Bennett L. Dubiner, D.D.S.

 

Dental Terminology

A
ABCESS   Localized inflammation and swelling that is a result of infection.

ABUTMENT The teeth on either side of a missing tooth. Abutments are the part of the bridge used to support the replacement of the missing teeth (pontics).

AMALGAM Silver filling. Amalgams are usually placed on the back teeth (posterior teeth).

ANESTHESIA Relieves the sensation of pain.

ANTERIOR TEETH The front teeth (incisors and cupids).

ARCH The upper or lower jaw.

B
BACK TEETH See Posterior Teeth

BICUSPIDS The first and second bicuspids, those are the fourth and fifth teeth from the center of the mouth to the back of the mouth. These are the back teeth that are used for chewing, they only have two points (cusps).

BIOPSY  Removal of tissue for microscopic evaluation.

BITEWING X-ray that shows the upper and lower teeth's biting surfaces on the same film. This x-ray shows the portion of the teeth above the gumline.

BLEACHING  A cosmetic dental procedure that whitens teeth using a specially formulated gel.

BONDING  A cosmetic dental procedure in which resin is applied to a tooth to change its shape and/or color.

BRIDGE A fixed appliance (prosthesis) that replaces missing teeth. A bridge is a series of crowns (abutments and pontics).

BRUXISM Clenching or grinding of the teeth.

C
CALCULUS The sticky film on your teeth (plaque) that has hardened. Also known as tartar.

CANAL The narrow chamber inside the root of the tooth that contains the nerve and blood vessels.

CANINES See cuspids.

CARIES Correct technical term for decay.

CLEANING See prophylaxis.

COMPLETE SERIES See Full Mouth X-rays.

COMPOSITE FILLING Tooth colored filling. Insurance companies usually only allow them on the front teeth (anterior teeth). When composites are done on the back teeth (posterior teeth) the insurance company usually pays them as an amalgam. Composites are also known as resin fillings.

CROWN Full coverage for a tooth. sed when the tooth cannot be restored by a filling.

CROWN LENGTHENING  A surgical procedure to selectively remove bone surrounding a tooth in preparation for placement of a crown.

CURETTAGE Surgical scraping of bacteria from the soft tissue. This is a periodontal procedure and is usually performed one quadrant at a time. Procedure code 4220.

CUSPS The high points on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth (posterior teeth).

CUSPIDS The third tooth from the center of the mouth to the back of the mouth. These are the front teeth that have one rounded or pointed edge used for biting. Also known as canines.

D
DECIDUOUS TEETH See Primary Teeth.

DENTURE A removable appliance (prosthesis) that replaces all of the teeth in either the upper or lower jaw.

DIAGNOSTIC Procedures performed by the dentist to identify what's going on in the mouth. The most common procedures you will deal with are the exam and x-ray which Trojan classifies as preventive.

DIASTEMA  A space between two adjacent teeth.

DRY SOCKET  Localized inflammation/infection of a tooth socket following extraction.

E
EDENTULOUS All the teeth are missing in either the upper or lower arch.

ENDO See Endodontics.

ENDODONTICS (ENDO) The treatment of diseases or injuries that affect the root tip or nerve of the tooth. The most common procedure that you will deal with is a root canal.

EQUILIBRATION  Reshaping the biting surfaces to create a harmonious contact between upper and lower teeth.

F
FILLING  The restoration of lost tooth structure with a material such as metal alloy or plastic resin.

FLUORIDE Topical application of a gel or liquid that prevents decay.

F.M.X. See Full Mouth X-rays.

FRONT TEETH See Anterior Teeth.

FULL MOUTH X-RAYS (F.M.X.) X-rays showing all the teeth. Includes 14 periapicals and 2 or 4 bitewings. Also known as a complete series.

G
GENERAL ANESTHESIA Relieves the sensation of pain on the whole body. General anesthesia renders you unconscious.

GINGIVA The gums.

GINGIVITIS  Inflammation of the gingiva.

I
IMPACTED TOOTH  A tooth that is prevented from erupting (emerging through the gums) because it is obstructed by another tooth, bone or soft tissue.

IMPACTION An unerupted or partially erupted tooth that will not fully erupt because it is obstructed by another tooth, bone, or soft tissue.

IMPLANT A post that is implanted in the bone. A crown, bridge or denture is then placed over the implant

INCISORS The central and lateral incisor, those are the first and second teeth from the center of the mouth to the back of the mouth. These are the front teeth with the flat edges for biting.

INLAY A laboratory processed restoration made of metal, acrylic or porcelain. This filling does not involve the high points of the tooth (cusps).

INTERPROXIMAL  Between the teeth.

L
LOCAL ANESTHESIA Relieves the sensation of pain in a localized area.

M
MALOCCLUSION  Disharmony in the way the upper and lower teeth come together when biting.

MANDIBLE The lower jaw.

MAXILLA The upper jaw.

MOLARS The first, second and third molars, those are the sixth, seventh and eighth teeth from the center of the mouth to the back of the mouth. The back teeth with the large chewing surface on top. They have 4 points (cusps).

N
NIGHTGUARD A removable acrylic appliance to minimize the effects of grinding the teeth (bruxism) or joint problems (T.M.J.). Usually worn at night to prevent the grinding of teeth or relieve joint pain. Also known as an occlusal guard.

O
OCCLUSAL The chewing surfaces of the back teeth.

OCCLUSAL GUARD See Nightguard.

OCCLUSION  Contact between the biting surfaces of upper and lower teeth.

ONLAY A laboratory processed restoration made of metal, porcelain or acrylic that replaces one or more of the highest points of the tooth (cusps).

