DentalDictionary
ABSCESS - A collection of pus surrounded by inflamed tissue typically accompanied by pain. Abscess can be caused by several factors including, but not limited to trauma and tooth decay.
ABUTMENT - The teeth that support dental bridge.
ACRYLIC RESIN - A synthetic resin prepared from acrylic acid used extensively in dentistry.
ADJUSTMENT - Alteration of a dental prosthesis after it has been finished and put into the patient's mouth.
ALVEOLAR BONE - The Alveolar bone envelops the roots of the teeth. After a tooth has been pulled a loss of this bone will occur over time. Alveolar bone loss may be also caused by gum disease.
AMALGAM - Amalgam (also know as "silver filling") is a filling material applied in cavity treatment. Amalgam is an alloy of mercury, silver, tin and copper.
ANAEROBIC BACTERIA - Bacteria that has the ability to grow without oxygen. Anaerobic bacteria are the main cause for gum disease.
ANESTHESIA - A medication frequently used in dental offices, which mitigates the feeling of pain.
ANTIBIOTIC - A drug that kills bacteria.
APEX - The terminal end of the root of the tooth.
BICUSPIDS - The fourth and fifth teeth from the center of the mouth. They are used for chewing and are called bicuspids, because have two cusps.
BITE - Gripping or chewing off with the teeth and jaws. The regular spatial relation of the teeth when the mouth is closed (upper and lower teeth are touching).
BLEACHING - A cosmetic dental procedure performed to whiten the teeth with the help of peroxide.
BONDING - A dental technique for repairing a tooth applying resinous material to the surface of the tooth.
BRACES - An appliance that corrects dental irregularities.
BRIDGE - A dental prosthesis designed to substitute missing teeth.
BRUXISM - Involuntarily or unconsciously clenching or grinding the teeth, typically during sleep.
CALCULUS - Calculus or tartar is a hard deposit formed on teeth due to poor dental hygiene.
CANKER SORE - Canker Sore or Oral Ulcer is a shallow ulcer that appears inside the mouth, usually on the upper or lower lip.
CARIES - Caries is also known as tooth decay and cavities. Caries is caused by bacteria damaging the teeth enamel and disintegrating the teeth. .
CAVITY - See CARIES and TOOTH DECAY.
CEMENT - Cement is a substance used in dentistry to seal dental crowns and inlays.
CLEANING - Teeth cleaning is a dental procedure eliminating plaque and tartar.
COMPOSITE FILLING - Composite filling is restorative material, which has tooth color. The composite filling is a combination of ceramic particles and liquid resin.
COSMETIC DENTISTRY - Cosmetic dentistry is a dentistry discipline involving alteration of the teeth appearance (changing tooth color and shape).
CROWN - A crown also know as cap, is a artificial tooth coverage, made of porcelain or composite cemented to a tooth that cannot be restored by other means.
CUSPID - The Cuspid is the third tooth starting from the center of the mouth. Another name for this tooth is canine.
CUSPS - The pointy surface of the back teeth.
DECALCIFICATION - The process of losing calcium from the teeth, which can make teeth more prone to decay.
DECAY - Tooth decay is a tooth damage caused by bacteria in the mouth.
DECIDUOUS TEETH - The first set of teeth or baby teeth.
DEMINERALIZATION - Demineralization is a process of losing minerals from tooth enamel.
DENTIN - The internal part the tooth behind the enamel.
DENTURE - A denture is a detachable prosthesis that replaces removed teeth. The denture can replace all teeth (full denture) or just part of your teeth (partial denture).
DRY MOUTH - A dental condition characterized by a dry mouth, which may be caused by several factors including but not limited to certain disease, medications, and dehydration.
EDENTULOUS - Having no teeth.
ENAMEL - The enamel is the firm, shiny exterior of the tooth.
ENDODONTICS - Dentistry discipline dealing with injuries, diseases and infections of the tooth pulp.
ERUPTION - The emergence of a tooth as it breaks through the gum.
EXTRACTION - Tooth extraction is a dental procedure of removing tooth.
FILLING - A dental appliance consisting of any of various substances (as metal or plastic) inserted into a prepared cavity in a tooth.
FISTULA - An abnormal passage leading from a abscessed tooth to the gum surface
FLOSSING - The act of cleaning once teeth with dental floss.
FLUORIDE - A mineral that makes teeth enamel stronger.
FLUOROSIS - White spots on teeth caused by discoloration of the enamel due to excessive fluoride absorption.
GENERAL DENTIST - A dentist with patients in all age groups.
GERIATRIC DENTIST - Dentist who mainly treats elderly people.
GINGIVA - The soft pink tissue around your teeth or simply the gums.
GINGIVECTOMY - Dental surgical procedure removing part of the soft tissue around the teeth.
GINGIVITIS - Inflammation of the gums typically caused by accumulation of dental plaque.
GUTTA PERCHA - Material derived from gutta-percha trees used in the filling of root canals.
HALITOSIS - Also known as bad breath, breath odor, mouth odor, and foul breath can be caused by a lack of dental hygiene, dry mouth, bacteria, etc..
HANDPIECE - The tool used to hold and rotate burs.
HYGIENIST - A dental specialist in hygiene.
HYPERSENSITIVITY - A sudden tooth pain, caused very easily due to exposure to hot, cold, sweet, or other stimulus.
IMMEDIATE DENTURE - A denture made in advance of the teeth removal.
