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glossary Dental Glossary for Patients

A visit to the dental office can sometimes feel like you’ve Abscess: acute or chronic localized in- Endodontics: the branch of dentistry grinding teeth, having large crowns Prosthodontics: the dental specialty traveled to a foreign land — the dental terminology the flammation, probably with a collection that is concerned with dental and and broad surfaces. pertaining to the restoration of the of pus, associated with tissue destruc- the nerves, blood vessels and tissues natural teeth and/or the replacement : any contact between biting dentist and staff use to describe the parts of your mouth, tion and, frequently, swelling; usually surrounding the roots of a . of missing teeth with artificial substi- or chewing surfaces of maxillary (up- dental procedures and oral health issues can be downright secondary to infection. tutes. Extraction: the process or act of per) and mandibular (lower) teeth. confusing to patients. We’ve put together a dental glossary Amalgam: a mixture of silver, mercury, removing a tooth or tooth parts, Resin: plastic material used in bonding, Oral and maxillofacial surgery: the for patients on frequently used terminology, which also can tin and copper that provides a strong, usually because of disease, trauma restorative and replacement proce- specialty of dentistry that includes be found online at bit.ly/2JPJRst. hard, durable filling; sometimes de- or crowding. dures. the diagnosis, surgical and adjunc- scribed as “silver-colored” fillings. Filling: the restoration of lost tooth tive treatment of diseases, injuries and : the chamber within the Bicuspid: a tooth; a tooth structure by using materials such as defects involving both the functional root of the tooth that contains the pulp with two cusps. metal, alloy, plastic or porcelain. and aesthetic aspects of the hard and (blood vessels and nerve tissue). soft tissues of the oral and maxillofacial Bleaching: cosmetic whitening of General dentistry: primary care for Root canal treatment: procedure to region. teeth using peroxide. patients in all age groups for the remove the diseased pulp from the diagnosis, treatment, management Orthodontics: the specialty con- root of a tooth, then clean and seal the Caries: cavities; . and overall coordination of services to cerned with the diagnosis, prevention, canal. Cavity: the destruction of your tooth meet patients’ oral health needs. interception, guidance and correction Scaling: removal of plaque and calcu- enamel, the hard, outer layer of your of tooth positions and bone develop- Gingivitis: the early stage of gum lus from below the gumline. teeth. A cavity may be due to decay, ment. disease. erosion or . Sealant: a thin, protective coating Palate: the hard and soft tissues form- Gum disease: an infection of the tis- (made from plastic or other dental Composites: tooth-colored restorative ing the roof of the mouth. sues that surround your teeth; caused materials) that adheres to the chewing materials. by a buildup of plaque; also known as Pediatric dentistry: an age-defined surface of your back teeth. Sealants : an artificial replacement that . specialty that provides both primary are meant to prevent cavities by block- restores missing tooth structure by sur- and specialty oral care for infants and ing sticky foods from lodging in the Implants: a replacement for the roots rounding the remaining tooth struc- children through adolescence, includ- grooves of the back teeth. of your teeth that can anchor crowns ture, or placing on a dental implant. It ing those with special health needs. or dentures to your jaw bone so they Third molars: wisdom teeth. is made of metal, ceramic or polymer behave more like natural teeth. Periodontics: the specialty of den- materials, or a combination of such Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ): the tistry that encompasses the supporting materials. : a tooth for cutting or gnawing; connecting hinge mechanism be- structures of teeth, as well as diseases located in the front of the mouth in tween the base of the skull (temporal Do-it-yourself (DIY) dentistry: any and conditions that affect them. both jaws. bone) and the lower jaw (). kind of dental treatment that is not Plaque: a soft, sticky film that accu- executed under the expert care or su- Malocclusion: improper alignment of Veneers: thin, custom-made shells mulates on teeth composed largely of pervision of a dentist or specialist. This biting or chewing surfaces of upper crafted of tooth-colored materials de- bacteria and bacterial derivatives that includes at-home treatments, such as and lower teeth. signed to cover the front side of teeth. can contribute to tooth decay and teeth whitening and straightening kits, They are an option for correcting Sources: Mandible: the lower jaw. gum disease. veneers, or alternative treatments like stained, chipped, decayed or crooked ada.org/en/publications/cdt/glossary-of- using charcoal or oil pulling on your : the upper jaw. Prophylaxis: removal of plaque, teeth. dental-clinical-and-administrative-ter teeth. calculus and stains from the tooth

Molar: teeth posterior to the structures; professional cleaning of the knowyourteeth.com/infobites/glossary Edentulous: having lost most or all the (bicuspids) on either side of the jaw; teeth by a hygienist. mouthhealthy.org natural teeth.

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