Dental Terms
Teeth
- Bicuspids/premolars
- The teeth with two rounded points located between the eye teeth (cuspids) and the molars.
- Centrals/laterals
- The four front teeth.
- Cusp
- The pointed or rounded part of a tooth’s biting surface.
- Cuspids
- The teeth near the front of the mouth that come to a single point. Sometimes called the "eye teeth" or "canines."
- Molars
- Teeth with a broad chewing surface for grinding food, located in the back of the mouth.
Endodontics
Treatment of the root and nerve of the tooth.
- Periapical
- The area surrounding the end of a tooth root.
- Post and core
- An anchor placed in the tooth root following a root canal to strengthen the tooth and help hold a crown (cap) in place.
- Pulp
- The blood vessels and nerve tissue inside a tooth.
- Root canal treatment
- The removal of the pulp tissue of a tooth due to decay or injury.
Orthodontics
Straightening or moving misaligned teeth and/or jaws with braces and/or surgery.
- Malocclusion
- Incorrect position of biting or chewing surfaces of the upper and lower teeth.
- Retainer
- A device used to stabilize teeth following orthodontic treatment.
Pediatric Dentistry
The dental specialty devoted to the treatment of children.
- Nursing bottle syndrome
- Severe decay in baby teeth due to sleeping with a bottle of milk or juice. The drink’s natural sugars combine with bacteria in the mouth to produce acid that decays teeth.
- Pediatric dentist
- A specialist who treats children from birth through adolescence.
- Sealant
- A thin plastic material used to cover the biting surface of a child’s tooth to prevent tooth decay.
Periodontics
Treatment of gums, tissue and bone that supports the teeth.
- Gingivitis
- An inflammation of the gums surrounding the teeth caused by a buildup of plaque or food particles.
- Periodontitis/gum disease
- Chronic inflammation and destruction of supporting bone and tissue membrane around the roots of teeth.
- Root planing
- A treatment of periodontal disease that involves scraping the roots of a tooth to remove bacteria and tartar.
Prosthodontics
Replacement of missing teeth with artificial materials, such as a bridge or denture.
- Bridges
- Nonremovable tooth replacements attached to adjoining natural teeth when one or a few teeth are missing.
- Dentures
- Removable artificial teeth in a plastic base that rests directly on the gums. A denture may be complete or partial depending on the number of missing natural teeth.
- Implant
- A support for a bridge or denture that has been surgically placed into bone.
- Overdenture
- A prosthetic device supported by implants or the roots of at least two natural teeth to provide better stability for the denture.
- Pontic
- The portion of a dental bridge that replaces missing teeth.
Restorations
Replacement of missing or damaged tooth structure with artificial materials.
- Amalgam
- A silver filling. Used for more than a century, amalgam fillings are proven to be safe, cost-effective and durable.
- Cast restoration
- A procedure that uses a model of the tooth (an impression) to make a casting which replaces missing parts. Example: a crown.
- Crown/jacket/cap
- The artificial covering of a tooth with metal, porcelain or porcelain fused to metal. Crowns cover teeth weakened by decay or severely damaged or chipped.
- Inlay
- A solid filling cast to fit the missing portion of the tooth and cemented into place. An onlay covers one or more tooth cusps.
- Resin/composite
- Tooth-colored filling material used primarily for front teeth. Although cosmetically superior, it is generally less durable than other materials.
Other Dental Terms
- Attrition
- The normal wearing down of the surface of a tooth from chewing.
- Bleaching
- A technique that lightens the color of heavily stained teeth.
- Bonding
- A technique to bind a filling or filling material to a tooth. Bonding materials may be used to repair chipped, cracked, misshapen or discolored teeth or to fill in a gap between teeth.
- Bruxism
- Involuntary clenching or grinding of the teeth.
- Caries
- Tooth decay, which leads to a cavity.
- Facing
- A plastic or porcelain surface placed on the front of a tooth or crown for a natural appearance.
- Impacted tooth
- A tooth beneath the gum tissue that lies against another tooth, under bone or soft tissue, which is unlikely to grow out on its own.
- Laminate veneer
- A thin plastic or porcelain shell applied to the front of a tooth to restore, strengthen or improve its appearance.
- Plaque
- A bacteria-containing substance that collects on the surface of teeth. Plaque can cause decay and gum irritation when it is not removed by daily brushing and flossing.
- Prophylaxis
- A professional cleaning to remove plaque, calculus (mineralized plaque) and stains to help prevent dental disease.