A
abrasion
- loss of tooth structure caused by a hard toothbrush, poor brushing technique, or bruxism (grinding or clenching the teeth).
allergy
- unfavorable systemic response to a foreign substance or drug
alveolar bone
- the jaw bone that anchors the roots of teeth
abutment
- the tooth next to the missing tooth; used as an anchor to support a dental bridge
amalgam
- a silver coloured (mercury) mixture used for fillings
analgesia
- a state of pain relief; an agent lessening pain
anesthesia
- a medicine (injection, pill, gas) which removes the sensation of pain (local anesthesia, general anesthesia, sedaction)
anterior teeth
- six lower front teeth and six upper front teeth (centrals, laterals, cuspids)
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
APS (Air Polishing System)
- professional hygienic exertion; the aim of the procedure is to clean the teeth from the cavity and sediment by using air
arch
- the alignment of upper or lower teeth
attrition
- loss of structure due to natural wear
B
base
- material placed under a dental restoration to insulate the pulp (nerve chamber)
bicuspid tooth
- a two-points (cusps) tooth used for chewing; the fourth and the fifth tooth; also called an eyed tooth, a canine tooth or a premolar tooth
bifurcation (trifurcation)
- juncture of two (three) roots in posterior teeth
biopsy
- removal of a small piece of tissue for microscopic examination
bite
- the relationship between alignments of lower and upper teeth
bite wings
- caries (decay) detection x-rays
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)
brace
- the orthodontic device to straighten the teeth and correct the alignment (metal brace, porcelain brace, lingual brace)
bridge
- permanent prosthetic solution to replace a missing tooth or several teeth in a row
bruxism
- grinding or gnashing of the teeth, most commonly while the patient is asleep
C
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
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
cavity
– the hole in a tooth caused by tooth decay
cementum
- hard tissue that covers the roots of teeth
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 filling
- a tooth-coloured filling, also called white filing
cross bite
- reverse biting relationship of upper and lower teeth; aka "under bite," as in Class III malocclusuion (prognathic jaw)
crown
- a visible part of a tooth above the gum line (can be natural or artificial)
crown lengthening
- a surgical method of exposing the tooth for strengthening and aesthetic purposes
curettage
- removal of diseased tissue from a periodintal pocket
cuspid tooth
- a one-point (cusp) tooth; the third tooth
D
decay
- destruction of tooth structure caused by toxins produced by bacteria
dental implant
- an artificial root of a tooth surgically placed into the jawbone on a place of a missing tooth; looks and feels like natural tooth; implant integrates into the structure of the jawbone and can last a lifetime without decay; can be used to replace a single tooth or multiple teeth
dentition
- the arrangement of natural or artificial teeth in the mouth
denture
- prosthetic and removable replacement of a missing tooth or several teeth; made of artificial teeth (over dentures, full dentures, and partial dentures)
diastema
- space between teeth
E
enamel
- the first and very strong layer of a tooth that covers and protects the crowns (exposed part of your teeth)
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
- the removal of a tooth
F
flap surgery
- loosening of gums from bone to expose, clean and heal underlying tooth structures
fluoride
- an ingredient in toothpastes and tooth liquids; prevents from decay and strenghten the teeth
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
G
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
gingivectomy
- a surgical removal of a part of a gum (around the root of a tooth); made for health and aesthetic reasons
GTR (Guided Tissue Regeneration)
- a dental procedure that enables tissue and bone to re-grow around an endangered tooth; increases the amount of bone needed for implantation
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
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
I
impression
- mold made of the teeth and soft tissues
incisor
- the two front teeth with the straight cutting edges for biting
infiltration
- local anesthetic procedure effective for upper teeth and soft tissue; placement of anesthetic under the gum, allowing it to seep into bone
inlay
- permanently cemented filling; used to repair or strengthen damaged tooth
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;
images may be printed
J
jacket
- crown for a front tooth, usually made of porcelain
jaw
- a common name for either the upper set of the teeth (maxilla) or the lower set (mandible)
L
laminate
- thin plastic or porcelain veneer produced in a dental laboratory and then bonded to a tooth
M
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
mastication
- process of chewing food
maxilla
- the upper jaw
meniscus
- capsular cushion between temporomandibluar joint and glenoid fossa
milk tooth
- primary, baby tooth
molar teeth
- four-point (cusps) teeth; the three back teeth
N
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
O
occlusion
- closure; relationship of the upper and lower teeth upon closure
onlay
- laboratory produced restoration covering one or more cusps of a tooth
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
overbite
- vertical overlap of the front teeth
overdenture
- denture that fits over residual roots or dental implants
overjet
- horozontal overlap of the front teeth
P
palate
- hard and soft tissue forming the roof of the mouth
partial denture
- removable dental prosthesis (appliance) replacing one or more natural teeth
periodontosis
- disease or inflammation affecting the gums bones and all the tissues surrounding the teeth; causes loss of bone attachment
pit
- a small defect in the tooth enamel; junction of four formative lobes of a developing tooth
plaque
- soft and sticky deposit of debris and bacteria that collects on teeth as a colourless film
pontic
- replacement tooth mounted on a fixed or removal appliance
post
- thin metal rod inserted into the root during root canal treatment
prognosis
- the anticipated outcome of treatment
pulp
- the soft inner part of a tooth; consists of nerve and blood vessels
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
R
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 treatment
- endodontic procedure of a removal of infected pulp from a tooth and replacing the space with a special filling
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
S
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
sedation
- premedication before surgery; used to produce sleepiness or drowsiness and to relieve anxiety
scaling
- removal of hardened plaque and stains from teeth surface
T
tartar
- a rough and hard deposit containing bacteria and minerals that form on the teeth
torus
- common bony protuberance on the palate or lower jaw
transplant
- placing a natural tooth in the empty socket of another tooth
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
- thin, 2-3 mm layer made of porcelain; is inserting on the front side of the teeth; do not damage natural layer of the teeth
vertical dimension
- arbitrary space between upper and lower jaws upon closure; may decrease over time due to wear, shifting or damage to the teeth
W
whitening
- a dental process that improves the colour of the teeth
wisdom tooth
- the third molar tooth, the eighth tooth
X
x-ray (panoramic)
- detailed radiograph of the whole occlusion (lower and upper jaw)
xerostomia
- dry mouth or decrease in the production of saliva