Glossary Of Dentistry Terms

February

Dentists use a lot of special words and phrases to describe parts of the mouth, problems and procedures. Your dentist can explain any term you don’t know, but in the meantime, here are some you can learn about:

Dental Professionals

Throughout the course of your dental health journey, you may find yourself in the care of various dental professionals who differ in background and specialties. Use this guide to better understand the different types of dental health professionals.

Dental Specialist

A dentist who has received postgraduate trainings in one of the recognized dental specialties: endodontics, orthodontics, oral surgery, pediatric dentistry, periodontics, and prosthodontics.

DDS

Doctor of Dental Surgery.

DMD

Doctor of Dental Medicine.

Endodontist

A dental specialist who treats diseases of the pulp and nerve of the tooth.

General Dentist

A primary dental care provider that performs preventive care as well as restorative procedures such as fillings, crowns, implants, and more.

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon

A dental specialist who is most commonly known to remove teeth but also treats diseases, injuries, defects, and deformities of the oral and maxillofacial regions.

Orthodontist

A dental specialist who straightens of moves misaligned teeth and/or jaw.

Pediatric Dentist

A dentist who specializes in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of the oral health needs of children.

Periodontist

A dentist who specializes in diagnosing, managing, and treating the tissue, gums, and bone that support the teeth.

Procedure And Treatment Terms

Use this guide to gain an understanding of some of the most common dental procedures and treatments.

Abutment

A natural tooth or implanted tooth substitute used to support a removable partial denture or bridge work.

Acid Etching

A process that prepares tooth surface for bonding to fillings or sealants by toughening enamel with a weak acid solution.

Alveoloplasty

A surgical procedure that reshapes the jawbone.

Anesthesia

Medication administered to an individual prior to a procedure with the purpose of dulling pain or sedating the individual. Dentists most commonly use local anesthesia to numb the area where pain is likely to occur without changing the awareness of the individual undergoing the procedure.

Apicoectomy

A minor surgical procedure that removes the apex, or top, of the root of a tooth.

Band

A metal ring cemented around a tooth as part of orthodontic treatment. Bands can hold various attachments used to assist with tooth movement and alignment.

Basic Cleaning

A routine professional teeth cleaning to remove plaque build-up, tarter, and stains. This is a regularly scheduled preventative treatment for individuals with healthy gum tissue.

Biopsy

The process of removing tissue for histologic evaluation, an important tool in the accurate diagnosis of cancer and other diseases.

Bleaching

A cosmetic procedure that whitens teeth with a bleaching solution.

Bonding

A procedure in which a tooth-colored plastic material is applied with a special light, and ultimately “bonds” the material to the tooth to improve a person’s smile.

Bridge

An appliance that replaces missing teeth by securely attaching an artificial tooth to the natural teeth. This is also known as a fixed partial denture.

Cement Base

Material sometimes used to replace a missing tooth structure.

Composite

A filling material used to repair teeth. The most common type of filling.

Crown

A cover that is put over a tooth to help restore the tooth’s normal shape, size, and function. These are typically applied when individuals have a cavity too large for filling, a cracked or weakened tooth, or want to conceal a discolored or poorly shaped tooth.

Crown Lengthening

A surgical procedure that recontours gum tissue, and sometimes bone, to expose more of the tooth for a crown.

Dental Prophylaxis

A scaling and polishing procedure used to remove plaque and stains.

Dental Prosthesis

An artificial device that replaces missing teeth.

Debridement

A procedure for removing calculus (tartar) and plaque.

Excision

The surgical removal of bone or tissue.

Extraction

The act of removing a tooth or portions of a tooth.

Simple Extraction: This type of extraction does not require sectioning of the tooth or any other elaborate procedures for removal.
Filling: The act of restoring a lost tooth structure using materials such as metal, plastic, alloy, or porcelain.
Amalgam: A single surface silver filling.
Composite: A single surface filling made of tooth-colored plastic. Usually performed on a tooth in the front of the mouth.

Fluoride Varnish

A liquid containing fluoride that is painted onto the teeth and hardens. It is used to prevent or reduce the risk of cavities.

Full-Mouth X-Ray

The combination of 14 or more periapical and bitewing films of the back teeth that reveals all of the teeth including the crowns, roots, and alveolar bone.

Gingivectomy

A surgical procedure for removing gingiva (gum tissue) in order to restore gum health.

Gingivoplasty

A surgical procedure for reshaping gingiva (gum tissue).

Graft

A piece of tissue or alloplastic material placed in contact with tissue in order to repair a deficiency.

Immediate Denture

A prosthesis constructed and placed immediately after the removal of natural teeth.

Implant

A device placed within or on the bone of the jaw or skull to support either a crown, bridge, denture, facial prosthesis, or to act as an orthodontic anchor.

Mouthguard

A removable plastic device worn over teeth and gums to protect from damage during sports.

Nightguard

A removable device worn over teeth at night to protect from damage due to clenching or bruxism.

Operculectomy

A procedure that removes the flap of tissue over an unerupted or partially erupted tooth.

Overdenture

A removable prosthetic device that covers and rests on one or more natural teeth, the roots of natural teeth, and/or dental implants.

Partial Denture

A prosthetic device used to replace missing teeth.

Preventative Dentistry

Procedures and services administered to prevent oral diseases.

