Dental Dictionary
Lingual
The side of the tooth towards the tongue.
Mesial
The side of the tooth towards the middle of the jaw.
Molar
The last three upper and lower teeth on both sides of the mouth.
Mouthguard
A device to be worn in the mouth. Depending on the design of it, it prevents injury to teeth and/or jaw during teeth grinding or sport events.
Nightguard
A mouthguard which is worn at night time.
Occlusal
The chewing surface of the back teeth.
Occlusion
The relationship between the upper and lower teeth when in contact.
Onlay
A restoration that covers the entire surface of a tooth.
Open bite
Occurs when the upper teeth not able to contact the opposing lower teeth.
Orthodontics
A field in dentistry which involves diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of bite abnormalities or facial irregularities.
Over bite
The overlap of upper teeth and lower teeth when they close together.
Overhang
The portion of filling material that hangs beyond the border of the cavity.
Palate
The roof of the mouth.
Panoramic Radiograph
An x-ray film used to obtain the wide view of the teeth in the upper and lower jaws and their associated structures.
Perforation
An opening on a tooth or other oral structure.
Periapical
The area surrounding the root of a tooth.
Periodontitis
Inflammation and degeneration of dental tissues as a result of accumulated plaque and bacteria.
Permanent teeth
Adult’s teeth. The first permanent tooth usually comes in around 6 years old.
Pin
A piece of “nail-like” metal. It usually is used for better retention of a filling.
Polish
A process to make the tooth or filling or other denture smooth and glossy.
Pontic
The false tooth in a bridge or denture to replace the missing tooth.
Post
A big pin which can be made with different materials such as metal or carbon. Its function usually is to support a big buildup on a tooth.
Posterior
Located at the back.
Pre-authorization
An approval from the particular authority (usually insurance company in dentistry) before any action (treatment) is carried out.
Pre-medication
Medication needing to be taken before treatment.
Premolar
The two teeth located in front of the molar and behind the canine.
Prescription
A written statement (from a doctor to a pharmacist) regarding the type, amount and direction of usage of a medication for a patient. In dentistry, a a prescription can also be a written statement for preparation of an appliance from a dentist to a lab technician.
Primary teeth
Baby teeth.
Prophylaxis/prophy
The removal of plaque buildup and or calculus from the surfaces of the teeth after which they are polished.
Prosthesis
An artificial appliance to replace missing teeth and their associated structures.
Prosthodontics
A specialty of dentistry involving diagnosis, treatment planning, and fabrication of artificial parts to replace missing teeth and their associated structures.
Pulp
The innermost part of a tooth. It contains nerves and blood vessels inside a tooth.
Pulpectomy
The removal of the whole pulp inside a tooth.
Pulpotomy
The removal of the top part of the pulp inside a tooth.
Q
Radiograph
An x-ray image.
Recall
The reminder about your routine dental checkup and prophylaxis appointments.
Recementation
The process of “gluing” the appliance/prosthesis back on the associated area.
Restoration
Any material used by a dentist to restore the normal function of a tooth or an area in the mouth. It can be a filling, a crown, a bridge, etc.
Retainer
A device used for maintaining the position of teeth in the jaw after orthodontic treatment.
Retreatment
The process of repeating the root canal treatment.
Root
The base of a tooth. It anchors the tooth to its supporting units.
Root canal
The canal that runs inside the root of the tooth. which contains the nerves and blood vessels.
Root canal treatment
The removal of the pulp tissue of an infected, dying or dead tooth.
Root planing
The action of cleaning the root of teeth.
Rubber dam
A rubber sheet that fits around teeth. It isolates the treatment area from the rest of the oral cavity.
Scaling
The action of cleaning the teeth below the gumline.
Sealant
A thin layer of plastic-like material covering the grooves and pits on a tooth to prevent cavity.
Sedation
The use of medication to calm a patient.
Space Maintainer
An appliance that keeps the space between teeth.
Splint
An appliance or a material to prevent movement of a mobile part.
Tempromandibular Joint (TMJ)
The joint that links the two parts of the jaw.
Torus
An outgrowth of bone. It usually develops on the roof of the mouth or around the premolar area on the lower jaw.
U
Veneer
A layer of tooth-colored material (can be porcelain, composite, or ceramic) that attaches to the front of the tooth. It is usually used to improve the appearance of the tooth.
