|
Amalgam |
A type of tooth filling made of
silver and mercury. The metallic mixture is initially soft
so that it can be molded to fit the tooth and gradually
hardens. |
|
Anesthesia |
Substances used to remove the
effects of pain. |
|
Autoclave |
Equipment used to clean dental
instruments that uses super heated high pressure steam. |
|
Bicuspids |
The premolars |
|
Bitewing X-rays |
Similar to periapical X-rays
except that only the crowns and part of the roots are seen
for 2 or 3 adjacent teeth. So called Bitewing because the
X-ray film holder provides a surface to bite down on and
hold the X-ray securely in place. |
|
Board Certified |
A Dentist that has been
approved by the American Dental Society to practice a
particular specialty. Board certified dentists have
demonstrated at least two years of residency within a
particular dental specialty and have been certified to be
competent in that specialty. Any dentist may claim specific
knowledge of any specialty, but a board certified dentist
has passed an exam demonstrating education and experience
within a certain field of dentistry. |
| Braces |
Bands, wires, ceramic or other
appliances used to correct teeth alignment. |
|
Bridges |
Dental work that involves
supporting a replacement tooth between two healthy teeth. |
|
Calculus |
Same as tartar. Occurs when
plaque is left on the teeth untreated. A hard substance
that acts an irritant by wedging between the tooth and gum.
Left untreated calculus can eventually lead to periodontal
disease. |
|
Canines |
The teeth located just to the
left and right of the lateral incisors, 4 in total. Also
referred to as cuspids. |
|
Canker Sore |
An ulcer appearing in the mouth
or lips usually caused by viral infection. Also referred to
as a cold sore. |
|
Central Incisors |
The first four front teeth, two
located on the top and two on the bottom of the mouth. |
|
Composite Fillings |
An alternative to
Silver Amalgam fillings. Composite
fillings are made from a resin and particles that are mixed
together and then given time to "cure" and harden.
The advantages of composite fillings is that they are
naturally white, can easily be colored to match the
surrounding teeth, and are relatively easy to install.
Composite fillings are however less biocompatiable than
silver or gold and are generally not as strong as metal
fillings. Composite fillings are used more often on front
teeth. |
| Crowns |
An artificial "top" made of
porcelain, composite, or metal that is cemented on top of
damaged teeth. |
|
Currettage |
A periodontal procedure which
involves scraping off plaque to the bottom of the damaged
gum tissue and removing the damaged gum tissue. |
|
Dentures |
A set of artificial
teeth. |
|
Endodontist |
Board Certified Dentists who
specialize on teeth and diseases of the tooth pulp |
|
Endentulous |
Without any teeth. |
|
Fluoride |
A chemical substance known to
strengthen teeth enamel making teeth less susceptible to
decay. There are two ways fluoride makes its way to teeth:
ingestion through food or water; and topical application
made directly to the surface of the teeth by the dentist. |
|
|
|
General Anethesia |
A class of
Anesthesia substance or substances
that are inhaled as gases. General anesthesia eliminates
pain by rendering patients completely unconscious. General
anesthesia must be administered by medical or dental
anesthesiologist, and oral surgeons with special training in
a hospital or office operating room. General anesthesia is
general used with oral surgery or more complicated
procedures where the patient must be relaxed and pain-free
for an extended period of time. Complete recovery from
general anesthesia often takes at least several hours. |
|
Gingivitis |
Stage one of early periodontal
disease characterized by inflammation, swollen, reddish gum
tissue which may bleed easily when touched or brushed.
Untreated, gingivitis can lead to chronic periodontal
disease and the stability of your teeth. |
|
Gingivectomy |
A procedure performed by
periodontists to remove gum tissue. |
|
Gingivoplasty |
A procedure performed by
periodontists to reshaping the gum. |
|
Gold Fillings |
An alternative to
Silver Amalgam fillings. Gold is
longer lasting however they are generally much more
complicated, expensive and require multiple visits. Gold is
generally used as totally cast fillings which are cemented
into the mouth. |
|
Halitosis |
The same as bad breath.
Halitosis has several potential causes including dentures,
tooth decay or periodontal disease. |
|
Impacted Tooth |
A tooth that is blocked by an
adjacent tooth preventing it from erupting the surface of
the gum. An impacted tooth may push other teeth together or
damage the bony structures supporting the adjacent tooth.
Often times, impacted teeth must be surgically removed. |
|
Lateral Incisors |
The teeth located just to the
left and right of the central
incisors, 4 in total |
|
Local Anesthesia |
A class of
Anesthesia substance applied by
injection directly to the gums or mouth tissue to provide
pain relief to a local area of the mouth or gum. Lidocain
and prilocaine, and mepivacain are the most widely used.
