Tooth Restorations

Carious lesion

Decayed area of a tooth

Esthetic

Pertaining to beauty

Isolation

To separate or detach from others

Barrier

Obstacle or impediment used to protect against infection or irritation

Ligature

Banding or tying off

Class I

Pits and fissures

Class II

Interproximal surfaces of posterior teeth

Class III

Interproximal surfaces of anterior teeth

Class IV

Interproximal surfaces of anterior teeth including the incisal edge

Class V

Smooth surfaces

Class VI

Decay or abrasion of chewing, incisal, or occlusal surfaces

Invert

To turn inward or reverse

Stabilize

Condition of fixing, steadying, or firming

Protocol

Steps or methods to follow

Debridement

Removal of damaged tissue

Instrumentation

Use of instruments

Axial

Pertaining to the long axis of a tooth

Line angle

Area where two walls meet

Point angle

Area where three surfaces meet

Outline form

Tooth cuts used to prepare the size, shape, and placement of a restoration

Convenience form

Tooth structure removed to allow access for cavity preparation

Retention form

Undercut of walls that provides mechanical retention of restorative material

Resistance form

Preparation that allows the restored tooth to withstand trauma and pressure

Refine

To finish again

Tofflemire matrix

Retainer device with adjustable stainless steel bands placed around a tooth

Matrix

Mold or shaping device

Embrasure

Opening between adjacent teeth

Automatrix

Pre-sized cone-shaped circular band with locking ends

T-strips

Stainless steel strips shaped like a “T”

Sectional matrix (Ivory retainer)

Matrix system used mainly on posterior teeth to replace one wall

V3 system / spring clamp matrices

Matrix band carried with forceps and released to hold against the preparation

Mylar matrix strips and crown forms

Clear strips used for anterior or tooth-colored restorations

Varnish

Copal or resin gum in organic solvent used to seal cut tooth surfaces

Liner

Thin coating that provides a barrier against chemical irritation

Ionomer

Cement material

Acid etchant

Phosphoric acid solution used to prepare cavity margins for bonding

Bonding agent

Material used to unite restorative materials to tooth surfaces

Base

Thick barrier material that provides chemical and thermal protection

Cement

Thick material used as temporary or permanent restoration or luting agent

Retention pin

Metallic pin cemented into drilled tooth preparation to retain restoration

Core post

Titanium or stainless steel post cemented into pulpal canal of an endodontically treated tooth

Insulation

Protection that prevents transfer of heat, stress, or galvanic shock

Galvanic

Electrical charge produced by contact between dissimilar metals

Palliative

Relieves or alleviates pain

Tertiary

Later stage

Protective

Shielding; may serve as a temporary restoration

Luting

Holding together or retaining items in union

Cementation

Bonding or uniting two or more items

Laminate / Laminated

Thin plate or layer applied to a tooth surface

Manipulation

Preparation, handling, and use of materials

Homogeneous

Same or alike; uniform mixture

Trituration

Mechanical blending or mixing of materials

Amalgamation

Mechanical blending of mercury and alloy

Amalgamator

Device used to mix alloy and mercury

Mulling

Further blending of amalgam while in plastic form

Pestle

Rod removed from capsule used in mixing

Dissipate

To scatter or spread out

Exothermic

Giving off heat

Polymerization

Chemical process that hardens a material

Bonding

Uniting through microscopic cementation

Etchants

Materials used to prepare a tooth surface for bonding

Amalgam

Soft alloy mass containing mercury

Spherical

In the form of a sphere

Solubility

Capability of being dissolved

Viscosity

Thickness or stickiness of a material

Adhesive

Sticky or adhering substance

Composite

Resin material used in dental restorations

Macrofilled

Composite with large particles

Microfilled

Composite with small particles

Hybrid

Composite with mixed particle sizes

Gold foil

Sheets of gold material

Annealed

Heat-treated to purify or soften

Veneer

Thin tooth-shaped layer bonded or cemented to the facial surface

Increment

Increase or addition

Condensation

Packing restorative material into a preparation

Carving

Shaping condensed material to resemble natural tooth anatomy

Burnish

To smooth or rub restoration margins

Articulating paper

Colored paper used to test bite contact

HVE (High Velocity Evacuation)

Fluid removal system used to maintain a dry operating field