Glossary

Amalgam

A dental filling material, composed of silver, mercury and other minerals, used to fill decayed teeth.

Anterior

Refers to the teeth and tissues located towards the front of the mouth (upper or lower incisors and canines).

Apex

The tip or end of the root of the tooth

Apicectomy

The amputation of the apex of a tooth.

Bicuspid

A two-cusped tooth found between the molar and the canine, also known as premolar. There is a pair of them(1st and 2nd)

Bitewing x-rays

X-rays taken of the crowns of teeth to check for decay. Crowns of lower and upper teeth seen in the same x-ray.

Bleaching

The technique of applying a chemical agent, usually peroxides, to the teeth to whiten them.

Bone loss

The breakdown and loss of the bone that supports the teeth, usually caused by infection or long-term occlusal (chewing areas of the teeth) stress

Bridge

A non-removable restoration(artificial tooth) that is used to replace missing teeth.

Biopsy

Biopsy is a procedure used to gather small tissue (eg. Part of the gums) in the mouth. The dentist uses a small brush or knife to take a tissue specimen, which is then sent to a laboratory for analysis to determine the presence of pre-cancerous or cancerous cells or any other disorders. Laboratory results are used to determine the need for further procedures.

Bruxism

The involuntary clenching or grinding of the teeth especially during sleep.

Calculus

The hard deposit of mineralized plaque that forms on the crown and/or root of the tooth. Also referred to as tartar. Usually found at the gumline.

Canine tooth

The third tooth from the midline, commonly called the eye tooth or cuspid.

Cavity

A layman’s term for tooth decay. Also, the dental term for the hole that is left after decay has been removed.

Cement

A material used to fill the tooth for a limited period. It also acts as an insulator to protect the tooth’s nerve. Also a special type of glue used to hold a crown in place.

Cementum

The very thin, bonelike structure that covers the root of the tooth.

Cleft Lip

Defect of Divided upper lip by birth, commonly referred to as harelip

Cleft palate

Defect of Divided palate by birth

Composite

A tooth-colored filling made of plastic resin and/or porcelain.

Cosmetic dentistry

Any dental treatment or repair that is solely rendered to improve the appearance of the teeth or mouth

Crown

The portion of a tooth that is covered by enamel. Also a dental restoration that covers the entire tooth and restores it to its original shape.

Crown lengthening

A surgical procedure exposing more tooth for restorative purposes

Curettage

A deep scaling of that portion of the tooth below the gum line. Purpose is to remove calculus and infected gum tissue

Cusp(s)

The protruding portion(s) of a tooth’s chewing surface

Dental floss

A thin, nylon string, waxed or unwaxed, that is inserted between the teeth to remove food and plaque.

Dentin

The sensitive hard part of the tooth that is under both the enamel which covers the crown and the cementum which covers the root

Denture

A removable appliance used to replace teeth. A complete denture replaces all of the upper and/or all the lower teeth. Partial Denture replaces few teeth in either jaw, it can be either removable or fixed. See also partial denture

Dry socket

A localized painful inflammation of the tooth socket following tooth removal, due to infection or loss of a blood clot

Enamel

The hard, calcified (mineralized) portion of the tooth which covers the crown (portion of the tooth that is seen in the mouth). Enamel is the hardest substance in the body

Endodontics

Branch of dentistry dealing with treatment of diseases of dental pulp such as root canal treatment

Extraction

The removal of a tooth

Filling

Process of restoring decayed or broken tooth

Filling material

Material used to fill a cavity or replace part of a tooth.

Flap surgery

Procedure to remove diseased gum tissue and cleaning the root surface to treat advanced gum disease

Fluoride

A chemical compound used to prevent dental decay, utilized in fluoridated water systems and/or applied directly to the teeth, as gel or paste.

Immediate denture

A denture constructed for immediate placement after removal of the remaining teeth.

Impacted tooth

An unerupted or partially erupted tooth that is positioned against another tooth, bone or soft tissue so that complete eruption is unlikely.

Implant

An artificial root, usually made of a titanium alloy, that is implanted within the jawbone as a means to attach an artificial crown, denture, or bridge.

Inlay

A cast gold/metal/ceramic filling that is used to replace part of a tooth

Interproximal

The area between two adjacent teeth

Intracoronal

The area within the crown of a tooth.

