Glossary
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Abscess
Infection of the tooth, bone or soft tissue
ADA
American Dental Association
Amalgam
Silver or mercury mixture used for fillings
Anesthesia
Complete or partial elimination of pain
Anesthetic
Drug used to put the patient or part of the body to sleep
Antibiotic
Drug used for stopping or slowing the growth of bacteria
Arch
The curved structure of the natural dentition left after the loss of some or all of the natural teeth
Arch Wire
Metal wire attached to brackets to move the teeth
Metal ring placed on the teeth to hold on parts of the braces
Bite
Relationship of the upper and lower teeth when they are close to each other
Bleaching
whitening the teeth with chemical or laser treatment
Bonding
Attaching brackets to the teeth with a special safe glue
Braces
Devices used to gradually reposition teeth to a more favorable alignment
Bracket
Metal or ceramic parts glued onto a tooth for fastening the arch wire
Bridge
Stationary dental prosthesis that replaces one or more missing teeth, also called a fixed partial denture
Bruxism
Clenching or grinding the teeth especially at night
Canker Sore
Whitish, often with a red halo, mouth sore
Cap
Dental crown
Caries
Cavities, tooth decay
Cavity
Small hole in one of the teeth caused by tooth decay
Cleaning
Removing plaque and tarter from teeth and above the gum line
Closed Bite
Malocclusion where upper teeth cover lower teeth when biting down, also called a deep bite
Composite Resin
Material composed of plastic with glass or ceramic particles
Cosmetic Dentistry
Branch of dentistry that focuses on enhancing the color and shape of teeth
Cross Bite
Malocclusion where some of the upper teeth are inside of the lower teeth when biting down
Crowding
Orthodontic problem caused by having too many teeth in a small space
Crown
Artificial replacement for covering a tooth
Cyst
Soft or hard tissue sac, usually filled with fluid
DDS
Doctor of Dental Surgery - equivalent to DMD
Decay
Destruction of tooth structure caused by plaque
Dentin
Part of the tooth below the enamel that contains the pulp chamber and root canals
Denture
Synthetic replacement for all the teeth in either upper or your lower jaw
DMD
Doctor of Medical Dentistry - equivalent to DDS
Dry Mouth
Condition in which there is not enough saliva to keep the mouth moist
Enamel
Hard ceramic covering the exposed part of the teeth
Endo
Endodontist
Endodontist
Dentist specializing in root canals and the treatment of diseases that affect the roots or nerves in the teeth
Filling
Restoration of lost structure of the teeth with metal, porcelain or resin materials for re-establishing function and appearance of the teeth
Flap Surgery
Lifting gum tissue for cleaning underlying tooth and bone structures
Flossing
Cleaning between the contact areas of teeth with a thread-like material
Fluoride
Chemical solution or gel put on the teeth to make them harder and resistant to decays
Fluorosis
Discoloration of the teeth caused by too much fluoride ingestion
Full Denture
Removable dental appliance used for replacing all upper or lower teeth
Full Mouth Reconstruction
Extensive restorations of natural teeth for re-establishing normal relation of the teeth to each other and the jaws
General Anesthesia
Controlled state of unconsciousness with partial or complete loss of pain sensation
General Dentist
Primary dental care provider who diagnoses and treats overall oral health care needs
Gingivitis
Inflammation of gums caused by improper brushing, the first sign of gum disease
Gum Recession
Exposure of dental roots caused by shrinkage of the gums
Gums
Pink areas around the teeth
Halitosis
Bad breath
Hygienist
Dental professional who cleans teeth
Implant
Permanently attached replacements for missing teeth
Implant Dentistry
Branch of dentistry dealing with dental implants
Impression
Mold of the teeth and soft tissues surrounding them
Jawbone
Hard bone supporting the face
Laughing Gas
Nitrous oxide
Local Anesthesia
Partial or complete elimination of pain sensation in a part of the body
Malocclusion
Poor positioning of the teeth including bad bite or misalignment of the upper and lower teeth
Mouthguard
Device used to protect mouth from injury while participating in sports
Night Guard
Acrylic appliance used for preventing teeth wear and damage caused by grinding of the teeth during sleep
Nitrous Oxide
Gas used for reducing patient anxiety during dental treatments
Onlay
Laboratory processed porcelain or metal restoration for covering a tooth
Open Bite
Type of malocclusion in which the teeth do not come together in the front of the mouth when biting down
Oral
Related to the mouth
Oral Hygiene
Keeping the mouth, teeth, and gums clean and healthy to prevent disease
Orthodontics
Treatments preformed to correct malocclusion
Orthodontist
Dentist who specializes in orthodontics
Over Bite
Overlapping of the upper teeth over the lower when biting down
Partial Denture
Removable appliance for replacing some of the teeth in either the upper or lower jaw
Pediatric Dentistry
Branch of dentistry focusing on treatment of infants, children, and young adults
Pedo
Pedodontist
Pedodontist
Dentist who specializes in the treatment of children
Perio
Periodontist
Periodontal
Related to gums
Periodontist
Dentist who specializes in the treatment of gums
Permanent Teeth
Final set of teeth
Plaque
Colorless, sticky substance that causes tooth decay
Porcelain Crown
Porcelain restoration used for covering the portion of tooth above the gum line
Porcelain Inlay Or Onlay
Porcelain tooth-colored restoration processed in lab and cemented or bonded to the teeth
Porcelain Veneers
Thin layer of porcelain processed in lab and bonded to a natural tooth
Primary Teeth
Temporary teeth, baby teeth
Pulp
Soft inner structure of a tooth, including nerve and blood vessels
Restorations
All replacements for lost teeth, including bridges, dentures, fillings, crowns, and implants
Retainer
Gadget worn after braces are removed
Root
Part of the tooth in the gums
Root Canal
Interior part of the tooth
Root Canal Therapy
Removing the pulp of a tooth and replacing it with a filling
Scaling And Root Planing
Deep-cleaning of the teeth and gums to remove plaque and tartar from above and below the gum (scaling) and smoothing the rough spots on the teeth and roots (planing)
Sealants
Thin, clear or white resin substance applied to the biting surfaces of teeth to prevent decay
Sedative
Medication used to reduce pain and anxiety during dental treatments
Sleep Apnea
Periodic delay or interruption in breathing during sleep
Tartar
Hard deposit formed due to lack of brushing
Teething
Baby teeth pushing through the gums
TMJ
Temporomandibular joint, where the lower jaw articulates with the skull
Tooth Whitening
Lightening the color of teeth with chemicals or laser
Trauma
Injury caused by external force, poor tooth alignment or other reasons
Trench Mouth
Severe mouth ulcers ,halitosis and loss of tissue, type of gum disease
Veneer
Thin composite or porcelain bonded directly to a natural tooth for aesthetic reasons
Wisdom Teeth
Teeth that usually erupt at age 18-25
X-Rays
High frequency light that penetrates different substances with different rates and absorption