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 teeth |
| pathology: |
study of disease |
| periapical (PA): |
(1) region at the end of
the roots of teeth
(2) an x-ray taken to see the ends of the roots of teeth |
|
periodontal surgery: |
reshaping gum and supporting
tissue due to disease or for aesthetic reasons |
| periodontist: |
dental specialist treating
the gums and hard tissues supporting natural teeth |
|
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: |
adult teeth (usually thirty-two) |
| pit: |
a small defect in the tooth
enamel |
| plaque: |
soft sticky substance that
accumulates on teeth; composed of bacteria and food debris which accumulates on teeth due to inadequate dental hygiene |
| pontic: |
false replacement tooth
mounted on a fixed or removal appliance |
| porcelain crown: |
all porcelain restoration
covering the crown portion of tooth (above the gum line) |
porcelain fused
to metal
crown (PFM): |
restoration with metal understructure
(for strength) covered by porcelain (for appearance) |
| porcelain inlay
or onlay: |
tooth-coloured restoration
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
colour and/or shape |
| post: |
thin metal rod cemented
into the root of a tooth after root canal therapy (like reinforcing bar in concrete) |
| post-core: |
post and buildup material
replacing lost tooth structure to retain a crown |
| post-crown: |
single unit that combines
post-core and crown as one piece |
| 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 one or more teeth |
| prosthodontist: |
dental specialist skilled
in restoring or replacing teeth with fixed or removable prostheses (appliances) |
| 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 majority
of the pulp tissue |
| pyorrhea: |
older term for periodontal
(gum) disease |
Q |
|
| quadrant: |
One of the four equal sections
of the mouth. The upper right, upper left, lower right or the lower left. |
R |
|
| reline: |
replacement of acrylic portion
of a denture base to compensate for bone loss; direct: done at in the office; indirect: in conjunction with a dental laboratory |
| restoration: |
replacement of a portion
of tooth structure |
| root: |
portion of the tooth that
connects it to the jaw bone |
| retained root: |
piece of a root remaining
in jaw after extraction or fracture of a natural tooth |
| root canal: |
(1) common term for root
canal treatment
(2) the interior space in the root of the tooth which houses the nerve |
| 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, allowing the remainder of the natural tooth to survive |
| rubber dam: |
latex sheet used to isolate
one or more teeth from contamination by oral fluids and to keep materials from falling to the back of the throat during dental
procedures |
S |
|
| saliva: |
clear fluid in the mouth
containing water, enzymes, mucus and indigested 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: |
removal of plaque and calculus
from tooth surfaces above and below the gum line |
| sealants: |
thin resin material bonded
in the pits and fissures on the chewing surfaces of back teeth for the prevention of food entrapment and decay |
| secondary dentin: |
reparative tooth structure
produced by the pulp in response to trauma |
| sequestrum: |
piece of bone loosened in
an extraction site |
| sinusitis: |
inflammation of the sinus
that may mimic dental pain |
| sleep apnea: |
the periodic interruption
or delay in breathing during sleep |
| space maintainer: |
dental device that holds
the space following premature loss of a baby tooth |
| splint: |
connecting of two or more
teeth together so they function as a stronger single structure |
| supernumerary
tooth: |
extra tooth |
| suppuration: |
bacterial pus |
T |
|
| tartar: |
common term for dental calculus,
a hard deposit that adheres to teeth |
| TMD (or tmj disorder): |
temperomandibular disorder;
term given to condition with symptoms of 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 whitening: |
a chemical process to lighten
the colour of teeth |
| topical anesthetic: |
gel that produces mild anesthesia
when applied to tissue surface |
| torus: |
boney "bump" on the palate
or lower jaw |
| transplant: |
placing a natural tooth
in the empty socket of another tooth |
| trauma: |
injury caused by decay,
external force, chemical, temperature extremes, or poor tooth alignment |
| trench mouth: |
gum disease characterized
by severe mouth sores and loss of tissue. See ANUG. |
U |
|
| unerupted tooth: |
a tooth that has not pushed
through the gum and assumed its correct position in the dental arch |
V |
|
| veneer: |
porcelain facing bonded
directly to a tooth to improve its appearance. See laminate. |
| vertical dimension: |
space between upper and
lower jaws upon closure; may decrease over time due to wear, shifting or damage to the teeth |
W |
|
| wisdom teeth: |
third (last) molars that
usually erupt at age 18-25 |
X |
|
| xerostomia: |
dry mouth or decrease in
the production of saliva |
