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# Dental Dictionary

L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

### 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 biting surface of the back teeth.

### Occlusion

The way how the upper and lower teeth close together.

### Onlay

A restoration covers the entire biting surface of a tooth.

### Open bite

The situation where the upper teeth not able to contact the opposing lower teeth.

### Orthodontics

A special 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 upper and lower jaw and their associated structures.

### Perforation

An opening on a tooth or other oral structure.

### Periapical

The surrounding of the bottom of the root of a tooth.

### Periodontics

A specialty of dentistry involves diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of gum (periodontal) disease.

### 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.

### Prescription

A written statement (from a doctor to a pharmacist) regarding the type, the amount and direction of the use of a medication for a patient. In dentistry, 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 procedure of teeth polishing. It also means the prevention of diseases.

### Prosthesis

An artificial part 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 picture.

### Recall

The regular checkup and teeth cleaning appointment.

### Recementation

The process of "gluing" the appliance/prosthesis back on the associated area.

### Restoration

An item a dentist uses 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 in orthodontic treatment.

### Retreatment

The process of repeating the root canal treatment.

### Root

The bottom part of tooth. It anchors the tooth to its supporting units.

### Root canal

The canal that runs inside the root of the tooth. It contains the nerves and blood vessels inside the tooth.

### Root canal treatment

A treatment for the root canal inside the tooth.

### Root planing

The action of cleaning the root area 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 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 to maintain 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 ceramics) 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

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A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K

### Abscess

A collection of pus. Usually forms because of infection.

### Abutment

A tooth or tooth structure which is responsible for the anchorage of a bridge or a denture.

### Amalgam

A silver filling material.

### Anesthetic

An agent that causes temporary loss of sensation/feeling.

### Anterior

The front position.

### Apex

The end of the root.

### Asepsis

No micro-organism.

### Attrition

Wear of teeth due to activities such as chewing.

### Avulsed

An injury that causes a tooth to be completely knocked out of the mouth.

### Bitewing

A kind of dental x-ray which is taken with the teeth bite together. The main function of this kind of x-ray is to detect cavities in between teeth and height of bone support.

### Bleaching

Whitening of teeth.

### Bridge

A prosthesis which is fixed inside the mouth to replace missing teeth.

### Bruxism

Teeth grinding.

### Canine

The third tooth from the middle of the jaw. There are four of them. They are the longest teeth in humans.

### Canker sore

An ulceration with yellow base and red border in mouth. It can be caused by trauma or herpes simplex virus.

### Caries

Tooth decay.

### Cavity

A hole on the tooth.

### Cast

A model of teeth.

### Cementation

The process of "gluing" the appliance/prosthesis on the associated area.

### Chlorhexidine

An anti-microbial agent. It is available in many forms such as gels and rinses. It is an effective agent in controlling gum diseases.

### Clasp

A metal arm extended from a removable partial denture. It helps to hold onto natural tooth structure and thus provide anchorage for the denture.

### Cold sore

An ulcer or blister on lip. A form of herpes simplex.

### Composite

White filling.

### Cross-bite

An abnormal bite relationship of upper and lower jaw. The lower teeth/tooth align toward the check/ lip side more than the upper teeth/tooth.

### Crown (porcelain/plastic/metal)

A crown is almost like a "cap" on a tooth. It covers the tooth partially or totally above the gum to restore its function and outlook.

### Decay

A soft substance caused by the bacterial demineralization of enamel and dentin. An infection within a tooth. Must be treated.

### 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

(Immediate/complete/partial) (overdenture, temporary)
An artificial object to replace missing teeth and their neighboring structures. There are many different types of denture to satisfy different treatment requirements and patient preferences.

### 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 process of the tooth appearing in the mouth.

### Excision

The action of cutting something off.

### Extruded

When a tooth may be 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 for long term treatment.

### Floss

A thread/tape that goes in between teeth for cleaning.

### Fluoride

A compound of fluorine (an element) which be put in different forms such as water, gels, and rinses to strengthen teeth.

### Fluoride Treatment

Teeth treatment with fluoride agents like gel or rinse. It helps to prevent tooth decay.

### Fracture

When a cusp of a tooth becomes weakened, a fracture may result. It is possible for the crack to extend further into the root and damage to the pulp is commonplace.

### Framework

A metal skeleton of a removable partial denture to support the false teeth and the plastic attachments.

### Gingivitis

The mildest form of gum disease: inflammation of gum. The earliest sign is bleeding gum.

### Hemorrhage

Bleeding

### Hemostasis

Stop bleeding.

### Impaction

A condition where a tooth is not able to come in normally or is stuck underneath another tooth or bone.

### Implant

A device (usually "screw-like") put in the jaw bone to support a false tooth, a denture or a bridge.

### Impression

A mold taken by some jelly-like material loaded on a tray.

### Incisal

The cutting edge of front teeth.

### 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 outlook of the tooth.

### Interproximal

The space between two adjacent teeth.

### J

### K

## Dental Health

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