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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.