Glossary
A
Amalgam
- Material made from mercury and other alloy mixtures used to restore a drilled portion of a tooth.
Anesthesia
- Medications used to relieve pain.
Anterior teeth
- Front teeth. Also called incisors and cuspids.
Arch
- The upper or lower jaw.
B
Baby bottle tooth decay
- Caused by sugary substances in breast milk and some juices, which combine with saliva to form pools inside the baby's mouth.
Bicuspids
-A premolar tooth; tooth with two cusps, which are pointed or rounded eminences on or near the masticating surface of a tooth.
Bitewings
- X-rays that help a dentist diagnose cavities.
Bonding
- Application of tooth-colored resin materials to the surface of the teeth.
Bridge
- A prosthetic replacement of one or more missing teeth cemented or otherwise attached to the abutment teeth or implant replacements.
Bruxism
- Teeth grinding.
C
Calculus
- A hard deposit of mineralized substance adhering to crowns and/or roots of teeth or prosthetic devices.
Canal
- The narrow chamber inside the tooth's root.
Canines
- Also called cuspids.
Canker sore
- One that occurs on the delicate tissues inside your mouth. A canker sore is usually light-colored at its base and can have a red exterior border.
Caries
- A commonly used term for tooth decay, or cavities.
Cold sore -
Usually occurs on the outside of the mouth, usually on or near the nose or lips. A cold sore is contagious because it is caused by the herpes simplex virus, and it is usually painful and filled with fluid.
Composite filling
- Tooth colored restorations, also known as resin fillings.
Composite resin
- A tooth colored resin combined with silica or porcelain and used as a restoration material.
Contouring
- The process of reshaping teeth.
Crown
- An artificial tooth replacement that restores missing tooth structure by surrounding the remaining coronal tooth structure. It is also placed on a dental implant.
Cusps
- The pointed parts on top of the back teeth's chewing surface.
Cuspids
- Front teeth that typically have a protruding edge.
D
Dentin
- The tooth layer underneath the enamel.
Denture
- A removable set of teeth.
E
Endodontics
- A form of dentistry that addresses problems affecting the tooth's root or nerve.
F
Fluoride
- A harmless over-exposure to fluoride resulting in tooth discoloration.
Fluorosis
- A harmless over-exposure to fluoride and resulting sometimes in tooth discoloration.
G
Gingiva
- Another word for gum tissue.
Gingivitis
- A minor disease of the gums caused by plaque.
Gum disease
- An infection of the gum tissues. Also called periodontal disease.
I
Impacted teeth
- A condition in which a tooth fails to erupt or only partially erupts.
Implant
- A permanent appliance used to replace a missing tooth.
Incisor
- Front teeth with cutting edges; located in the center or on the sides near the front.
Inlay
- An artificial filling made of various materials, including porcelain, resin, or gold.
L
Laminate veneer
- A shell that is bonded to the enamel of a front tooth. The shell is usually thin and made from porcelain resin.
M
Malocclusion
- Bad bite relationship.
Mandible
- The lower jaw.
Maxilla
- The upper jaw.
N
Neuromuscular Dentistry
- Addresses more than the aches and pains felt in and around the neck and head that are associated with your teeth and jaw.
O
Onlay
- A filling designed to protect the chewing surface of a tooth.
Orthodontics
- A field of dentistry that deals with tooth and jaw alignment.
Overdenture
- A non-fixed dental appliance applied to a small number of natural teeth or implants.
P
Palate
- Roof of the mouth.
Partial denture
- A removable appliance that replaces missing teeth.
Pediatric Dentistry
- A field of dentistry that deals with children’s teeth
Perio pocket
- An opening formed by receding gums.
Periodontal disease
- Infection of the gum tissues. Also called gum disease.
Periodontist
- A dentist who treats diseases of the gums.
Permanent teeth
- The teeth that erupt after primary teeth. Also called adult teeth.
Plaque
- A sticky, colorless substance that covers the teeth after sleep or periods between brushing.
Posterior teeth
- The bicuspids and molars. Also called the back teeth.
Primary teeth
- A person's first set of teeth. Also called baby teeth or temporary teeth.
Prophylaxis
- The act of cleaning the teeth.
Prosthodontics
- The field of dentistry that deals with artificial dental appliances.
Pulp
- The inner tissues of the tooth containing blood, nerves and connective tissue.
R
Receding gum
- A condition in which the gums separate from the tooth, allowing bacteria and other substances to attack the tooth's enamel and surrounding bone.
Resin filling
- An artificial filling used to restore teeth. Also called a composite filling.
Root canal
- A procedure in which a tooth's nerve is removed and an inner canal cleansed and later filled.
Root planing
- Scraping or cleansing of teeth to remove heavy buildup of tartar below the gum line.
S
Sealant
- A synthetic material placed on the tooth's surface that protects the enamel and chewing surfaces.
T
TMJ
- Temporomandibular joint disorder. Health problems related to the jaw joint just in front of the ear.
Tarter
- A hardened substance (also called calculus) that sticks to the tooth’s surface.
V
Veneer
- A laminate applied or bonded to the tooth.
W
Whitening
- A process that employs special bleaching agents for restoring the color of teeth.
Wisdom tooth
- Third set of molars that erupt last in adolescence.