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.
Molar: Usually the largest teeth, near the rear of the mouth. Molars have large chewing surfaces.
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.
