|
|
abrasion:
|
loss
of tooth structure caused by a hard toothbrush, poor brushing
technique, or bruxism (grinding or clenching the teeth). |
| abscess: |
an
infection of a tooth, soft tissue or bone |
| abutment: |
tooth
or teeth that support a fixed or removable bridge |
| adhesive
dentistry: |
contemporary
term for dental restorations that involve “bonding” of composite
resin or porcelain fillings to natural teeth |
| air
abrasion:
|
removal
of tooth structure by blasting a tooth with air and abrasive, a
relatively new technology that may avoid the need for anesthetic |
allergy:
|
unfavorable
systemic response to a foreign substance or drug |
| alveolar
bone: |
the
jaw bone that anchors the roots of teeth |
| amalgam:
|
a
most common filling material, also known as "silver
fillings, "containing mercury (app 50%), silver, tin, copper and
zinc used for fillings |
| analgesia: |
a
state of pain relief; an agent lessening pain |
| anesthesia:
|
partial
or complete elimination of pain sensation; numbing a tooth is an
example of local anesthesia; general anesthesia produces partial or
complete unconsciousness |
| anterior
teeth: |
the
six upper or six lower front teeth |
| 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 |
| arch
: |
describes
the alignment of the upper or lower teeth |
| attrition: |
loss
of structure due to natural wear |
|
|
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|
baby
teeth:
|
the
first teeth, also called deciduous teeth; usually there are twenty
baby teeth |
base:
|
cement
placed under a dental restoration to insulate the pulp (nerve
chamber) |
| bicuspid
or pre-molar: |
transitional
teeth behind the cuspids
|
| bifurcation
(trifurcation): |
juncture
of two (three) roots in posterior teeth
|
biopsy:
|
removal
of a small piece of tissue for microscopic examination |
bite:
|
relationship
of the upper and lower teeth on closure (occlusion) |
| bite
wings: |
caries
(decay) detection x-rays |
black
hairy tongue:
|
elongated
papillae on the tongue, promoting the growth of microorganisms |
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
loss:
|
decrease
in bone supporting the roots of teeth; a common result of
periodontal (gum disease) |
bone
resorption:
|
the
gradual loss of bone; Orthodontists use this process to
"pull" teeth through bone to new positions |
| braces: |
devices
used by orthodontists to gradually reposition teeth to a more
favorable alignment |
| bridge:
|
stationary
dental prosthesis (appliance) fixed to teeth adjacent to a space;
replaces one or more missing teeth, cemented or bonded to supporting
teeth or implants adjacent to the space |
| bruxism: |
grinding
or gnashing of the teeth, most commonly while the patient is asleep |
bruxomania:
|
persistent
"nervous" grinding of the teeth while the patient is awake |
|
|
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|
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 |
cantilever
bridge:
|
fixed
bridge that attaches to adjacent teeth only on one end |
| 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 |
| cellulitis:
|
soft
tissue infection causing extensive, hard swelling, a potentially
dangerous condition requiring immediate attention |
| cementum: |
hard
tissue that covers the roots of teeth |
| chart: |
log
of dental or medical records |
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
resin:
|
material
composed of plastic with small glass or ceramic particles; usually
cured with filtered light or chemical catalyst |
| cosmetic
(aesthetic) dentistry: |
treatments
performed to enhance appearance; not a recognized specialty |
| CPR
(cardiopulmonary resuscitation): |
Artificial
procedures employed by a rescuer after cessation of breathing or
heart stoppage
|
| Cross
bite:
|
reverse
biting relationship of upper and lower teeth; aka "under
bite," as in Class III malocclusuion (prognathic jaw) |
| 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 periodintal pocket |
| cusp: |
mound
on posterior teeth |
| cuspid
or canine: |
the
four "eye teeth" |
| cyst: |
a
soft or hard tissue sac, hard or filled with fluid |
|
|
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|
| DDS: |
Doctor
of Dental Surgery - equivalent to DMD |
| DMD: |
Doctor
of Medical Dentistry - equivalent to DDS |
decay:
|
destruction
of tooth structure caused by toxins produced by bacteria |
deciduous
teeth:
|
commonly
called "baby teeth," the first set of (usually) twenty
teeth |
dentin:
|
inner
layer of tooth structure, immediately under the surface enamel |
| dental
implant:
|
a
(usually) titanium cylinder surgically placed in the bone of the
upper or lower jaw to provide support for a dental restoration or
appliance |
dentition:
|
the
arrangement of natural or artificial teeth in the mouth |
| denture: |
removable
(partial or complete) set of artificial teeth |
denturism:
|
the
production of dentures dispensed directly by laboratory technicians |
| diastema: |
space
between teeth |
|
|
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|
enamel:
|
hard
