Perspectives in Dentistry: Operative, Prosthodontics, and Beyond

Flashcards covering terminology from operative dentistry, prosthodontics, pediatric dentistry, orthodontics, endodontics, and periodontics based on the dental lecture transcript.

Operative dentistry

The art and science of diagnosing, treating, and preventing defects in the teeth that do not require full coverage to restore, focusing on preserving natural tooth structure.

Dental Caries

A chronic, biofilm-mediated disease resulting in the localized destruction of tooth hard tissues such as enamel, dentin, and cementum.

Streptococcus mutans

The primary bacterial initiator of dental caries, capable of adhering to teeth and producing large amounts of acid.

Keyes-Jordan Diagram

A traditional representation illustrating that decay occurs only when four factors overlap: Host, Agent, Substrate, and Time.

Xerostomia

Dry mouth often caused by medications, radiation, or aging, which significantly increases caries risk due to lack of saliva for buffering and remineralization.

Biofilm Dysbiosis

An ecological imbalance where sugary diets cause acid-producing bacteria to overgrow and crowd out healthy bacteria.

Greene Vardiman Black

Widely revered as the "Father of Operative Dentistry" who standardized cavity preparation, materials, and terminology.

Class II (G.V. Black)

Carious lesions located on the proximal surfaces of posterior teeth.

Class IV (G.V. Black)

Carious lesions on the proximal surfaces of anterior teeth involving the incisal edge.

ICDAS Code 0

A sound tooth surface with no evidence of caries after $5\,seconds$ of air drying.

ICDAS Code 4

An underlying dark shadow from dentin (often grey, blue, or brown) indicating a moderate stage of caries.

Mouth Mirrors

Searching and diagnostic instruments used for indirect vision, light reflection, and tissue retraction.

Gingival Margin Trimmers (GMTs)

Hand cutting instruments used specifically for placing gingival bevels.

Spoon Excavators

Hand cutting instruments used for the manual removal of soft, carious dentin.

High-Speed Handpieces

Instruments that spin burs at $250,000$ to $450,000\,RPM$, utilizing air-turbine technology and water-spray coolant.

Inverted Cone (Bur Shape 010)

A bur primarily used for creating undercuts and flattening the floor of a preparation for mechanical retention.

Tungsten Carbide Burs

Burs that cut by slicing with blades, known for high durability and staying sharp, primarily used for cavity and amalgam prep.

Composite Resins

A direct tooth-colored restorative material made of a plastic resin matrix and glass filler particles that bonds directly to the tooth.

Dental Amalgam

A durable direct restorative material made of a mixture of mercury, silver, tin, and copper.

Glass Ionomer Cement (GIC)

An acid-base material that releases fluoride to help prevent future decay, typically used for low-stress areas.

Prosthodontics

A specialized branch of dentistry focused on diagnosing and rehabilitating patients with missing or damaged teeth using biocompatible substitutes.

Bridge

A fixed appliance used to replace one or more missing teeth by anchoring to the natural teeth (abutments) on either side of the gap.

Abutment

The natural tooth, root, or implant that supports and anchors a fixed or removable prosthesis.

Pontic

The artificial tooth that replaces a missing natural tooth in a bridge.

Edentulous

A term used to describe a dental arch without any teeth.

Centric Relation

The most retruded, unstrained position of the mandible (lower jaw) relative to the maxilla (upper jaw).

Retention

The ability of a restoration to resist being pulled vertically off the tooth.

Stability

The quality of a prosthesis to resist being moved by horizontal or rotational forces during function.

Zirconia

A ceramic material favored for posterior bridges and crowns due to its high strength and fracture resistance.

Vinyl Polysiloxane (VPS)

The most common final impression material used because of its high accuracy and dimensional stability.

Zinc Oxide Eugenol (ZOE)

A cement with a sedative (soothing) effect on the tooth pulp, often used for temporary crowns.

Alginate (Irreversible Hydrocolloid)

The most common material used for preliminary impressions; it is inexpensive but lacks dimensional stability for final crown work.

Frankl Rating 1 (--,--)

Categorized as "Definitely Negative," characterized by refusal of treatment, forceful crying, and extreme fear.

Tell-Show-Do (TSD)

A basic behavior guidance technique where the dentist explains a procedure, shows the instruments in a non-threatening way, and then performs the task.

Pulsepulpotomy

Often called a "Baby Root Canal," this involves treating infected pulp in a primary tooth to save it until it falls out naturally.

Age 7 Rule

The recommendation by the American Association of Orthodontists to have a child's first orthodontic evaluation by age 7.

Malocclusion

A misalignment of the teeth or an incorrect relationship between the upper and lower dental arches when the mouth is closed.

Class 2 Malocclusion

Also known as Overbite or Retrognathism, occurring when upper teeth and jaw severely overlap the lower jaw.

Diastema

A specific type of spacing characterized by a gap between the two front teeth.

Irreversible Pulpitis

Severe pulp inflammation characterized by lingering sensitivity to heat or cold for more than $30\,seconds$ and spontaneous pain.

Apicoectomy

A surgical endodontic procedure where the tip (apex) of the root is removed and sealed with a small filling.

MB2 canal

A commonly missed extra canal in upper molars that can lead to endodontic failure if left untreated.

Periodontology

The dental specialty focused on supporting structures including the gums, jawbone, and connective ligaments.

Calculus

Dental plaque that has mineralized (hardened) due to calcium and phosphate in saliva, requiring professional scaling for removal.

Scaling and Root Planing (SRP)

A deep cleaning procedure that removes tartar from under the gumline and smooths root surfaces.

Universal Numbering System

The standard system in the U.S. where permanent teeth are numbered $1$ to $32$ and primary teeth are lettered $A$ to $T$.

FDI World Dental Federation Notation

A two-digit tooth numbering system where the first digit represents the quadrant and the second represents the tooth position from the midline.