Family and Cosmetic Dentistry
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Dental Fact Library
| A | |
|
abrasion:
|
loss
of tooth structure caused by tooth grinding, an improper bite, a
hard toothbrush or poor brushing technique |
|
abscess:
|
a
localized infection of a tooth and/or the gum |
|
abutment:
|
tooth
or teeth that anchor a fixed or removable bridge
|
|
air
abrasion:
|
removal
of tooth structure by blasting a tooth with air and abrasive, also a
relatively new technology in dentistry that often avoids the need
for anesthetic |
|
allergy:
|
an
unwanted bodily response to a substance or organism |
|
alveolar
bone:
|
the
bone surrounding the roots of teeth |
|
amalgam:
|
the
most common material used for fillings, also called silver fillings;
a mixture of mercury (app 50%), silver, tin, copper and zinc used
for fillings
|
|
analgesia:
|
partial
loss of pain sensation
|
|
anesthesia:
|
absence
of pain sensation; numbing a tooth is local anesthesia; with general
anesthesia the patient is unconscious |
|
anterior
teeth:
|
the
six upper and six lower front teeth |
|
antibiotic:
|
a
drug that stops or slows the growth of germs (bacteria) |
|
ANUG:
|
an
acronym for Acute Necrotizing Ulcerative Gingivitis, more commonly
known as trench mouth or Vincent's disease , often brought on by
stress and/or smoking |
|
apex:
|
the
tip of the root of a tooth |
|
apicoectomy:
|
removal
of the root end of a tooth to treat an infection |
|
arch
:
|
shape
assumed collectively by upper and lower teeth |
| B | |
|
baby
teeth:
|
the
first teeth, also called deciduous teeth; usually there are twenty
baby teeth
|
| a
cement applied under a filling or crown to decrease sensitivity to
heat or cold and protect the filling |
|
| removal
of a small piece of tissue to determine if it is diseased |
|
| how
the upper and lower teeth come together; may also be called
occlusion |
|
| excessive
growth of fungi that normally live in the mouth |
|
| anesthetizing
a nerve that serves a large area of the jaw, usually the lower jaw;
may numb teeth, tongue and half of the jaw in that area |
|
| applying
a tooth-colored resin to repair and/or change the color or shape of
a tooth, most often a front tooth |
|
| decrease
in bone supporting the roots of teeth; a common result of gum
disease |
|
| the
gradual loss of bone Orthodontists use this process to
"pull" teeth through bone to new positions. |
|
| devices
used by orthodontists to gradually reposition teeth |
|
| appliance
cemented to teeth adjacent to a space that replaces one or more
missing teeth; usually cemented or attached to teeth or implants
adjacent to the space |
|
| involuntary,
"nervous" grinding of the teeth while the patient is
asleep |
|
| involuntary,
"nervous" grinding of the teeth while the patient is awake |
|
| C | |
| chemical
element needed for healthy teeth, bones and nerves |
|
| hard
residue, ranging from yellow to brown, forming on teeth when oral
hygiene is incomplete or improper |
|
| whitish,
often circular mouth sore lasting ten to fourteen days |
|
| fixed
bridge that attaches to adjacent teeth on one end only |
|
| common
term for crown |
|
| tooth
decay or cavities |
|
| dental
tool that uses high frequency sound waves to clean teeth |
|
| uncontrolled
infection causing extensive swelling Since this is a dangerous
condition, a dentist or physician should be consulted as soon as
possible. |
|
| hard
tissue that covers the roots of teeth |
|
| to
measure the depth of the gum pockets around teeth |
|
| device
that retains a removable partial denture |
|
| removal
of plaque and calculus from teeth, generally above the gumline |
|
| common
bonding mix of plastic and glass/ceramic particles; usually cured
with light or chemicals |
|
| two
meanings: (1)the portion of a tooth covered by enamel, and (2)a
restoration that covers all or most of the natural tooth above the
gumline |
|
| removal
of dead inner tissue from a gum pocket |
|
| a
