Glossary
Glossary and Dental Terms.
-A-
Abscess – infection caused by severe tooth decay, trauma or gum disease.
Amalgam – a silver and mercury material used for fillings.
Anesthetic – a drug used by your doctor to eliminate a patient’s localized pain during certain dental procedures.
Anterior – the six front upper and lower teeth in the front of your mouth.
Antiseptic – an agent that can be applied to living tissues to destroy germs.
Apex – the very tip of the root of a tooth where the nerves and blood vessels enter.
Aspirator – a suction device your dentist uses to remove saliva from your mouth during procedures.
-B-
Bleach/Bleaching Agent – a gel used to whiten and brighten teeth that come in different strengths and can be applied by different methods.
Bonded – the procedure used to permanently attach plastic or porcelain restorations to either the front or back teeth.
Bonding –a plastic composite painted on the teeth to correct stains or damage. This can be used for fillings in the back teeth and is tooth colored.
Bridge – one or more artificial teeth attached to your adjacent teeth used as a permanent tooth replacement for missing teeth.
Bruxism – the clenching or grinding of teeth, most commonly while sleeping that creates wear and flattening of the teeth. Your teeth could also start to chip due to grinding.
-C-
Calculus – the hardened plaque that can form on your teeth above and below the gum line, commonly known as tartar or build-up.
Canine – the pointy teeth used for incising and tearing.
Caries – another name for cavities or decayed teeth.
Cavity – a hole in the tooth caused by decay that can be relatively small or quite large that requires dental treatment to remove.
Central Incisor– the two upper and two lower teeth in the center of the mouth.
Crown – an artificial tooth made to cover a severely damaged or fractured tooth that is constructed of porcelain or metal.
Cuspid – also known as canines, see description above.
-D-
Decalcification – the loss of calcium from the teeth that creates white spots on the surface of the teeth.
Deciduous Teeth – also called “baby teeth.”
Dental Implants – a titanium post that is permanently placed into the bone that replaces a missing tooth or teeth. A crown, partial or bridge is then attached to the implant to replace the missing tooth/teeth.
Denture – removable artificial teeth replacing either the complete top, complete bottom or both the top and bottom teeth in which all the teeth are missing.
-E-
Enamel – the hard surface of the tooth above the gum line.
Endodontist – a dentist who specializes in root canals and the treatment of diseases and infections of the dental pulp (inner tooth).
Extraction – the removal of a tooth or teeth.
-F-
Filling – made of metal or composite material used to fill a tooth that has been destroyed by a cavity.
Fluoride – a chemical solution used to harden teeth and prevent decay.
-G-
Gingivitis – inflammation of gums around the roots of the teeth without losing any of the supporting bone around the teeth.
Gums – the firm flesh that surrounds the roots of the teeth that should be firm and stippled when healthy.
-I-
Impacted Tooth – often occurring with wisdom teeth, it is a tooth that sits below the gum line, often requiring extraction. Other teeth in the mouth can be impacted and would require orthodontic treatment to move them to the correct location.
Incisal – the biting surface of the front teeth.
Incisor – one of the flat, sharp-edged teeth in the front of the mouth.
Inlays – a custom-made restoration that is either bonded or cemented into a tooth that has been damaged from a fracture or decay.
Instant Orthodontics – alternative to braces using bonded porcelain veneers or crowns.
-L-
Lateral Incisor – teeth adjacent to the centrals.
-N-
Night Guard/Occlusal Guard – a plastic mouthpiece worn at night to prevent grinding of the teeth. Often used to treat TMJ.
-O-
Onlays – a custom-made restoration that is either bonded or cemented into a tooth that has been damaged from a fracture or decay.
Oral Cancer – a lesion that can appear on the tissue anywhere throughout the mouth. This can be the color of white, red or a combination of both. It can also be in the form of a non-healing ulcer. This can occur in all ages and is not specifically centered to tobacco users.
-P-
Partial Denture – removable artificial teeth replacing one to several teeth.
Pediatric Dentist – also known as a pediodontist, a dentist that specializes in the treatment of children’s teeth.
Periodontist – a dentist specializing in the treatment of gum disease, replacing lost gum tissue and placing implants.
Plaque – a sticky buildup of acids and bacteria that causes tooth decay.
Posterior Teeth – the teeth in the back of the mouth on the top and bottom that start behind the six front teeth.
Primary Teeth – also known as “baby teeth” or deciduous teeth.
Prosthodontist – a dentist specializing in the restoration and replacement of multiple missing teeth or severely damage teeth.
-R-
Restoration – the name for an artificial replacement for missing or damaged tooth structure. This can be placed in the form of a crown, partial denture, bridge, full denture, implant, filling or inlay / onlay.
Root – the portion of the tooth below your gum line that is locked within the bone in a healthy mouth.
Root Canal – cleaning out and filling the inside of a tooth where the nerves and blood vessels have been damaged. Most people will have discomfort prior to needing a root canal. They can experience spontaneous pain, pain to biting, or pain to hot or cold.
-S-
Sealant – plastic coating bonded in the grooves of the back teeth to prevent decay. Used most commonly for children but can also be placed in adults.
Secondary Teeth – the permanent teeth.
Six-Year Molar – commonly known as “the first molar.” This tooth usually erupts through the tissue around 6 years of age. It can come in a little earlier or a little later.
Sleep Apnea – a potentially serious disorder in which a sleeping person may stop breathing for 10 seconds or more, often continuously throughout the night. This can place stress on the circulatory system and can be managed with a dental appliance in some cases.
-T-
Tartar – see calculus.
TMJ Syndrome – a disorder associated with the joint of the jaw. Often caused by a misalignment of or a disparity in upper and lower jaw sizes. Can have clicking, popping and grinding in front of the ear. Patients can also have pain in the muscles of the head and neck along with headaches.
Tooth Whitening – a process designed to whiten and brighten teeth that can be done either in the office or at home through different processes.
Twelve-Year Molar – commonly known as “the second molar.” This tooth usually erupts through the tissue around 12 years of age. It can come in a little earlier or a little later.
-V-
Veneer – a plastic, porcelain or composite material used to improve the attractiveness of a stained or damaged tooth.