Patient education
Dental terms, made clearer.
Search the practice’s A–W glossary of commonly used dental terminology.
A
- Abutment
- A tooth or implant used to support a prosthesis or fixed bridge.
- Abscess
- Localized inflammation caused by a collection of pus in bone or soft tissue, usually due to infection.
- Amalgam
- A dental filling material composed of mercury and other minerals.
- Alveoloplasty
- Surgical recontouring of supporting bone in preparation for a complete or partial denture.
- Anesthetic
- A class of drugs that eliminates or reduces pain.
- Anterior
- Teeth and tissues toward the front of the mouth.
- Apex
- The tip end of a tooth root.
B
- Bicuspid
- A two-cusped tooth between a molar and canine.
- Biopsy
- Removal of tissue to determine whether pathology exists.
- Bitewing X-ray
- An X-ray of tooth crowns used to check for decay.
- Bleaching
- Application of a chemical agent to whiten teeth.
- Bonding
- A process that prepares enamel to attach composite material or veneers.
- Bone loss
- Breakdown of bone supporting the teeth, often related to infection or long-term stress.
- Bridge
- A fixed replacement for one or more missing teeth supported by adjacent teeth or implants.
- Bruxism
- Involuntary clenching or grinding of teeth.
C
- Calculus
- Hardened mineralized plaque, also called tartar.
- Canine tooth
- The pointed tooth beside the lateral incisor, sometimes called an eye tooth.
- Cap
- Another term for a dental crown.
- Caries
- The technical term for tooth decay.
- Cavity
- A common term for decay or the opening left after decay is removed.
- Cementum
- The thin, bone-like structure covering the root of a tooth.
- Clenching
- Forcefully holding upper and lower teeth together.
- Composite
- A tooth-colored filling made of resin or porcelain.
- Consultation
- A diagnostic meeting to discuss findings and possible treatment.
- Cosmetic dentistry
- Dental care intended to improve the appearance of teeth or the mouth.
- Crown
- The enamel-covered part of a tooth or a restoration covering the entire tooth.
- Crown lengthening
- A surgical procedure that exposes more tooth structure.
- Curettage
- Deep scaling below the gumline to remove calculus and infected tissue.
D
- Dental floss
- Thin material used between teeth to remove food and plaque.
- Dental hygienist
- A dental professional specializing in cleanings and oral-hygiene education.
- Dentin
- The tooth structure beneath enamel and cementum.
- Dentition
- The teeth within a dental arch.
- Denture
- A removable appliance replacing some or all teeth.
- DDS
- Doctor of Dental Surgery, a degree awarded to dental-school graduates.
- Diastema
- A space between adjacent teeth.
- Dry socket
- Inflammation of a tooth socket after extraction, often related to loss or infection of the blood clot.
E
- Enamel
- The hard mineralized outer covering of a tooth crown.
- Endodontics
- The specialty dealing with diseases and injuries of the dental pulp.
- Endodontist
- A dentist specializing in the pulp, tooth roots, and surrounding tissues.
- Extraction
- Removal of a tooth.
- Excision
- Surgical removal of bone or tissue.
F
- Filling
- Material used to fill a cavity or replace missing tooth structure.
- Fissure
- A deep groove or cleft on the surface of a tooth.
- Fluoride
- A compound used to help prevent tooth decay.
- Frenectomy
- Surgical removal of a frenum.
G
- Gingiva
- The soft tissue covering the jawbone, commonly called gums.
- Gingivitis
- Inflammation or infection of the gums; an early stage of gum disease.
- Gingivectomy
- Surgical removal of excess gum tissue.
- Gingivoplasty
- A procedure to reshape or repair gum tissue.
- Graft
- Tissue or synthetic material placed to repair a defect or deficiency.
H
- Hemisection
- Surgical separation of a multi-rooted tooth so an affected root and associated crown portion can be removed.
- High noble metal
- A dental alloy containing a high percentage of gold, palladium, or platinum.
I
- Immediate denture
- A denture placed immediately after removal of remaining teeth.