Prophylaxis

A dental cleaning that consists of the removal of plaque, stains, and calculus by scaling and polishing.

Pulpectomy

A procedure that removes diseased pulp tissue.

Radiograph

An image produced by projecting radiation. Also called an X-ray.

Reline

A procedure used to resurface the side of a denture that is not in contact with the soft tissue of the mouth to ensure a secure fit.

Removable Partial Denture (Removable Bridge)

A prosthetic replacement used to replace missing teeth. This device can be removed by the individual.

Retainer

A removable device worn in the mouth to prevent teeth from shifting. These devices can be fixed or removable.

Root Planing

A procedure performed on tooth roots to remove dentin, bacteria, calculus, and diseased surfaces.

Scaling

The removal of plaque, calculus, and staining from teeth.

Sealants

Plastic resin placed on the biting surfaces of molars in order to prevent bacteria from attacking the enamel.

Suture

A stitch used to repair an incision or wound.

Temporary Removable Denture

An interim prosthesis designed to be used for a limited period of time.

Veneer

Thin coverings placed over the front part of teeth made to look like natural teeth.

Dental Condition Terms

Developing a dental condition is common. Below is a list of the most regularly diagnosed dental conditions so that if problems do arise, you have somewhere to look for guidance, and can seek the treatment you need.

Abscess

Localized buildup of pus in an area of infection, usually around the tooth or in the gums, that can ultimately destroy oral tissue.

Abrasion

Tooth wear caused by forces other than chewing such as improper brushing or holding objects between the teeth.

Avulsion

When a tooth is knocked out of its socket due to trauma.

Bone Loss

A decrease in the amount of bone that supports a tooth or implant.

Bruxism

An unconscious habit of grinding or clenching the teeth.

Calculus

A hard deposit of mineralized material sticking to the crowns and/or roots of teeth. This substance cannot be brushed off and is removed during a professional cleaning

Caries

Tooth decay. Tooth surfaces are slowly destroyed by acid-producing bacteria.

Cavity

An area of the tooth that is damaged by caries, abrasion, or erosion.

Cleft Palate

A birth defect that occurs when the tissues that make up the roof of the mouth do not join together completely.

Decay

The decomposition of the tooth structure.

Dry Mouth

A condition caused by lack of saliva and moisture in the mouth. If untreated, it can lead to increased levels of tooth decay and infections.

Dry Socket

Severe pain inside and around the tooth socket which can occur one to three days after a tooth extraction. This issue usually requires post-operative care.

Erosion

The wearing down of tooth structure, caused by chemicals and acid.

Fracture

The breaking of a tooth.

Gingivitis

Inflammation of gingival tissue.

Impacted Tooth

A partially erupted tooth positioned against another tooth, bone, or soft tissue, making complete eruption unlikely.

Lesion

An area of diseased tissue.

Malocclusion

Improper alignment of the upper and lower teeth.

Peri-implantitis

An infection that develops around an implant which can lead to bone loss.

Periodontal Abscess

An infection of the gum pocket that can destroy soft and hard tissues.

Periodontitis

The inflammation and loss of the connective tissue of the supporting structure of teeth.

Plaque

A soft and sticky substance that builds up on teeth due to bacteria buildup.

Pulpitis

Inflammation of the dental pulp.

Recession

When the gums pull away from the teeth, often exposing the root.

Mouth Related Terms

Do you want to better understand the areas of the mouth that your dentists are referring to when you’re in the office? Use this guide to learn the most common terms.

Alveolar Bone

The bone structure that contains tooth sockets and supports the teeth.

Anatomical Crown

The visible part of a natural tooth covered by enamel.

Arch

An upper or lower denture.

Bicuspid

A premolar tooth or a tooth with two cusps.

Buccal

The cheek area.

Cementum

Hard connective tissue covering the tooth root.

Cusp

The pointed portion of the tooth.

Cuspid

A tooth with one cusp located between the incisors and premolars. It is also known as a canine tooth.

Deciduous Teeth

The first set of teeth a child gets, also known as primary teeth or baby teeth. There are 20 deciduous teeth which are usually all in place around age 2.

Dentin

The portion of the tooth found beneath the enamel and cementum. A hard, calcified material that makes up the bulk of the tooth.

Enamel

Hard calcified tissue covering dentin on the crown of the tooth.

Gingiva

Soft tissues that lay over the crowns of unerupted teeth, also known as gum tissue.

Interproximal

Between the teeth.

Intraoral

Inside the mouth.

Labial

The area of or around the lip.

Lingual

Of or near the tongue.

Lingual Surface

The side of the tooth facing the tongue.

Mandible

The lower jaw.

Maxilla

The upper jaw.

Molar

The teeth that are posterior to the premolars on either side of the jaw and have broad chewing surfaces.

Occlusal

The relationship between the upper and lower teeth as they come in contact with each other.

Operculum

A flap of gingival tissue over the crown of an erupting tooth.

Oral

Of the mouth.

Palate

The hard and soft tissue formed at the roof of the mouth that separates the oral and nasal cavities.

Pulp

Connective tissue containing nerve tissue and blood vessels that occupy the pulp cavity inside of the tooth.

Quadrant

One of the four equal sections in which the dental arches are divided, typically referred to as the upper and lower right and upper and lower left quadrants.