Glossary
This alphabetical listing of dental terminology:
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
A
Abutment: A tooth or teeth used to
support and anchor a fixed bridge or removable denture
prosthesis.
Alveolar Process (ridge): The projection
of bone that surrounds the roots of the teeth. The ridge
is the remainder of the process after extractions.
Amalgam (silver filling): A metal
alloy consisting of silver, tin, zinc and copper combined
with mercury and used as a restorative material in operative
dentistry.
Analgesia: Administration of a drug
resulting in loss of pain sensation without the loss
of consciousness.
Anterior teeth: The front teeth. They
include the six upper front teeth and six lower front
teeth.
B
Bitewing x-ray: A specific type of
x-ray that shows, simultaneously, the crowns of upper
and lower posterior teeth and a portion of their roots
and supporting structures. Generally used to diagnose
the presence of dental decay in adjoining tooth surfaces.
Bridge: A replacement for one or more
missing or extracted natural teeth, supported and held
by attachments to restored teeth, and usually not removable.
(Sometimes referred to as a fixed denture.) The cost
of bridgework is usually calculated in units consisting
of each crowned abutment tooth and each artificial tooth
replacing a missing natural tooth (called a pontic).
C
Cap: A layman's term for "jacket"
(see "jacket" below).
Caries: Decay in teeth.
Cavities: Destruction of the tooth
structure as a result of dental caries. Usually classified
by the number of tooth surfaces affected.
Cosmetic dentistry: Any dental service
performed primarily to improve appearance.
Crown: A fixed restoration covering
the major part of the natural tooth, usually fabricated
of gold, porcelain, or acrylic resin.
D
Deciduous: The first teeth, ("baby
teeth"). See "Primary Teeth" below.
Dental Arch: The curved structure
of the teeth or alveolar ridge. A horseshoe-like arrangement
of the maxilla and mandible (upper and lower jaw).
Dental plaque: A sticky substance
which forms on the teeth. It is composed of mucoidal
secretions containing bacteria and their products, dead
tissue cells, and debris. This substance is toxic and
considered to be important in the initiation and progression
of gingivitis (gum inflammation) and destructive periodontal
disease.
Dentition: Natural teeth in the dental
arch. Natural teeth may be primary or secondary teeth.
Denture: An artificial substitute
for missing natural teeth and adjacent structures.
Complete Denture: A dental prosthesis
which replaces the lost natural teeth and associated
structures of the entire upper or lower jaw.
Partial Denture: An artificial replacement
of one or more but less than all of the natural teeth
and associated structures. Usually removable.
E
Endodontics: The branch of dentistry
concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of diseases
of the pulp chamber and pulp canals.
Extraction: The separation and surgical
removal of a tooth from its natural state.
F
Filling: Material which is inserted
into a prepared tooth cavity. Usually amalgam, silver,
gold or a synthetic resin.
Fluoride, topical application: The
direct application of fluoride compound, to the crowns
of the teeth as a measure of partially preventing dental
caries. Recommended on a routine basis in childhood
and adolescence.
G
General Anesthetic: A drug that causes
loss of feeling either generally or renders the patient
unconscious.
Gingiva(e): The gums
I
Impacted tooth: Commonly a tooth embedded
in either the soft or bony tissues of the jaw in such
a way that it has not erupted or has erupted only partially.
Inlay: A porcelain or gold dental
restoration which is inserted into a prepared cavity
as a single unit; the restoration is retained by its
form and dental cement.
J
Jacket: A specific type of crown,
fabricated out of porcelain or acrylic resin, or a combination
of precious metal and porcelain or acrylic resin. Often
called a "cap."
M
Malocclusion: An abnormal relationship
between the occlusal (chewing or biting surfaces of
the maxillary and mandibular) teeth when they are in
contact.
Mandible: Lower jaw.
Maxilla: Upper jaw.
N
Nitrous Oxide: In combination with
oxygen, it serves as an anesthizing agent. Depending
on the amount given, it can serve as an analgesia, local
or general anesthetic.
O
Occlusal: A. Pertaining to the contacting
or biting surfaces of opposing teeth. B. Pertaining
to the chewing surfaces of the posterior teeth.
Onlay: Similar to inlays but are used
instead to restore the occlusal (chewing) surface of
the incisal (biting) edge of the tooth.
Osseous surgery: The procedures designed
to modify and reshape defects and deformities in the
bone surrounding the teeth.
P
Palliative: A measure used to reduce
the severity of pain.
Periapical: Pertaining to that area
of the tooth around the apex (tip) of the root.
Periodontal Disease: A progressive
disorder affecting the structures surrounding and supporting
the teeth (the gums).
Pontic: An artificial tooth on a bridge.
It replaces the lost natural tooth, restores its functions
and usually occupies the space previously filled by
the natural tooth.
Post and core: A single cast unit
that provides strength and restores the lost structure.
It is placed into the tooth, followed by the permanent
exterior restoration, usually a crown.
Prophylaxis: The removal of tartar,
dental plaque and the stains from the teeth by scaling
and polishing.
Prosthodontics: The branch of dentistry
concerned with providing artificial replacements for
missing teeth.
Pulp: The soft tissue which fills
up the center of the pulp chamber of the tooth and the
root canals of the tooth. It is made up of nerves and
blood vessels and cellular elements.
Q
Quadrant: One of the four quarters
of the mouth.
R
Radiograph: X-ray.
Restoration (prosthetic restoration, appliance):
Broad terms applied to any amalgam, inlay, crown, bridge,
partial denture, or complete denture which restores
or replaces loss of tooth structure, teeth, or other
oral tissues.
Root canal: A. the canal in the tooth
running from approximately the gum-line to the end of
the tooth (in the jaw) and filled with the dental pulp.
B. Filling -- the material placed in the root canal
to replace the space once occupied by the dental pulp.
Root planing: The smoothing of the
roughened root surfaces by the use of scalers and curetts.
S
Scaling: A dental procedure performed
to remove tartar, plaque and stains from the teeth.
A procedure of prophylaxis.
Sealant: An adhesive material bonded
to the tooth surface to retard decay by shielding the
tooth from exposure to the oral environment.
Space Maintainer: An appliance constructed
with the purpose of preventing adjacent and opposing
teeth from moving in the space left by teeth lost prematurely.
Taken from Delta Dental
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