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The Dental Clinic - Dental glossary Category: Health and Medicine > Dental Terms Date & country: 01/10/2013, USA Words: 95

T.M.J.
See temporomandibular joint.

R.C.T
See root canal therapy.

O.S.
See oral surgery.

P.A.
Common dental language for a periapical. See periapical.

F.M.X.
See full mouth x-rays.

Zero Staining
Term applied to foodstuffs that do not stain teeth.

Yawn
Yawning is a normal physiological process that we all do. Excessive yawning can be a sign of disturbed sleep however and this can be due to snoring. If you or your partner snore

Xerostomia
Having little or no saliva in the mouth.

Wisdom Tooth
The third molar, this is the eighth tooth from the center of mouth to the back of the mouth. wisdom teeth are often impacted (obstructed from erupting) and have to be extracted.

Virgin Teeth
Teeth that have no decay or fillings.

Third Molar
See wisdom tooth.

Underneath
It is what is underneath the surface of your gums that provides your teeth with the support they need to be secure in the bone of your jaws. A specialised ligament (Periodontal Ligament) attaches the tooth to the bone and also provides some of the important input to your brain on how hard you are biting.

Tartar
See calculus.

Temporomandibular Joint (t.m.j.)
Temporo (temporal bone), mandibular (lower jaw). this is the connecting hinge between the lower jaw and base of the skull. also known as

Single Film
See periapical.

Sealant
Clear application of acrylic placed over the biting surface of the tooth to prevent decay.

Root Planing
Deep cleaning of the teeth to remove calculus below the gumline. this is not a prophylaxis. this is a periodontal procedure and is usually performed one quadrant at a time.

Root Canal Therapy (R.C.T.)
The nerve of the tooth is removed from the canal inside the root and replaced with a filling material

Quadrant
One of the four equal sections of the mouth. the upper right, upper left, lower right or the lower left.

Prosthodontics
Dealing with the replacement of missing teeth.

Prosthetics
A fixed or removable appliance to replace missing teeth. example: bridges, dentures and partials. sometimes single crowns are considered prosthetics.

Prophylaxis
Cleaning the teeth. also known as a prophy.

Prophy
See prophylaxis.

Primary Teeth
The baby teeth. also known as the primary dentition. the baby teeth are replaced by the adult teeth (permanent teeth).

Primary Dentition
See primary teeth.

Preventive
Procedure performed to prevent decay and gum disease. the procedures that trojan classifies as preventive are the exam, x-rays and prophys. the exam and x-rays are also known as diagnostic procedures.

Posterior Teeth
The back teeth (bicuspids and molars).

Pontic
The part of a bridge that replaces the missing teeth.

Permanent Teeth
The adult teeth. also known as the permanent dentition.

Plaque
A sticky film on the teeth. If it is not removed by brushing it can harden into calculus.

Permanent Molars
The adult first, second and third molars.

Permanent First and Second Molars
The adult first and second molars, they are the sixth and seventh teeth from the center of the mouth to the back of the mouth. Does not include the third molar (wisdom tooth).

Permanent Dentition
See permanent teeth.

Periodontics (perio)
The treatment of diseases of the gum or bone (supporting structure).

Perio Recall
See periodontal maintenance.

Periodontal Maintenance
Cleaning of the teeth following periodontal treatment, includes perio charting. Procedure code 4910. Also known as a perio prophy or perio recall.

Perio Prophy
See periodontal maintenance.

Perio Pocket
The pocket that forms when the gums detach from the side of the tooth.

Perio
See periodontics.

Perio Charting
Measures the depth that the gums have detached from the side of the tooth forming a pocket (perio pocket).

Pedodontics (pedo)
The treatment of children's teeth.

Periapical
An x-ray that shows the whole tooth (above and below the gumline). Also known as a single film or p.a.

Partial Denture
A removable appliance (prosthesis) that replaces some of the teeth in either the upper or lower jaw.

Pedo
See pedodontics.

Panorex
An x-ray taken outside of the mouth that shows all the teeth on one film.

Palate
Roof of the mouth.

Ortho
See orthodontics.

Orthodontics (ortho)
Straightening of the teeth.

Oral Surgery (o.s.)
Surgery of the mouth.

Onlay
A laboratory processed restoration made of metal, porcelain or acrylic that replaces one or more of the highest points of the tooth (cusps).

Occlusal Guard
See nightguard.

