Dental Dictionary
A
Abscess
Build-up of pus
Abutment
Tooth or structure used to anchor a denture or bridge
Amalgam
Silver material used for filling
Anesthetic
Agent causing temporary loss of feeling
Anterior
Front of the body
Apex
End of a root
Asepsis
Absence of bacteria
Attrition
Wearing of teeth
Avulsed
Injury resulting in loss of tooth
B
Bitewing
X-ray with teeth clenched
Bleaching
Teeth whitening
Bridge
Prosthesis used to replace teeth
Bruxism
Grinding teeth
C
Canine
Third tooth from center
Canker sore
Ulceration in the mouth
Caries
Decaying tooth
Cavity
Hole in tooth
Cast
Teeth model
Cementation
“Gluing” prosthesis in mouth
Chlorhexidine
Anti-microbial agent
Clasp
Metal arm used to anchor denture
Cold sore
Ulcer on lip
Composite
Filling that’s white
Cross-bite
Bite abnormality
Crown
Cap on teeth (see crowns)
D
Decay
Tooth infection causing demineralization
Dentistry
Part of medicine concerned with oral health
Dentition
Arrangement of teeth
Denture
Artificial material to replace tooth
Denturist
Specialist who makes dentures
Desensitization
Reducing tooth sensitivity
Diagnosis
Identifying dental problems
Diastema
Space between teeth
Distal
Away from middle
E
Edentulous
Absence of teeth
Endodontics
Dentistry focused on the soft tissue beneath teeth
Eruption
Appearance of teeth in the mouth
Excision
Cutting an object off
Extruded
Tooth that’s pushed slightly from socket
F
Filling
Restoring tooth for appearance and function
Flipper
Preliminary denture
Floss
Thread used to clean tooth gaps
Fluoride
Compound used to strengthen and clean teeth
Fluoride Treatment
Treatment using fluoride to combat decay
Fracture
Crack in a tooth
Framework
Metal skeleton used to support false teeth
G
Gingivitis
Mild type of gum disease
Gum Disease
Bacterial induced destruction of the gum tissues holding teeth in place
H
Hemorrhage
Bleeding
Hemostasis
To stop bleeding
I
Impaction
Improper growth of a tooth
Implant
Support for a fake tooth (see dental implants)
Impression
Mold used to model teeth
Incisal
Cutting portion of front teeth
Incisor
Four lower and upper teeth in front
Inlay
Fake portion of tooth added to complete function and appearance
Interproximal
Gap in between two teeth
J
K
L
LANAP
Laser assisted new attachment therapy. Only FDA approved laser to help stop, slow and possibly reverse gum disease.
Lingual
Side of a tooth facing the tongue
M
Mesial
Sede of a tooth facing the jaw
Molar
Final three lower and upper teeth
Mouthguard
Tool used to protect teeth from a variety of issues
N
Nightguard
Mouthguard worn during the night
O
Occlusal
Biting portion of a back tooth
Occlusion
How the lower and upper teeth come together
Onlay
Restoration covering entire biting surfaces of teeth
Open bite
When upper teeth can’t connect with lower teeth
Orthodontics
Field within dentistry focused on facial or bite irregularities
Over bite
Overlap of upper teeth in relation to lower teeth
Overhang
Piece of filling that protrudes from cavity border
P
Palate
Top of mouth
Panoramic Radiograph
X-ray used to see a wide view of lower and upper jaw
Perforation
Opening on tooth or other structure
Periapical
Relating to the bottom portion of tooth’s root
Periodontics
Section of dentistry focused on gum disease
Permanent teeth
Adult teeth
Pin
Nail-like tool used to retain filling
Polish
Making denture or filling glossy and smooth
Pontic
False tooth used to replace missing tooth
Post
Pin used to support tooth’s big buildup
Posterior
Positioned in the back
Pre-authorization
Approval granted from an authority before a procedure is done
Pre-medication
Medicine to take before procedure
Premolar
Two teeth positioned in front of a molars
Prescription
Written document from physician designating the specifics about a certain medicine a person should take
Primary teeth
Temporary teeth people have as babies
Prophylaxis/prophy
Polishing teeth and prevention of disease
Prosthesis
Artificial replacement for tooth or other oral structures
Prosthodontics
Portion of dentistry focused on artificial components
Pulp
Center of a tooth with blood vessels and nerves
Pulpectomy
Removal of tooth’s pulp
Pulpotomy
Removal of top portion of tooth’s pulp
Q
R
Radiograph
X-ray image
Recall
Routine cleaning and checkup appointment
Recementation
“Re-gluing” prosthesis onto a tooth or other structure
Restoration
Something dentists use to return tooth to normal functioning
Retainer
Device designed to maintain tooth’s position
Retreatment
Re-performing a root canal
Root
Bottom portion of tooth below gum
Root canal
Canal that goes through the root of teeth where blood vessels and nerves are
Root canal treatment
Treating the root canal of a tooth
Root planing
Cleaning a tooth’s root area
Rubber dam
Rubber sheet designed to fit around teeth
S
Scaling
Cleaning a tooth beneath the gumline
Sealant
Thin layer of material designed to cover pits and grooves on teeth
Sedation
Using medication to make a patient calm
Space Maintainer
Tool used to keep space between two teeth
Splint
Material or appliance used to keep a mobile part from moving
T
Tempromandibular Joint (TMJ)
A joint that connects the two portions of the jaw
Torus
The outgrowth of a bone which typically develops near the lower jaw’s premolar area or near the roof of a patient’s mouth
U
V
Veneer
Layer of a tooth-colored substance such as ceramic, composite or porcelain that connects the front of a tooth. These are typically used to boost the aesthetics of a tooth that’s been damaged
W
Wisdom tooth
The final and eighth tooth when counted from the middle of a patient’s jaw
W
X
Xerostomia
Referring to a dry mouth
Y
Z
