HOSA Dental Terminology

Toward midline

Toward midline

Mesial

Away from midline

Distal

Towards lips

Labial

Towards cheek

Buccal

Towards roof of mouth

Palatal

Ridge of molars

Occlusal

Ridge of incisors

Incisal

The top jaw

Maxillary arch

The bottom jaw

Mandibular arch

Rounded borders of enamel that form the mesial and distal margins of the occlusal surfaces of posterior teeth and the mesial and distal margins of the lingual surfaces of the anterior teeth

Marginal Ridges

A ridge that descends from the tips of the cusps of molars and premolars towards the center part of the occlusal surface

Triangular Ridge

Formed by the union of buccal and lingual triangular ridges

Transverse Ridge

A ridge obliquely crossing the occlusal surfaces of maxillary molars

Oblique Ridge

A dentist who specializes in the diagnoses and treatment of dental pulp diseases

Endodontist

A dentist who specializes in the treatment of the entire facial structure due to injury or disease

Oral and Maxillofacial surgeon

A dentist who specializes in examining tissue samples to provide proper diagnosis and treatment of biopsy results

Oral pathologist

A dentist who corects malocclusions by realignment of the teeth and/or joints

Orthodontist

A dentist who specializes in the treatment of the surrounding structures that support the teeth due to injury or disease

Periodontist

A dentist who specializes in the fabrication of prosthetic dental devices for tooth replacement

Prosthodontist

Provides dental health care on county, state, and national levels by providing education and demonstration of proper oral hygiene instruction to elementary schools, high schools, businesses and the general population

Public Health Dental Official

Withdrawing care from a patient without reasonable notice or without providing a referral for completion of dental treatment

Abandonment

Non criminal legal action that a patient may pursue against a dentist that may result in a compensation lawsuit for pain, suffering, and loss of wages resulting from dental treatment or dentist's action

Civil Law

Involves a state of govt. action against indivs. who perform nonlegal procedures or violate laws. Such lawsuits can result in disciplinary action, fines, and/or imprisonment

Criminal Law

The governing laws in the science of dentistry

Dental Jurisprudence

Legal restrictions set forth by each state legislative body that describe the statutes regarding performance guidelines for licensed and nonlicensed dental health care professionals

Dental Practice Act

The actions any reasonable or prudent dental care professional would perform under similar circumstances

Due Care

Adv. task that requires increased skill and training performed by a dental auxiliary when delegated by a dentist in accordance with that governing state dental practice data

Expanded function

Verbal or written words that are agreed on in an established contract

Express Contract

An act passed by Congress to address the security and privacy of health data

HIPAA

A contract that is implemented by the patient's actions, not verbally or written in implied consent

Implied Contract

The procedure of fully informing a patient about the choices the patient has regarding his/her dental care

Informed Consent

Occurs when the patient refuses treatment after he/she has been fully educated regarding the consequences of not receiving the treament

Informed Refusal

Incorrect or negligent treatment by professional

Malpractice

Failure to use a standard of care that a reasonable person would apply under related situations

Negligence

Allows an individual to transfer licensure with the same rights from one state to another without having to retake licensure exams

Reciprocity

Statements made at the time of an alleged negligent act that are admissible in court as evidence

Res Gestae

Res ipsa loquitur

the act speaks for itself

Respondeat superior

the master answers

Actions implemented to minimize legal rights to the dental practice

Risk Management

Intentional or unintentional act that causes harm

Tort

A written doc signed by the patient that provides consent to receive treatment

Written consent

Forehead

Frontal

Top back of head

Parietal

Side of head by eyes

Temporal

Bottom back of head

Occipital

Ear Area

Mastoid

Face

Facial

Mouth

Oral

Nose

Nasal

Eyes

Orbital

Chin

Mental

Cheekbone

Zygomatic

Cheek

Buccal

The part of the mandible and the maxilla that contain tooth sockets

Alveolar process

to join together

Articulate

Grinding of teeth

Bruxism

Bone that is more spongy or porous than dense bone

Cancellous bone

A crackling/grinding sound

Crepitus

Openings in bone allowing for passage of nerve and blood vessels

Foramina

A shallow depression within the temporal bone

Glenoid fossa

The movable end of a muscle

Insertion

The bone of the lower jaw

Mandible

The principle muscle of mastication that closes the mouth

Masseter

The act of chewing

Mastication

Two bones that form the upper jaw

Maxilla

A rounded prominence of bone located posterior to the maxillary molars

Maxillary Tuberosity

Muscle of the chin that protrudes the lower lip and wrinkles the skin

Mentalis

The fixed attachment of a muscle

Origin

A stone in the salivary duct

Sialolith

An immovable line of union between two bones

Suture

The encapsulated synovial joint between the temporal bone of the skull and the condyle of the mandible

Temporomandibular joint

Dryness of the mouth caused by an abnormal reduction in salivary secretion

Xerostomia

Pertaining to the cheekbone

Zygomatic

Winged flare of a nostil

Ala

The corners of the mouth

Commissures

A long fold of tissue along the buccal mucosa next to where the teeth come together

Linea Alba

The roof of the mouth

Palate

The passage for your air and food

Pharynx

A vertical groove between the nose and the upper lip

Philtrum

The prominence of fleshy tissue anterior to the ear opening

Tragus

A fold of mucous membrane attached to the back of the soft palate

Uvula

Transitional area between the skin of the face and the mucous membrane of the lip

Vermillion border

The highest peak in the alveolar process

Alveolar crest

The opening within the alveolar bone that houses the roots of the teeth

Alveolar socket

Enamel-forming cells

Ameloblasts

The portion of the tooth that is covered with enamel

Anatomical crown

Peaked tip at the end of each root

Apex

Opening in the apex of each root

Apical foramen

Cementum-forming cells

Cementoblasts

The portion of the crown that is visible in the oral cavity

Clinical crown

Growth of the oral epithelium that will eventually form teeth

Dental lamina

Tissue from the mesoderm layer that will form the dentin and the pulp

Dental papilla

Capsule that contains the developing tooth; it will also form the cementum, periodontal ligament, and some alveolar bone

Dental sac

Tissue that makes up the bulk of the tooth; it is covered by the cementum on the root and enamel on the crown

Dentin

Microscopic canals running through the dentin

Dentinal tubules

The study of how a human being develops through 2 stages before birth

Embryology

Tissue arising from the ectoderm layer that will from the enamel

Enamel organ

The study of the composition and function of tissues

Histology

Compact bone that lines the socket of the alveolar process

Lamina dura

A thin delicate tissue that covers the inside of the cheeks, vestibule, soft palate, undersurface of the tongue and floor of the mouth

Lining mucosa