IOPA

Intra-Oral-Peri-Apical X-ray, routinely called Dental X-ray

Local anesthetic

The injection given in the mouth to numb the areas where a tooth or area needs a painful dental procedure. Often referred to as xylocaine

Malocclusion

The improper alignment of upper and lower teeth

Molars

The broad, multicusped back teeth, used for grinding food are considered the largest teeth in the mouth. In adults there are a total of twelve molars (including the four wisdom teeth, or third molars), three on each side of the upper and lower jaws

Occlusal x-ray

An intraoral x-ray taken with the film held between the teeth in biting position.

Occlusal surface

The chewing surface of the back teeth.

Occlusion

Any contact or inter-digitation of biting or chewing surfaces of upper and lower teeth.

Orthodontics

A specialized branch of dentistry that corrects malocclusion and restores the teeth to proper alignment and function. There are several different types of appliances used in orthodontics, one of which is commonly referred to as braces.

Orthognathic Surgery

Surgery of the jaws to to make them cosmetically proportional by either increasing or dicreasing their size and position

Partial denture

A removable appliance used to replace one or more missing teeth.

Pediatric dentistry

The specialized branch of dentistry that deals solely with treating children’s dental disease. Also referred to as pedodontics.

Periapical

The area that surrounds the root tip of a tooth.

Pericoronitis

An inflammation of the gum tissue around the crown of a tooth, usually the third molar.

Periodontal

Relating to the tissue and bone that supports the tooth (from peri, meaning “around,” and odont, “tooth”).

Periodontal surgery

A surgical procedure involving the gums and jawbone.

Periodontics

The dental speciality that deals with and treats the gum tissue and bone that supports the teeth

Periodontitis

Inflammation of the supporting structures of the tooth, including the gum, the periodontal ligament, and the jawbone

Plaque

A film of sticky material containing saliva, food particles, and bacteria that attaches to the tooth surface both above and below the gum line. When left on the tooth it can promote gum disease and tooth decay.

Pontic

An artificial tooth used in a bridge to replace a missing tooth.

Post-core crown

Artificial crown placed over a badly damaged tooth with the help of a post(pin), that is insrteted into the filled root canal

Premolar

Another name for bicuspid

Preventive dentistry

Education and treatment devoted to and concerned with preventing the development of dental disease.

Primary teeth

The first set of teeth that humans get, lasting until the permanent teeth come in. Also referred to as deciduous teeth or milk teeth

Prosthodontics

The dental specialty dealing with the replacement of missing teeth and other oral structures.

Pulp

The hollow chamber inside the crown of the tooth that contains its nerves and blood vessels

Retrograde filling

A method of sealing the root canal by preparing and filling it from the root tip, generally done at the completion of an apicectomy.

Root

The part of the tooth below the crown, normally encased in the jawbone. It is made up of dentin, includes the root canal, and is covered by cementum.

Root canal

The hollow part of the tooth’s root. It runs from the tip of the root into the pulp.

Root canal therapy

The process of treating disease or inflammation of the pulp or root canal. This involves removing the pulp and root’s nerve(s) and filling the canal(s) with an appropriate material to permanently seal it.

Root planing

The process of scaling and planing exposed root surfaces to remove all calculus, plaque, and infected tissue.

Scaling/Oral prophylaxis

A procedure used to remove plaque, calculus and stains from the teeth.

Sealant

A composite material used to seal the decay-prone pits, fissures, and grooves of children’s teeth to prevent decay.

Six-year molar

The first permanent tooth to erupt(1st molar), usually between the ages of five and six.

Socket

The hole in the jawbone into which the tooth fits.

Stainless steel crown

A pre-made metal crown, shaped like a tooth, that is used to temporarily cover a seriously decayed or broken down tooth. Used most often on children’s teeth.

RVG

Radio-visuo-gram, another name for digital(computerised) dental x-ray. CCD sensor is used to obtain the x-ray image on the computer screen in few seconds

Third molar

The last of the three molar teeth, also called wisdom teeth. There are four third molars, two in the lower jaw and two in the upper jaw, one on each side. Third molars may not form in some people.

Veneer

An artificial filling material, usually composite, or porcelain, that is used to provide an aesthetic covering over the visible surface of a tooth. Most often used on front teeth.

Wisdom teeth

See third molar.