Occlusal
The chewing surfaces of the back teeth.

Nightguard
A removable acrylic appliance to minimize the effects of grinding the teeth (Bruxism) or joint problems. Usually worn at night to prevent the grinding of teeth or relieve joint pain. Also known as an occlusal guard.

Molars
The first, second and third molars, those are the sixth, seventh and eighth teeth from the center of the mouth to the back of the mouth. The back teeth with the large chewing surface on top. They have 4 points (cusps).

Mandible
The lower jaw.

Maxilla
The upper jaw.

Local Anesthesia
Relieves the sensation of pain in a localized area.

Kevlar
This special man made fibre was originally used in bullet proof vests as it is incredibly tough and resistant to breakage. A new type of dental adhesive bridge utilises Kevlar fibres to reinforce its structure whilst allowing tooth coloured materials to be used for enhanced aesthetics. This Fibre Reinforced Resin Retained Bridge technology (FRRRB) is available at The Dental Clinic

Juvenile Periodontal Disease
A particularly virulent, rapidly progressive form of periodontal disease affecting adolescents

Inlay
A laboratory processed restoration made of metal, acrylic or porcelain. This filling does not involve the high points of the tooth (cusps).

Incisors
The central and lateral incisor, those are the first and second teeth from the center of the mouth to the back of the mouth. These are the front teeth with the flat edges for biting.

Implant
A post that is implanted in the bone. A crown, bridge or denture is then placed over the implant

Impaction
An unerupted or partially erupted tooth that will not fully erupt because it is obstructed by another tooth, bone, or soft tissue.

Halitosis
An oral health condition characterized by consistently odorous breath.

Gingiva
The gums.

General Anesthesia
Relieves the sensation of pain on the whole body. General anesthesia renders you unconscious.

Front Teeth
See anterior teeth.

Full Mouth X-Rays (F.M.X)
X-rays showing all the teeth, includes 14 periapicals and 2 or 4 bitewings, also known as a complete series.

Fluoride
Topical application of a gel or liquid that prevents decay.

Endo
See endodontics.

Endodontics (endo)
The treatment of diseases or injuries that affect the root tip or nerve of the tooth. The most common procedure that you will deal with is a root canal.

Edentulous
All the teeth are missing in either the upper or lower arch.

Diagnostic
Procedures performed by the dentist to identify what's going on in the mouth. The most common procedures you will deal with are the exam and x-ray which trojan classifies as preventive.

Denture
A removable appliance (prosthesis) that replaces all of the teeth in either the upper or lower jaw.

Deciduous teeth
See primary teeth.

Cusps
The high points on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth (posterior teeth).

Cuspids
The third tooth from the center of the mouth to the back of the mouth. These are the front teeth that have one rounded or pointed edge used for biting, also known as canines.

Curettage
Surgical scraping of bacteria from the soft tissue. This is a periodontal procedure and is usually performed one quadrant at a time.

Crown
Full coverage for a tooth.

Composite filling
Tooth coloured filling. Insurance companies usually only allow them on the front teeth (anterior teeth). When composites are done on the back teeth (posterior teeth) the insurance company usually pays them as an amalgam. Composites are also known as resin fillings.

Complete series
See full mouth x-rays.

Caries
Correct technical term for decay.

Cleaning
See prophylaxis.

Canal
The narrow chamber inside the root of the tooth that contains the nerve and blood vessels.

Calculus
The sticky film on your teeth (plaque) that has hardened, also known as tartar.

Bruxism
Clenching or grinding of the teeth.

Bridge
A fixed appliance (prosthesis) that replaces missing teeth. A bridge is a series of crowns (abutments and pontics).

Back teeth
See posterior teeth

Bicuspids
The first and second bicuspids, those are the fourth and fifth teeth from the center of the mouth to the back of the mouth. These are the back teeth that are used for chewing, they only have two points (cusps).

Bitewing
X-ray that shows the upper and lower teeth's biting surfaces on the same film. This x-ray shows the portion of the teeth above the gumline.

Arch
The upper or lower jaw.

Anterior teeth
The front teeth (incisors and cupids).

Anesthesia
Relieves the sensation of pain.

Amalgam
Silver filling. Amalgams are usually placed on the back teeth (posterior teeth).

Abutment
The teeth on either side of a missing tooth. Abutments are the part of the bridge used to support the replacement of the missing teeth (pontics).