fluid-filled sac |
| D | |
| destruction
of tooth structure caused by acid produced by bacteria |
|
| baby
teeth |
|
| hard,
living inner layer of a tooth (the layer immediately under the outer
enamel layer)
|
|
| a
(usually) titanium cylinder surgically placed in the bone of the
upper or lower jaw to replace the root of a missing tooth |
|
| your
teeth and how they are arranged in your mouth |
|
| a
removable set of artificial teeth |
|
| the
production and sale of dentures by non-dentists |
|
| the
space between front teeth |
|
| E | |
| hard
tissue covering the crown (portion above the gumline) of a tooth |
|
| a
specialist who treats injuries, diseases and infections of the tooth
pulp |
|
| the
process whereby teeth grow through the gums |
|
| See
extraction. |
|
| a
pointed instrument for examining the surfaces of teeth |
|
| removal
of a tooth/teeth |
|
| the
four upper and lower canine or eye teeth |
|
| F | |
| the
visible portion of a crown; may be acrylic, composite or porcelain |
|
| restoring
lost tooth structure with metal, alloy, porcelain or resin |
|
| tunnel
conducting pus from one infection to the site of another; a mouth
fistula is called a gum boil |
|
| loosening
of gums from bone to expose and clean underlying tooth structures
|
|
| instrument
used to remove a tooth
|
|
| removable
denture replacing all teeth in upper or lower arch
|
|
| removal of the frenum, the thin cord of tissue that attaches the upper or lower lips to the gum or the tongue to the floor of the mouth | |
| G | |
| (guided
tissue regeneration) a new technique for replacing bone tissue lost
between roots of teeth |
|
| a
controlled state of unconsciousness, accompanied by a partial or
complete loss of pain sensation, protective reflexes, and the
ability to respond purposefully to physical stimulation or verbal
command |
|
| loss
of all usual color and texture of tongue; does not require treatment |
|
| the
gums |
|
| removal
of gum tissue |
|
| inflammation
of gum tissue |
|
| See
fistula. |
|
| H | |
| bad
breath |
|
| compound
used as a dental whitening agent and mouthwash |
|
| dental
sensitivity to temperature and sweets; can precede an abscess |
|
| I | |
| an
unexposed or partially exposed tooth that is so wedged against
another tooth, bone, or soft tissue that complete exposure of the
tooth is unlikely |
|
| artificial
device replacing tooth root; may anchor an artificial tooth, bridge,
or denture |
|
| making
an incision in an abscess to drain infection |
|
| four
upper and four lower front teeth, (excludes the canine teeth) |
|
| process
for numbing the upper teeth (placing anesthetic liquid under the gum
tissue and allowing it to migrate into the bone) |
|
| a
filling made by a dental laboratory that is cemented into place,
generally requires two dental appointments |
|
| a
tiny TV camera used to view tissues of the mouth (owned by
approximately 50 percent of U S dentists |
|
| J | |
| crown
for a front tooth, usually made of porcelain |
|
| L | |
| thin
plastic or porcelain veneer produced in a dental laboratory and then
bonded to a tooth to improve its appearance |
|
| common
name for nitrous oxide; used to reduce anxieties and relax patients |
|
| elimination
of the sensation of pain, in one part of the body by the surface
application or regional injection of an anesthetic drug |
|
| M | |
| "bad
bite" or misalignment between the upper and lower teeth
|
|
| program
whereby patient-dentist assignment and dentist reimbursement are
administered by a separate, external organization |
|
| the
lower jaw |
|
| point
of contact between a restoration and the tooth |
|
| a
bridge that is bonded or cemented only to the backs of the adjacent
teeth |
|
| the
upper jaw |
|
| the
baby teeth |
|
| the
twelve back teeth in the entire mouth (or the three back teeth in
each fourth of the mouth if the wisdom teeth are in) |
|
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Cosmetic Dentistry
.Tooth Anatomy.
