Dental Definitions
Listed below in alphabetical order are common dental related words with a brief definition.
Anesthesia: A drug given for total or partial loss of sensation to enable surgery or painful procedures for medical or surgical purposes.
Braces: A metal wire placed against the teeth that corrects dental irregularities and straightens teeth.
Bridges: A false tooth or teeth that are joined permanently in place between 2 teeth or implants to replace one or more missing teeth. Bridges can be removable or fixed.
Cavity: A soft decayed area in a tooth that creates a hollow space or pit in the tooth.
Crowns: An artificial substitute such as gold or porcelain, for the crown of a broken or decayed tooth.
Dental Hygienist: This is a person trained and licensed to provide dental services such as cleaning teeth and x-rays typically supervised by a dentist.
Dentistry: The profession or science dealing with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the teeth, gums and mouth. Also, includes the repair, removal and replacement of defective teeth.< /p>
Dentures: An artificial replacement of a partial or complete set of teeth for the upper or lower jaws or both.
Extractions: The removal of a tooth or teeth due to tooth decay, impacted or problem wisdom teeth or various dental purposes.
Fillings: Fills a cavity with a substance such as cement, amalgam, gold, etc. White fillings, known as composite fillings are also available so the teeth look natural and are typically used for teeth near the front of the mouth which can be seen.
Fluoride: A compound fluorine with another element. Studies have shown that fluorides are effective in preventing tooth decay. Most jurisdictions add fluoride to the drinking water.
Gum disease: Also called periodontal disease, it is the inflammation of the structures that surround and support the teeth. Gum disease is one of the most common causes of tooth loss and can lead to the destruction of the jawbone.
Halitosis: Offensive, foul smelling breath.
Implants: Metal anchors permanently attached to the jaw to support artificial teeth.
Molars: 12 teeth located in the rear of the mouth (6 on top and 6 on bottom) with a broad surface for grinding food.
Oral Hygiene: These are the tools used daily to clean your teeth, remove food, plaque and bad breath. The dental tools include, tooth brush, dental floss and tooth picks.
Orthodontics: The branch of dentistry that helps prevent and correct teeth irregularities, typically with braces.
Orthodontist: A specialized dentist dealing with orthodontics (correcting teeth irregularities).
Periodontist: A specialized dentist that provides treatment for diseases in the gums and the tissues surrounding and supporting the teeth.
Plaque: Created by the growth of bacteria on the teeth, plaque is a sticky, soft, film on the tooth surfaces.
Root canals: The removal of dead or dying nerve tissue and bacteria inside a tooth.
Tooth: A hard structure embedded in the jaw and used for chewing or defense. Human teeth include molars, incisors, canines and bicuspids.
Tooth decay: The destruction of the outer surface (enamel) of a tooth from bacteria in plaque which creates dental cavities or caries. This can cause infection, pain and the loss of a tooth or teeth.
Veneers: A tooth colored material, typically porcelain or plastic attached to and covering a metal crown or original tooth to change the shape or coloring.
Wisdom teeth: The third molar tooth on both the top and bottom of the jaws.