New Patients
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
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
B
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
Calculus - A hard deposit of mineralized substance adhering to crowns and/or roots of teeth or prosthetic devices
C
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
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 form 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