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.

B

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.

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.

C

Calculus: A hard deposit of mineralized substance adhering to crowns and/or roots of teeth or prosthetic devices.

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 erupts.

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 from porcelain resin.

L

Laminate Veneer: A shell that is bonded to the enamel of a front tooth. The shell is usually thin and made from 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.