IMPACTION - A disorder in which a tooth is so crowded in its socket that it cannot erupt normally
IMPLANT - A small piece of metal that is implanted into the bone where a tooth has been extracted. The implant function is to hold the bridge, denture or crown placed over it.
IMPRESSION - An imprint of the teeth and gums in wax or plaster.
INCISORS - Teeth for cutting or gnawing; located in the front of the mouth in both upper and lower jaw.
INLAY - A filling consisting of a solid substance (gold, porcelain or composite) fitted to a cavity in a tooth and cemented into place
JAW - The part of the skull of a vertebrate that frames the mouth and holds the teeth..
JAWBONE - The jaw in vertebrates that is hinged to open the mouth, also known as lower jaw.
MALOCCLUSION - A condition in which the opposing teeth do not mesh normally
MANDIBLE - The lower jaw.
MAXILLAE - The upper jaw.
MERCURY - A metal that is a common part of amalgam fillings.
MOLAR - Grinding tooth with a broad crown; located behind the premolars (sixth, seventh and eighth teeth from the center)
MOUTHGUARD - A soft fitted rubber cover worn to protect the teeth and gums during sport activities.
NITROUS OXIDE - Inhalation anesthetic used as an anesthetic in dentistry and surgery, also know as laughing gas.
OCCLUSAL - The chewing surface of the back teeth.
OCCLUSION - The standard spatial relation of the teeth in the upper and lower jaws when the jaws are closed.
ONLAY - A tooth restoration made of metal, acrylic or porcelain that restore one or more of the cusps.
OPEN BITE - Front upper teeth don't touch the front lower teeth when the jaws are closed.
ORAL CAVITY - The mouth.
ORAL HYGIENE - Maintaining clean mouth and teeth to promote good dental health.
ORAL SURGERY - surgery of the mouth.
ORTHODONTICS - A dentistry discipline treating teeth misalignment with the help of braces, retainers, etc.
ORTHODONTIST - A dental professional specializing in the prevention or correction of irregularities of the teeth.
PALATE - The roof of the mouth.
PALMER'S NOTATION - A popular teeth identification system.
PARTIAL DENTURE - A detachable appliance used to replace missing teeth.
PEDODONTICS - A dental discipline focusing on children's teeth treatment.
PERIODONTAL LIGAMENT - The connective tissue fibers that attach a tooth to the bone.
PERIODONTAL POCKET - A space formed between the gum and the tooth.
PERIODONTIST - A dental professional specializing in diagnosing and treating diseases of the gum.
PERIODONTITIS - Periodontitis or Periodontal disease is a disease that attacks the gum and bone around the teeth.
PERMANENT TEETH - The teeth that replace the primary teeth.
PLAQUE - A thin transparent sticky build up on teeth.
POLISHING - polishing the teeth with abrasive polishing paste in order to remove stains and plaque and make teeth shinier.
PONTIC - Artificial tooth, part of a bridge that replaces a missing natural tooth.
PORCELAIN - A ceramic material with enamel resembling appearance, used in dentistry.
PRIMARY TEETH - The first set of teeth we get, also known as deciduous teeth and baby teeth.
PROPHYLAXIS - Teeth cleaning aiming at improving oral health.
PROSTHETICS - Bridges, dentures or any other fixed or removable appliances designed to replace missing natural teeth.
PROSTHODONTIST - A dental professional who creates appliances like bridges and dentures designed replace missing teeth.
PULP - The soft inner part of the tooth.
RADIOGRAPHIC - X-rays.
RESTORATIONS - Bridges, dentures, crowns, implants, fillings or any other replacement/fix for missing or damaged teeth.
RESTORATIVE DENTISTRY - A dentistry field dealing with restoration of damaged or extracted teeth.
ROOT CANAL THERAPY (RCT) - procedure used to save an abscessed tooth in which the pulp chamber is cleaned out, disinfected, and filled with a permanent filling.
SALIVA - A clear liquid secreted into the mouth by the salivary glands and mucous glands of the mouth. Helps with moistening the mouth and digestion.
SCALING - A cleaning process involving removal of plaque and tartar from the teeth.
SEALANTS - A sealing material used to cover the biting surfaces of teeth to prevent tooth decay.
SOFT PALATE - A muscular flap that closes off the nasopharynx during swallowing or speaking
SPACE MAINTAINER - A dental device used to maintain space in the oral cavity.
STAIN - A discoloration of the teeth caused by cigarettes, coffee, tea or some foods. These external stains can be removed easily most of the time. Intrinsic stains caused by consumption of certain chemicals and drugs during teeth development stage cannot be remo
SUPERNUMERARY TEETH - Extra teeth.
TARTAR - A hard deposit attached to the teeth, also known as calculus.
TEETH WHITENING - Teeth Whitening is a cosmetic dentistry procedure done to whiten teeth and improve their appearance.
TEETHING - The eruption through the gums of baby teeth
TRANSPLANT - Moving a natural tooth, to an empty socket from where another tooth was removed.
UNDERBITE - A malocclusion, in which the lower teeth extend past the upper ones.
UNERUPTED TOOTH - A tooth that has not pushed through the gum yet.
VENEER - A thin coating of restorative substance placed over a tooth exterior.
WISDOM TEETH - Back teeth (3rd molars).
XEROSTOMIA - Dry mouth; abnormal dryness of the mouth resulting from decreased secretion of saliva.