Wisdom tooth
The eighth (also the last) tooth from the middle of the jaw.
Xerostomia
Dry mouth
Y
Z
Abscess
A sac of exudate formed as a result of an infection.
Abutment
A connecting element.
Amalgam
A silver filling material.
Anesthetic
An agent that causes temporary loss of sensation/feeling.
Anterior
to the front.
Apex
The end of the root.
Asepsis
the absence of bacteria and other organisms.
Attrition
The mechanical wearing away of teeth.
Avulsed
An injury that causes a tooth to be completely knocked out of the mouth.
Bitewing
A radiograph taken to show the relationship between the posterior upper and lower teeth.
Bleaching
Whitening of teeth.
Bridge
A prosthesis which is fixed inside the mouth to replace missing teeth.
Bruxism
Teeth grinding.
Canker sore/Cold Sore
An ulceration usually having a yellow base and red border that is often seen at corner of or on the lips. It can be caused by stress, a lack of vitamin C, trauma or the presence of the herpes simplex virus.
Caries
Tooth decay.
Cast
An artificial model of teeth.
Cementation
Attaching the appliance/prosthesis to the associated area.
Chlorhexidine
An anti-microbial agent. It is an effective agent in controlling gum diseases.
Clasp
A metal arm extended from a removable partial denture. It helps to hold
anchorage for the denture.
Composite
Tooth coloured filling.
Cross-bite
An abnormal bite relationship between the upper and lower jaw. The lower teeth align toward the cheek than to the teeth in the upper arch.
Crown (porcelain/plastic/metal)
A crown is like a “cap” on a tooth. It covers the tooth partially or totally above the gum to restore its function and appearance.
Decay
A soft substance caused by the bacterial demineralization of enamel and dentin.
Dentistry
A branch of medicine that involves diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of any disease concerning teeth, oral cavity, and associated structures.
Dentition
The position, type, and number of teeth in upper and lower jaw.
Denture
An artificial object to customized to replace missing teeth and their neighboring structures. There are many different types of dentures to satisfy different treatment requirements and patient preferences. A denture may be immediate, complete or partial.
Denturist
The person who specializes in fabricating dentures. A Denturist is not responsible for making any type of diagnosis or carrying out any other treatment (e.g. removing teeth).
Desensitization
A procedure to reduce the sensitivity of teeth.
Diagnosis
The process of identifying dental disease.
Diastema
The space between two adjacent teeth.
Distal
A direction indication in the mouth. It indicates the direction away from the middle of the jaw.
Edentulous
No teeth.
Endodontics
A department of dentistry involving diagnosis, prevention and treatment of dental pulp (where the nerves and blood vessels are inside the tooth).
Eruption
The entrance of a tooth into the mouth through the gum.
Excision
The action of cutting something off.
Extruded
When a tooth is pushed partially out of the socket.
Filling
A restoration placed on a tooth to restore its function and appearance.
Flipper
A temporary denture to replace missing teeth during the waiting period of long term treatment.
Floss
A thread/tape that goes between the teeth to remove plaque and debris.
Fluoride
A compound of fluorine (an element) which is put in different forms such as water, gels, and rinses used to strengthen teeth.
Fluoride Treatment
The application of a fluoride gel onto the surfaces of the teeth. It helps to prevent tooth decay.
Fracture
When an area of a tooth becomes weakened, a fracture may result. It is possible for the crack to extend further into the root and expose the pulp.
Framework
A metal skeleton of a removable partial denture that supports the artificial teeth and the plastic attachments.
Gingivitis
The earliest stage of gum disease.
Hemorrhage
Bleeding.
Hemostasis
Stopped bloodflow.
Impaction
A condition where a tooth is unable to erupt normally or is stuck underneath another tooth or bone.
Implant
A device (usually “screw-like”) surgically placed in the jaw bone to replace the root of a missing tooth. An implant supports a crown, a denture or a bridge.
Impression
A mold taken by jelly-like material loaded on a tray.
Incisal
The cutting edge of front teeth.
Incision
The act of cutting into something.
Incisor
The four upper and lower front teeth.
Inlay
A restoration (usually gold, composite or ceramics) fabricated in the lab that cements on a tooth like a missing puzzle piece. It helps to restore the normal function and appearance of the tooth.
Interproximal
The space between two adjacent teeth.