tissue covering the portion of tooth above the gum line |
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: |
removal
of a tooth |
| eyeteeth: |
the
four upper and lower canine (cuspid) teeth |
|
|
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|
facing:
|
tooth
colored overlay on the visible portion of a crown; may be acrylic,
composite or porcelain |
| FAGD: |
Fellowship
Academy of General Dentistry |
filling:
|
restoration
of lost tooth structure with metal, porcelain or resin materials |
fistula:
|
channel
emanating pus from an infection site; a gum boil |
flap
surgery:
|
lifting
of gum tissue to expose and clean 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 |
| 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 |
|
|
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|
GTR:
|
(guided
tissue regeneration) a new technique for replacing bone tissue |
| 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 |
| gingiva: |
gum
tissue |
| gingivectomy: |
surgical
removal of gum tissue |
| gingivitis: |
inflammation
of gum tissue |
| 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 |
|
|
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|
|
halitosis:
|
bad breath of oral
or gastrointestinal origin
|
Heimlich Maneuver:
|
technique employed
by rescuer for obstruction of victim's airway
|
| 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 (H202):
|
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 |
|
|
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|
impaction/impacted tooth:
|
partial or
completely unexposed tooth that is wedged against another tooth, bone, or soft
tissue, precluding the eruption process
|
|
implant:
|
artificial device
replacing tooth root; may anchor an artificial tooth, bridge,
or denture
|
|
impression:
|
mold made of the
teeth and soft tissues
|
|
incision and drainage:
|
surgical incision
of an abscess to drain suppuration (pus)
|
incisors:
|
four upper and
four lower front teeth, excluding the cuspids (canine teeth)
|
|
infiltration:
|
local anesthetic
procedure effective for upper teeth and soft tissue; placement of anesthetic
under the gum, allowing it to seep into bone
|
|
inlay:
|
indirect - filling
made by a dental laboratory that is cemented or bonded into place, direct -
placement of dental composite resin restoration at chairside
|
| interproximal:
|
surfaces of
adjoining teeth
|
| interocclusal:
|
space between
upper and lower teeth
|
|
intraoral camera:
|
a small
video
camera used to view and magnify oral conditions;
images may be printed |
|
|
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|
|
jacket:
|
crown for a front
tooth, usually made of porcelain |
|
|
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|
laminate:
|
thin plastic or
porcelain veneer produced in a dental laboratory and then bonded to a tooth
|
|
laughing gas:
|
nitrous oxide;
odorless inhalation agent that produces relative analgesic (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 |
|
|
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|
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
|
| MAGD:
|
Masters Academy of
General Dentistry
|
Maryland bridge:
|
a bridge that is
bonded to the back of the adjacent teeth; requires minimum tooth reduction
|
|
mastication:
|
process of chewing
food
|
|
maxilla:
|
the upper jaw
|
meniscus:
|
capsular cushion
between temporomandibluar joint and glenoid fossa
|
|
milk teeth:
|
deciduous (baby)
teeth
|
|
molars:
|
three back teeth
in each dental quadrant used for grinding food
|
moniliasis (thrush):
|
opportunistic
fungal infection after administration of antibiotic; not uncommon in the mouth
|
mucogingival junction (MGJ):
|
meeting of thick,
protective gingival tissue around the teeth and the friable mucous lining of the
cheeks and lips |
|
|
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|
NSAID:
|
non steroidal
anti-inflammatory drug, often used as a dental analgesic
|
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
|
Novocain:
|
older brand name
for a local anesthetic, currently replaced by safer, more effective agents |
|
|
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|
occlusion:
|
closure;
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 & surgical treatment of diseases,
injuries, and deformities of the mouth and supporting structures; Requires four
additional years of training after dental school
|
|
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
|
|
osseous:
|
bony |
|
overbite:
|
vertical overlap
of the front teeth
|
| overdenture:
|
denture that fits
over residual roots or dental implants
|
| overjet:
|
horizontal overlap
of the front teeth |
|
|
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|
|
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 natural teeth
|
|
pathology:
|
study of disease
|
|
periapical (PA):
|
region at the end
of the roots of teeth
|
periodontal surgery:
|
recontouring or
esthetic management of diseased gum and supporting tissue
|
| periodontist:
|
dental specialist
