Glossary of dental terms


Amalgam: an alloy used in direct dental restorations.

Anesthesia: way of removing pain from procedure.

Autoclave: equipment used to clean & sanitize dental instruments.

Bicuspid: a premolar tooth.

Bilateral: on both the right and left sides of the tooth.

Biopsy: process of removing tissue for evaluation.

Bridge: a replacement tooth between two healthy teeth.

Calculus: plaque left on the teeth, also called tartar.

Caries: tooth decay.

Cavity: tooth decay.

Crown: a covering made of porcelain, metal or composite to restore a damaged tooth.

Denture: artificial tooth or teeth.

Enamel: exterior layer of the tooth.

Filling: restoration of the tooth surface with metal, composite or porcelain.

Gingivitis: early stage of periodontal disease that is marked by swollen, bleeding gums.

Impacted Tooth: a tooth that is unable to erupt through the surface of the gum due to being blocked.

Maxilla: the upper jaw.

Molar: the largest teeth, found in the back of the mouth.

Periodontal Disease: inflammation of the gums that may lead to bone loss.

Plaque: buildup of bacteria and food on surface of teeth.

Root Canal: procedure that removes the damaged pulp from the interior of the tooth and replaces it with a filling and then the entire tooth is capped with a crown.

X-Ray: radiograph image of the structure of the tooth and jaw bone.

 

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