Dental Glossary/Terms

abscess: a local infection resulting in the collection of pus under pressure. A dental abscess may be caused by severe decay, trauma, or gum disease, and is characterized by swelling and pain. If an abscess ruptures, it will be accompanied by sudden relief from pain and a foul taste in the mouth.

amalgam: a commonly used silver-colored filling made of a mix of silver, tin, mercury, and some other trace elements like copper. Some people fear that they may be harmful because of the mercury inside them. In reality, a very small number of people are allergic to them, but studies performed over the last century have failed to link the mercury to heath problems. If you are concerned, we can replace them with white cosmetic fillings.

anaerobic bacteria: bacteria that do not need oxygen to grow.

bleaching: using a peroxide-based agent to whiten your teeth. Safe for your teeth when a thoroughly tested agent is used. Usually done at home using custom-made bleaching trays provided by the dentist. The process usually takes 2 – 3 weeks, but can be quicker when combined with in-office, dentist-applied power bleaching.

bonding: using white filling materials to fill teeth or alter their shaped and/or appearance. This is also the material that holds porcelain veneers on your teeth.

bridge: tooth replacements that are permanently attached to adjacent teeth. Missing teeth are ideally replaced to prevent the adjacent teeth from shifting. Shifting can cause impaired chewing, more stresses on other teeth and the jaw joint, and increased plaque build up resulting in gum disease.

bruxism: the rubbing or grinding of teeth usually during sleep.

cavity: a hole in the tooth due to decalcification of the enamel and disintegration of the dentin by acid-producing bacteria.

calculus: hardened plaque otherwise known as tarter.

caries: the medical term for dental decay.

cementum: outer surface of a tooth's roots.

composite: a tooth colored resin filling materials. Main advantages are its color and ability to strengthen weekend teeth.

crowns: crowns are used to cover teeth that have been weakened by decay around fillings or that are severely damaged, decayed, chipped, discolored, or misaligned. Crowns may also be required after a root canal or when a tooth cracks or breaks. Crowns are either metal, metal covered with porcelain, or porcelain. Crowns can last from five to twenty years or so, depending on the material used and the care you give your teeth.

cusps: the peaks on the chewing surface of the back teeth.

dentin: hard tissue under the enamel and cementum of the tooth.

dentures: a set of artificial teeth set into plastic bases that rest on your gums.

enamel: the hard shiny outer surface of the tooth.

extraction: the removal of teeth that are severely decayed, broken, lose, or causing crowding.

fistula: an abnormal passage formed in the gum tissue through which an abscessed tooth can drain.

gingiva: the soft tissue surrounding the tooth.

gingivitis: inflamed and swollen gum tissue most commonly caused by plaque. If left untreated, may lead to periodontitis.

gingivectomy: the removal of the soft tissue surrounding the tooth. Typically used in treatment of periodontal disease and cosmetic dentistry.

gum disease: disease of your gums caused by build up of plaque on your teeth that remains in contact with your gums. The plaque causes a reaction in your gums that in its early stages is called Gingivitis. It is characterized by gums that bleed easily when touched or flossed. Most people have some degree of gingivitis. Gingivitis, if left unchecked, leads to a more severe disease called Periodontitis.

impacted tooth: a tooth that is either partially emerged or submerged under the gum tissue because it is blocked from fully emerging by an adjacent tooth.

implant: titanium posts that are surgically placed in your jawbone to replace a lost tooth or teeth. A crown, bridge, or bar and denture can be fixed to implants.

inlay: a gold, porcelain, or composite custom-made filling cemented into the tooth. If it covers the tips of the teeth or otherwise supports the tips, it is called an onlay.

laminate veneer: a porcelain or composite covering used to restore discolored or damaged teeth.

mandible: the lower jaw.

maxillae: the upper jaw.

night guard: a plastic mouthpiece used to prevent damage caused from bruxism.

neoplasm: a proliferation of cells that is progressive, purposeless, and interferes with the surrounding tissue.

periodontitis: a condition in which the connection between the teeth, gums, and jawbone is broken down. This results in bad breath, loosening of the gums from the teeth, and eventually loosening of the teeth in the jawbone. Ironically, this condition is easily prevented by regular dental check ups and cleanings!

plaque: a film of material consisting of food particles, bacteria, mold, and dead cells. porcelain laminate veneer: a thin porcelain shell bonded to the tooth to correct imperfections in shape and color.

prophy: simple cleaning of teeth with rubber wheel and dental toothpaste.

pulp: the center of the tooth consisting of vessels and nerve tissues.

retainer: typically a removable appliance designed to hold teeth in a given position.

root canal: a procedure used to save an abscessed tooth by removing the dental pulp (nerve) after the tooth is dead or has had the pulp exposed due to cavities or fractures. After the pulp is removed and any infection has been resolved, the hollow area left behind after the nerve is removed is filled in with a rubber-like material called gutta-percha. Before the days of root canals, most damaged teeth needed to be replaced.

root planing: the removal of hard deposits, with metal scalers, on the root surface and smoothing the root surface to allow for reattachment of the gums to the tooth and ultimately pocket reduction.

scaling: scraping of the tooth above the gums.

sealant: plastic coating applied to grooves of teeth to prevent decay.

suture: stitches.

TMJ: temporomandibular joint (disorder). Pain upon chewing or moving your jaw. Can be caused by problems with your jaw muscles, jaw ligaments, or the jaw joint itself. Symptoms include headaches, tenderness of the jaw muscles, pain in or around the ear that often radiates to the face, jaw joint sounds when opening or closing your mouth, difficulty in chewing, dizziness, and jaws that get stuck or locked open. Usual treatment is an appliance that prevents further damage to your jaw joint and repositions the mandible in a more comfortable position.