Glossary

Amalgam

Material made from mercury and other alloy mixtures used to restore a drilled portion of a tooth

Anesthesia

Medications used to relieve pain

Anterior Teeth

Front teeth; also called incisors and cuspids

Arch

The upper or lower jaw

Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

Caused by sugary substances in breast milk and some juices, which combine with saliva to form pools inside the baby's mouth

Bicuspids

A premolar tooth; tooth with two cusps, which are pointed or rounded eminences on or near the masticating surface of a tooth 

Bitewings

X-rays that help a dentist diagnose cavities 

Bonding

Application of tooth-colored resin materials to the surface of the teeth

Bridge

A prosthetic replacement of one or more missing teeth cemented or otherwise attached to the abutment teeth or implant replacements

Bruxism

Teeth grinding

Calculus

A hard deposit of mineralized substance adhering to crowns and/or roots of teeth or prosthetic devices

Canal

The narrow chamber 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

A commonly used term for tooth decay, or cavities

Cold sore

Usually occurs on the outside of the mouth, usually on or near the nose or lips. A cold sore is contagious because it is caused by the herpes simplex virus, and it is 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 restoration material

Contouring

The process of reshaping teeth

Crown

An artificial tooth replacement that restores missing tooth structure by surrounding the remaining coronal tooth structure. It is also placed on a dental implant

Cusps

The pointed parts on top of the back teeth's chewing surface

Cuspids

Front teeth that typically have a protruding edge

Dentin

The tooth layer underneath the enamel

Dentures

A removable set of teeth

Endodontics

A form of dentistry that addresses problems affecting the tooth's root or nerve

Fluoride

A naturally-occurring mineral, helps prevent cavities in children and adults by making the outer surface of your teeth (enamel) more resistant to the acid attacks that cause tooth decay

Fluorosis

A harmless over-exposure to fluoride sometimes resulting in tooth discoloration

Gingiva

Another word for gum tissue

Gingivitis

A minor disease of the gums caused by plaque

Gum disease

An infection of the gum tissues. Also called periodontal disease

Laminate veneer

A shell, usually thin and made from porcelain resin, that is bonded to the enamel of a front tooth

Impacted teeth

A condition in which a tooth fails to erupt or only partially erupts 

Implant

A permanent appliance used to replace a missing tooth 

Incisor

Front teeth with cutting edges; located in the center or on the sides near the front 

Inlay

An artificial filling made of various materials, including porcelain, resin, or gold

Laminate veneer

A shell, usually thin and made from porcelain resin, that is bonded to the enamel of a front tooth

Malocclusion

Bad bite relationship

Mandible

The lower jaw 

Maxilla

The upper jaw 

Molar

Usually the largest teeth, near the rear of the mouth. Molars have large chewing surfaces.

Neuromuscular Dentistry

Addresses more than the aches and pains felt in and around the neck and head that are associated with your teeth and jaw

Onlay

A filling designed to protect the chewing surface of a tooth

Orthodontics

A field of dentistry that deals with tooth and jaw alignment

Overdenture

A non-fixed dental appliance applied to a small number of natural teeth or implants

Palate

Roof of the mouth

Partial denture

A removable appliance that replaces missing teeth 

Pediatric Dentistry

A field of dentistry that deals with children’s teeth 

Perio pocket

An opening formed by receding gums 

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, colorless substance that covers the teeth after sleep or periods between brushing 

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 artificial dental appliances

Pulp

The inner tissues of the tooth containing blood, nerves and connective tissue

Receding gum

A condition in which the gums separate from the tooth, allowing bacteria and other substances to attack the tooth's enamel and surrounding bone

Resin filling

An artificial filling used to restore teeth, also called a composite filling

Root canal

A procedure in which a tooth's nerve is removed and an inner canal cleansed and later filled

Root planing

Scraping or cleansing of teeth to remove heavy buildup of tartar below the gum line

Sealant

A synthetic material placed on the tooth's surface that protects the enamel and chewing surfaces.

TMJ

Temporomandibular joint disorder or health problems related to the jaw joint just in front of the ear

Tarter

A hardened substance (also called calculus) that sticks to the tooth’s surface

Veneer

A laminate applied or bonded to the tooth

Whitening

A process that employs special bleaching agents for restoring the color of teeth

Wisdom tooth

Third set of molars that erupt last in adolescence