ORAL AND MAXILLOFACIAL SURGEON  A dental specialist who diagnoses and surgically treats diseases, injuries and abnormalities of the teeth, head, neck and jaws.

ORAL SURGERY (O.S.) Surgery of the mouth.

ORTHO See Orthodontics.

ORTHODONTICS (ORTHO) Straightening of the teeth.

ORTHODONTIST  A dentist who specializes in preventing or correcting malaligned or irregularly spaced teeth and abnormal relationships between upper and lower teeth.

P
P.A. Common dental language for a periapical. See Periapical.

PALATE Roof of the mouth.

PANORAMIC RADIOGRAPH  A wide angle x-ray that allows viewing upper and lower jaws in one film.

PANOREX An x-ray taken outside of the mouth that shows all the teeth on one film.

PARTIAL DENTURE A removable appliance (prosthesis) that replaces some of the teeth in either the upper or lower jaw. See illustration below.

PEDIATRIC DENTIST  A dental specialist whose practice is limited to the treatment of children.

PEDO See Pedodontics.

PEDODONTICS (PEDO) The treatment of children's teeth.

PERIAPICAL An x-ray that shows the whole tooth (above and below the gumline). Also known as a single film or P.A.

PERIO See Periodontics.

PERIO CHARTING Measures the depth that the gums have detached from the side of the tooth forming a pocket (perio pocket).

PERIODONTAL DISEASE  A group of infections that affect the gums and bone surrounding teeth.

PERIODONTAL MAINTENANCE Cleaning of the teeth following periodontal treatment, includes perio charting. Procedure code 4910. Also known as a perio prophy or perio recall.

PERIODONTICS (PERIO) The treatment of diseases of the gum or bone (supporting structure).

PERIODONTIST  A dental specialist who detects and treats diseases of the gums and bone surrounding teeth.

PERIO POCKET The pocket that forms when the gums detach from the side of the tooth.

PERIO PROPHY See Periodontal Maintenance.

PERIO RECALL See Periodontal Maintenance.

PERMANENT FIRST AND SECOND MOLARS The adult first and second molars, they are the sixth and seventh teeth from the center of the mouth to the back of the mouth. Does not include the third molar (wisdom tooth).

PERMANENT MOLARS The adult first, second and third molars.

PERMANENT DENTITION See Permanent Teeth.

PERMANENT TEETH The adult teeth. Also known as the permanent dentition.

PLAQUE A sticky film on the teeth. If it is not removed by brushing it can harden into calculus.

PONTIC The part of a bridge that replaces the missing teeth.

POST  A slender object cemented within a tooth to retain a filling or crown.

POSTERIOR TEETH The back teeth (Bicuspids and molars).

PREVENTIVE Procedure performed to prevent decay and gum disease. The procedures that Trojan classifies as preventive are the exam, x-rays and prophys. The exam and x-rays are also known as diagnostic procedures.

PRIMARY DENTITION See Primary Teeth.

PRIMARY TEETH The baby teeth. Also known as the primary dentition. The baby teeth are replaced by the adult teeth (permanent teeth).

PROPHY See Prophylaxis.

PROPHYLAXIS Cleaning the teeth. Also known as a prophy.

PROSTHETICS A fixed or removable appliance to replace missing teeth. Example: bridges, dentures and partials. Sometimes single crowns are considered prosthetics.

PROSTHETIC REPLACEMENT How old does the crown, bridge, partial or denture have to be before it can be replaced? They usually must be unserviceable also.

PROSTHODONTICS Dealing with the replacement of missing teeth.

PROVIDER The dentist who renders treatment to the patient.

PROVISIONAL  Temporary.

PULP  Solft connective tissue within a tooth that contains nerves and blood vessels.

Q
QUADRANT One of the four equal sections of the mouth. The upper right, upper left, lower right or the lower left.

R
R.C.T. See Root Canal Therapy.

RELINE  To resurface the tissue side of a removable appliance for better fit.

RESIN FILLING See Composite Filling.

RESTORATIVE Procedures performed to restore the missing part of the teeth. Some insurance companies only consider the fillings to be restorative, others consider the fillings, crowns, bridges and dentures to be restorative.

ROOT  That portion of a tooth that is located in the bony socket.

ROOT CANAL THERAPY (R.C.T.) The nerve of the tooth is removed from the canal inside the root and replaced with a filling material

ROOT PLANING Deep cleaning of the teeth to remove calculus below the gumline. This is not a prophylaxis. This is a periodontal procedure and is usually performed one quadrant at a time. Procedure code 4341.

S
SCALING  Professional removal of plaque, calculus and stain from teeth.

SEALANT Clear application of acrylic placed over the biting surface of the tooth to prevent decay. Most insurance companies only allow these on permanent teeth.

SINGLE FILM See Periapical.

STUDY MODELS  Plaster or stone diagnostic models of teeth.

T
TARTAR See Calculus.

TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT (T.M.J.) Temporo (temporal bone), mandibular (lower jaw). This is the connecting hinge between the lower jaw and base of the skull. Also known as T.M.J.. T.M.J. treatment is sometimes paid under medical.

THIRD MOLAR See Wisdom Tooth.

TISSUE CONDITIONING  Temporary reline of a removable appliance to improve tissue health.

T.M.J. See Temporomandibular Joint.

V
VENEER  A layer of tooth colored material bonded to teeth to change their shape and/or color.

VIRGIN TEETH Teeth that have no decay or fillings.

W
WISDOM TOOTH The third molar, this is the eighth tooth from the center of mouth to the back of the mouth. Wisdom teeth are often impacted (obstructed from erupting) and have to be extracted.