Dentists often apply local anethesia to reduce the pain
associated with general dental procedures. The advantages
are that the patient remains alert during the procedure
without the pain. |
| Molars |
The class of teeth found in the
back of the mouth after the canines that are characterized
as having multiple biting surfaces. |
|
Neuroleptic Anesthesia |
A class of
Anesthesia substance applied
intravenously. The degree of anethesia can be controlled
from slight consciousness to totally unconscious. Fentanyl
and droperidol combinations are most commonly used.
Dentists often apply Neuroleptic anethesia to reduce the
pain associated with any dental procedures. The advantages
are that the degree of unconsciousness and pain relief can
be controlled and generally the recovery time is much less
than with general anesthesia. |
|
Occlusal X-rays |
Larger X-rays taken to show the
whole bite of the lower and upper jar. |
| Onlay |
A large filling when a
substantial part of the tooth is replaced. |
|
Oral and
Maxillofacial Surgeon |
Board Certified Dentists who
specialize on surgery of the teeth and bones of the jaw,
jawbone or face. |
|
Orthodontist |
Board Certified Dentists who
specialize on correcting abnormally aligned or positioned
teeth. See
Braces. |
|
Panoramic X-rays |
As the name suggests, a type
of X-ray where the X-ray machine makes a complete half
circle from ear to ear to produce a complete two dimensional
representation of all teeth. |
|
Periapical X-rays |
X-rays providing complete side
views from the roots to the crowns of the teeth. Typically
a complete set consists of 14-24 films with each tooth
appearing in two different films from two different angles. |
|
Perio Charting |
A numeric assignment indicating
the depth of a periodontal probe which is used to measure
the depth between the teeth and the adjacent gums. The
larger the number, the larger the space and the more likely
that periodontal disease can or has occurred. |
| Plaque |
A sticky fairly transparent
film that forms on the teeth or cracks of the teeth
primarily composed of undigested food particles mixed with
saliva and bacteria. Plaque left alone eventually turns in
to tartar or calculus. |
|
Porcelain Fillings |
An alternative to
Silver Amalgam fillings. Porcelain
fillings are made of the same material as china. Porcelain
fillings and tooth replacement is accomplished by hardening
in a mold and then baked at an extremely high temperature.
The advantages of porcelain are similar to composites in
that they can be easily color to match surrounding teeth.
Porcelain is much stronger and longer lasting than composite
teeth replacement. The disadvantages of porcelain is that
the substance is brittle and typically requires a highly
skilled dental professional and multiple dental visits. |
|
Prosthetics |
Dental implants or artificial
teeth. |
|
Prosthodontist |
Board Certified Dentists who
specialize in the replacement of missing teeth by bridges
and dentures. See
Bridges. See Dentures. |
|
Root Canal |
A four step process required
when the inner pulp of the tooth is irreversibly damaged.
Step one involves removing all of the inner pulp from the
chamber of the tooth. Step two involves cleaning and
smoothing the inside of the tooth. Step three involves
filling the tooth with an inert material. Finally, an
artificial crown is placed on top of the tooth. |
|
Root Planing |
The procedure of scraping
plaque off of teeth below the gum line or on the root of the
tooth. |
|
Sealants |
A substance applied to the
biting surface of teeth to protect the teeth from decay. |
|
Splints |
Used with an otherwise healthy
tooth has become loose due to advanced periodontal disease.
The loose tooth is wired to surrounding solid teeth and a
composite is added on top to hold the wire in place. |
|
Topical Anesthesia |
A class of
Anesthesia substance applied
directly to the gums or mouth tissue to provide pain relief
on the immediate surface of the tissue. Lidocain and
Benzocaine are the two most widely used. Dentists often
apply topical anesthesia to reduce the pain associated with
needle pricks required for the application of a local
anesthesia or to reduce pain and discomfort of mild
infections or irritations on the gum or in the mouth. |
| TMJ/TMD |
Temporalmandibular Joint (TMJ)
/Temporomandibular disorder (TMD). The temporalmandibular
joint is a complicated joint formed where the lower jaw bone
attaches to the head. TMD refers to general class of
disorder affecting the bones and muscles of this region.
Symptoms range from tenderness and swelling to headaches and
neck and back aches. Generally, a clicking or popping sound
when the jaw is opened or closed is evidence or some form of
one of the disorders. |
|
Trench Mouth |
Same as Vincent's Infection and
Necrotizing Ulcerative Gingivitis (NUG). An acute and
painful infection of the gums not contagious with a odor and
painful bleeding of the mouth and gums. |
| X-Rays |
High frequency light (or
radiation) which pentrate different substances with
different rates and absorption. By using film on the
opposite side of the substance, different level of exposure
are recorded corresponding to each of the different
substances to form a picture. In dentistry, there are
typically 4 types of X-rays: Periapical, Bite-wing,
Occlusal, Panoramic. |