treating the gums and supporting soft and hard tissues retaining natural teeth
and the surgical placement of dental implants
|
|
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:
|
(usually)
thirty-two adult teeth in a complete dentition
|
pit:
|
a small defect in
the tooth enamel; junction of four formative lobes of a developing tooth
|
placebo:
|
inert medication
or treatment that produces psychological benefit
|
|
plaque:
|
soft sticky
substance that accumulates on teeth; composed of bacteria and food debris due to
inadequate dental hygiene
|
pontic:
|
replacement tooth
mounted on a fixed or removal appliance
|
porcelain crown:
|
all porcelain
restoration covering the coronal portion of tooth (above the gum line)
|
|
porcelain fused to metal (PFM) crown:
|
restoration with
metal coping (for strength) covered by porcelain (for appearance)
|
|
porcelain inlay or onlay:
|
tooth-colored
restoration made of porcelain, 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 color and/or shape
|
|
post:
|
thin metal rod
inserted into the root of a tooth after root canal therapy; provides retention
for a "coping" that replaces lost tooth structure and retains crown
|
post-core:
|
post and buildup
to replace lost tooth structure and retain crown
|
|
post-crown:
|
single structure
that combines post-core and crown
|
|
PPO or PDO:
|
preferred provider
(dental) organization which a health care (dental) provider may join, offering
fee for service treatment at reduced fees
|
|
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 a body part
|
|
|
|
| prosthodontist:
|
dental specialist
skilled in restoring or replacing teeth with fixed or removable prosthesis
(appliance), maintaining proper occlusion; treats facial deformities with
artificial prostheses such as eyes, ears, and noses
|
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 pulp tissue
|
|
pyorrhea:
|
older term for
periodontal (gum) disease |
|
|
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|
| 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:
|
common term for
root canal therapy, also the interior space of the tooth
root
|
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, 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 |
|
|
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|
|
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
|
|
scaling and root planing:
|
meticulous removal
of plaque and calculus from tooth surfaces
|
sealants:
|
thin resin
material bonded in the pits and fissures of back teeth for the prevention of
decay
|
secondary dentin:
|
reparative tooth
structure produced by the pulp in response to tooth irritation
|
| sequstrum:
|
loosened spicule
of bone pushed to the surface
|
|
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 lost through premature loss of baby teeth
|
splint:
|
connection of two
or more teeth so they function as a stronger single structure
|
|
supernumerary tooth:
|
extra tooth
|
|
suppuration:
|
bacterial
contamination of tissue exudate; pus |
|
|
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|
|
tartar:
|
common term for
dental calculus, a hard deposit that adheres to teeth; produces rough surface
that attracts plaque
|
TMD (or TMJ disorder):
|
temperomandibular
disorder; term given to condition characterized by 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, a
term given to a condition characterized by facial pain and restricted ability to
open/move the jaw
|
third-party provider:
|
insurance company,
union, government agency that pays all or a part of cost of dental treatment
|
|
tooth bud:
|
early embryonic
structure that becomes a tooth
|
|
tooth whitening:
|
a chemical or
laser process to lighten the color of teeth
|
topical anesthetic:
|
ointment that
produces mild anesthesia when applied to tissue surface
|
torus:
|
common bony
protuberance on the palate or lower jaw
|
transplant:
|
placing a natural
tooth in the empty socket of another tooth
|
trauma:
|
injury caused by
external force, chemical, temperature extremes, or poor tooth alignment
|
trench mouth:
|
gum disease
characterized by severe mouth sores and loss of tissue. See ANUG. |
|
|
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|
| UCR:
|
usual, customary
and reasonable fees
|
unerupted tooth:
|
a tooth that has
not pushed through the gum and assumed its correct position in the dental arch |
|
|
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|
|
veneer:
|
plastic or
porcelain facing bonded directly to a tooth to improve its appearance. See
laminate
|
|
vertical dimension:
|
arbitrary space
between upper and lower jaws upon closure; may decrease over time due to wear,
shifting or damage to the teeth |
|
|
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|
wisdom
teeth:
|
third (last)
molars that usually erupt at age 18-25 (when "wisdom is attained") |
|
|
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|
| xerostomia:
|
dry mouth or
decrease in the production of saliva |
|
|
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|
2001 -2008 All Rights Reserved