| N | |
| common
term for tooth pulp which is the sensitive innermost portion of a
tooth
|
|
| plastic
device that covers all of the upper or lower teeth; used to prevent
wear caused by tooth grinding during sleep |
|
| a
gas used to reduce patient anxiety |
|
| older
brand name for a local anesthetic |
|
| O | |
| how
the upper and lower teeth come together |
|
| laboratory-produced
restoration covering the cusps of a tooth |
|
| a
specialist who deals with the diagnosis & surgical treatment of
diseases, injuries, and deformities of the mouth and supporting
structures. Generally requires four additional years of training
after dental school
|
|
| the
mouth
|
|
| the
process of maintaining the cleanliness of the mouth |
|
| operations
on the mouth; for example, extractions, removal of cysts or tumors,
and repair of broken jaw bone |
|
| dental
specialty that treats misalignment of teeth |
|
| denture
that fits over tooth roots or dental implants |
|
| P | |
| treatment
that is designed primarily to reduce or eliminate pain |
|
| loss
of sensation in part of the body |
|
| removable
denture replacing some of the teeth |
|
| dental
specialty focusing on treatment of children |
|
| a
specialist who treats the gums and supporting structures of the
teeth |
|
| the
thirty-two adult teeth |
|
| a
small defect in the tooth enamel, usually found on the back teeth |
|
| a
treatment that works because of the patient's belief in it, not
because of the actual physical change it produces |
|
| a
soft sticky substance that accumulates on teeth; composed largely of
bacteria and food substances suspended in saliva |
|
| a
false tooth mounted on a bridge |
|
| a
porcelain cap which covers the crown (that portion above the gumline)
of the tooth to repair it or change the shape and/or color |
|
| a
tooth-colored filling, made of porcelain |
|
| a
thin layer of porcelain bonded to the front and top of a front tooth
to repair or change the color and/or shape |
|
| a
thin metal rod inserted into the root of a tooth after root canal
therapy; provides retention for a "core" which is a
buildup of material that replaces the lost tooth structure |
|
| a
post and a buildup of material that replaces the lost tooth
structure |
|
| single
structure that combines post-core and crown |
|
| the
probable outcome of treatment |
|
| procedure
for preserving the health and preventing infection of teeth |
|
| an
artificial replacement for a body part |
|
| a
dentist who specializes in restoring teeth, replacing missing teeth
with bridges and dentures, and maintaining proper occlusion |
|
| the
nerves, blood vessels and connective tissue inside a tooth |
|
| a
medicated covering over a small area of exposed pulp |
|
| the
center or innermost portion of the tooth containing the pulp |
|
| total
removal of the pulp in children's teeth |
|
| inflammation
of the pulp; a common cause of a toothache
|
|
| partial
removal of the pulp |
|
| common
term for gum disease |
|
| R | |
| return
to mouth of tooth/teeth lost through trauma |
|
| plastic
buildup of denture to compensate for bone loss (usually accomplished
in conjunction with a dental laboratory)
|
|
| the
replacement part or portion restored on a damaged tooth |
|
| root
remaining in jaw after tooth is extracted or broken off |
|
| tooth
structure that connects the tooth to the jaw |
|
| common
term for root canal therapy, also the interior space of the tooth
root |
|
| process
of removing pulp of a tooth and filling it with an inert material |
|
| removal
of root of a tooth while retaining the crown |
|
| soft
latex sheet used to protect one or more teeth from moisture and to
keep materials from falling to the back of the throat |
|
| S | |
| clear
fluid in the mouth containing water, enzymes, bacteria, mucus,
viruses, blood cells and undigested food particles |
|
| suction
tube placed in the mouth to remove saliva |
|
| located
under tongue and in cheeks, produce saliva |
|
| meticulous
removal of plaque and calculus from tooth surfaces |
|
| plastic
material bonded in the grooves and pits of back teeth for the
prevention of decay |
|
| produced
by the pulp in response to tooth irritation |
|
| the
periodic interruption or delay in breathing during sleep |
|
| dental
device that holds the space lost through premature loss of baby
teeth |
|
| to
connect two or more teeth so they function as a stronger single
structure |
|
| extra
tooth |
| T | |
|
| |