|
|||
 |
|
||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
| GLOSSARY |
You are in Glossary | |||||||||||
Glossary
A Amalgam - Material made from silver and other alloy mixtures with mercury used to restore cavity preparations in teeth. Anesthesia - Medications used to eliminate the perception of pain. Anterior teeth - Front teeth. Also called incisors and cuspids. Arch - The upper or lower jaw. back to top B Baby bottle tooth decay - Cavities caused by sugary substances found particularly in some juices, which are fed repeatedly to babies via baby bottles. Bicuspids - Back teeth with two cusps used for grinding food. Bitewings - X-rays made by biting on a film tab that show upper and lower back teeth on the same film. These are very useful to help detect cavities. back to top C Calculus - A hard substance (also called tartar) that forms on the teeth and is precipitated from saliva. Canal - The narrow tunnel 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 - Another term for decay, which causes cavities. Caries - Another term form decay, which causes cavities. Cold sore - Usually occurs on the outside of the mouth, usually near the nose or lips. A cold sore is contagious because it is caused by the herpes simplex virus, and it 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 restorative material. Contouring - The process of reshaping teeth. Crown - A restoration that covers all or part of a tooth. Cusps - The pointed parts on the back teeth's chewing surface. Cuspids - Front teeth also called canines that help tear food. back to top D Dentin - The underlying structure of a tooth with a density similar to bone, through which sensations are transmitted to nerves within the pulp. Denture - A removable set of teeth. back to top E Endodontics - A form of dentistry that addresses problems affecting the tooth's pulp tissue. back to top F Fluoride - A naturally occurring substance added to water, toothpastes and some rinses and used for strengthening the tooth's enamel. Fluorosis - An over-exposure to fluoride resulting in tooth discoloration. Referred to as mottling of enamel, the most common cause is the swallowing of fluoride containing toothpaste by small children. back to top G Gingivitis - A disease of the gums resulting in redness, swelling, and tenderness. Gum disease - An infection of the gum tissues. Also called periodontal disease. back to top I Impacted teeth - A condition in which a tooth fails to erupt or partially erupts. Implant - A permanent appliance used to replace a missing tooth, which is surgically inserted into the jawbone. Incisor - Front teeth with cutting edges; located in the center or on the sides near the front. Inlay - A filling made of various materials, including porcelain, resin, or gold, which is cemented into the tooth. back to top L Laminate veneer - A shell that is bonded to the enamel of a tooth. The shell is usually thin and made from porcelain or composite resin. back to top M Malocclusion - A bad bite relationship between the upper and lower teeth. Mandible - The lower jaw. Maxilla - The upper jaw. Molar - The largest teeth near the rear of the mouth. Molars have large chewing surfaces. back to top N Neuromuscular Dentistry - Treats the aches and pains felt in around the neck and head that are associated with your teeth and jaws. back to top O Onlay - A filling which covers one or more of the cusps of a back tooth. Orthodontics - A field of dentistry that deals with tooth and jaw alignment. Overdenture - A removable dental appliance retained by a small number of natural teeth or implants. back to top P Palate - Roof of the mouth. Partial denture - A removable appliance that replaces missing teeth. Pedodontics - A field of dentistry that deals with children's teeth. Also called pediatric dentistry. Perio pocket - An increase in the depth of the space from the crest of the gum to the attachment of the gum to the tooth, caused by gum disease. 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, tooth colored substance composed of bacterial colonies that covers the teeth, Plaque can be removed by brushing and flossing. 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 replacing teeth with artificial dental appliances. Pulp - The inner tissues of the tooth, containing blood vessels, nerves, connective tissue, lymphatic vessels, odontoblasts, and other specialized cells. back to top R Receding gum - A condition in which the gums detach from the tooth exposing the root which allows bacteria and other substances to attack the tooth's exposed surfaces. Resin filling - An artificial tooth colored filling used to restore teeth. Also called a composite filling. Root canal - A procedure in which a tooth's pulp tissue is removed and inner canals cleansed and filled. Root planing - Scaling or cleansing of teeth to remove heavy buildup of tartar below the gum line. back to top S Sealant - A synthetic material placed on the tooth's biting surface that covers grooves and pits helping to prevent cavities. back to top 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 forms on the teeth and is precipitated from saliva. back to top V Veneer - A shell that is bonded to the tooth, usually thin and made from porcelain or composite resin. back to top W Whitening - A process that employs special bleaching agents for lightening the color of teeth. Wisdom tooth - The third set of molars that are the last teeth to erupt, usually between the ages of 17 and 25. back to top |
|||||||||||
Dentistry Web Site Powered by Officite
