HOSA Dental Terminology

energy

capacity for doing work

neglect

lack of due care under normal circumstances

fluid

a liquid or gaseous substance

denture

an artificial substitute for missing natural teeth

mallet

a hammer instrument

electron

a negatively charged particle

agent

person or product that causes action

irritant

an agent that causes an irritation or stimulation

wound

injury to the body of a person, especially by violence

tension

state of being stretched or extended

inventory

an itemized compilation of materials on hand

dosage

the amount of a medicine administered

bandage

a strip of material applied to any body part

molar

a tooth adapted for grinding

suture

to sew a wound

abrade

to wear away by friction

bridge

colloquial expression for a fixed partial denture

palate

bone and soft tissue closing the space encompassed by the upper alveolar arch

stable

bone and soft tissue closing the space encompassedby the upper alveolar arch

vein

a blood vessel that conducts blood to the heart

orifice

entrance or outlet of any body cavity

fracture

a break or rupture of a part

alcohol

a liquid organic compound

infection

invasion of the body tissues by disease- producing microorganisms and the reaction of these tissues to invasion

crevice

a narrow opening due to a fissure or crack

exhalation

expiration, breathing out

intubation

insertion of a tube

positioner

removable elastic orthodontic appliance

system

set of organs or parts that have common function

principal

highest in rank; the source of authority

retraction

laying back of tissues to expose a given part

median

pertaining to the middle

insoluble

not susceptible to being dissolved

cuticle

the outer layer of the skin

anatomy

the science of the form, structure, and parts of animal organisms

heredity

passage of characteristics from one generation to its progency; genetic

examination

inpection; search; investigation of testing

mulling

final step of mixing dental amalgam

palpation

act of feeling with the hand or fingers

infusion

therapeutic introduction of a fluid into a vein

distention

a state of dilation

leverage

mechanical use of a lever

penetration

ability of radiation to extend down into and go through substances

activate

to adjust an appliance so that it will exert effective force on the teeth and jaws

malposed

in an abnormal position

radiation

process of radiant energy emission

current

a measure of the number of electrons per second that pass a given point on a conductor

broach

an instrument used to engage dental pulp for extirpation

canine

one of the four pointed teeth in humans; cuspids

adhesion

condition in which a material sticks to itself or another material

germicide

substance capable of killing a wide variety of microorganisms

ostectomy

excision of all or part of a bone

respirator

a device for giving artificial respiration

foramen

a natural opening in a bone or structure

articulate

to place in a connected sequence

ligate

to bind or tie with a suture

addiction

the state of being addicted

allergy

a hypersensitivity reaction of the body to an allergen

mortality

death rate

linkage

connection between two or more objects

inspirator

a form of inhaler or respirator

duct

a small passage

palsy

synonym for paralysis; e.g., cerebral palsy

sedation

the act or process of calming

temperature

the degree of sensible heat or cold

Cassette

A lightweight container in which x-ray films are placed for exposure to radiation

Stimulant

Agent that causes increased activity

Lingual

Pertaining to the tongue

Biteplane

A removable appliance that covers the occlusal surface of the teeth to prevent twit articulation

fabrication

construction; making a restoration

gangrene

death of tissue en masse

incisal

relating to the cutting edge of the anterior teeth, incisors or canines

porosity

(po-ros' i-te)

presence of pores with a structure

template

a pattern or mold

phobia

a specific hysterical fear

dilation

the act of stretching or dilating

astringent

an agent that limits the secretions of glands

humectant

substance that prevents moisture loss

operatory

the room in which the dentist performs professional services

prescription

(pre-skrip'shun)

treatment plan or medical recipe

minim

an apothecary unit of volume

embrasure

space between the curved proximal surfaces of teeth

hemisection

complete sectioning through the crown of a tooth

silica

quartz; used to make up dental porcelain

ejector

a device used to remove debris and fluids; an aspirator

extrusion

movement of teeth beyond the natural coronal plane

lipoma

a benign fatty tumor

refractory

pertaining to the ability to withstand high temperatures used in certain dental laboratory procedures

stomatitis

inflammation of oral soft tissues

deviation

turning from a regular course

emulsion

a colloidal dispersion of one liquid in another

microorganism

minute living organisms

sensory

pertaining to sensation

surfactant

a surface-active agent

vasomotor

causing expansion or contraction of blood vessel walls

necrosis

death of a cell or group of cells

function

the normal or special action of a part

flexion

bending of a joint; opposite of extension

cathode

a negative electrode from which electrons are emitted

hemostasis

(he"mo-sta'sis)

the arrest of an escape of blood