- Impacted tooth
- A tooth unable to erupt fully because it is blocked by bone, tissue, or another tooth.
- Implant
- A device placed in the jawbone to support a crown, denture, or bridge.
- Inlay
- A custom restoration used to replace part of a tooth.
- Interproximal
- The area between adjacent teeth.
- Intraoral
- Inside the mouth.
L
- Labial
- Pertaining to or around the lips.
- Lingual
- Pertaining to or around the tongue.
- Local anesthetic
- An injection used to numb an area of the mouth for a dental procedure.
M
- Malocclusion
- Improper alignment of upper and lower biting surfaces.
- Mandible
- The lower jaw.
- Maryland bridge
- A resin-bonded fixed partial denture or bridge.
- Mastication
- The act of chewing.
- Maxilla
- The upper jaw.
- Molars
- Broad back teeth used primarily for grinding food.
N
- Nitrous oxide
- A controlled mixture inhaled to decrease anxiety and sensitivity, commonly called laughing gas.
- Novocain
- A common generic term for local dental anesthetics.
O
- Occlusal X-ray
- An intraoral X-ray taken while film is held between biting teeth.
- Occlusion
- Contact between upper and lower biting or chewing surfaces.
- Onlay
- A restoration covering one or more cusps of a tooth.
- Oral surgery
- Removal of teeth and surgical treatment of other oral conditions.
- Orthodontics
- The specialty that corrects tooth and jaw alignment.
- Overbite
- Excessive vertical overlap of upper front teeth over lower teeth.
P
- Palate
- The hard and soft tissues forming the roof of the mouth.
- Panoramic X-ray
- An image recording the teeth and upper and lower jaws on one film.
- Partial denture
- A removable appliance replacing one or more missing teeth.
- Periodontal disease
- Inflammation or infection of gums, ligaments, bone, and tissues supporting teeth.
- Periodontics
- The specialty treating gum tissue and bone supporting teeth.
- Plaque
- A sticky film of saliva, food particles, and bacteria that adheres to teeth.
- Pontic
- An artificial tooth used within a bridge.
- Primary teeth
- The first set of teeth, also known as baby teeth.
- Prophylaxis
- Professional scaling and polishing to remove calculus, plaque, and stains.
- Prosthesis
- A device replacing one or more missing teeth.
- Pulp
- The inner tooth chamber containing nerves and blood vessels.
Q
- Quadrant
- One of four divisions of the upper and lower dental arches.
R
- Rebase
- Refitting a denture by replacing its base material.
- Receded gums
- Loss of gum tissue related to factors such as infection or bone loss.
- Referral
- Sending a patient to another dentist or specialist for care or consultation.
- Reline
- Resurfacing the tissue side of a denture.
- Restoration
- Material or a device used to replace missing tooth structure or teeth.
- Retainer
- A removable appliance that maintains space or holds teeth in position.
- Root canal therapy
- Treatment that removes diseased pulp and seals the root canals.
- Root planing
- Deep cleaning of root surfaces to remove calculus, plaque, and infected tissue.
S
- Scaling
- Removal of plaque, calculus, and stains from teeth.
- Sealant
- Material placed in decay-prone pits and grooves to help prevent cavities.
- Six-year molar
- The first permanent molar, usually erupting around age five or six.
- Socket
- The opening in jawbone where a tooth sits.
- Space maintainer
- An appliance that preserves space after early tooth loss.
- Stainless steel crown
- A prefabricated metal crown often used temporarily or on children’s teeth.
- Subgingival scaling
- Removal of plaque and calculus below the gumline.
T
- Tartar
- Another term for hardened dental calculus.
- Temporomandibular joint (TMJ)
- The jaw joint connecting the lower jaw to the skull.
- Third molar
- The last molar in each quadrant, commonly called a wisdom tooth.
- Treatment plan
- A proposed list of care based on X-rays, examination, and diagnosis.
V
- Veneer
- A thin tooth-colored covering placed over the visible surface of a tooth.
W
- Wisdom teeth
- The third molars at the back of the mouth.
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