Glossary of dental terminology

Abrasion

Tooth wear caused by forces other than chewing such as holding objects between the teeth or improper brushing

Abutment

A tooth (or implant) that supports a dental prosthesis

Local Anesthesia

The loss of pain sensation over a specific area of the anatomy without loss of consciousness

Apicoectomy

Removal of the tip of a tooth root

Arch

Term used to refer to the arrangement of teeth on upper and lower jaws, that together constitute the dentition

Apex

The tip of the root of a tooth

Allergy

Unfavorable systemic response to a foreign substance or drug

Alveolar Bone

The jaw bone that anchors the roots of teeth

Amalgam

A most common filling material, containing mercury, silver, tin, copper, and zinc

Analgesia

A state of pain relief or an agent that lessens pain

Bicuspid

A premolar tooth, a tooth with two cusps

Bilateral

Occurring on, or pertaining to, both right and left sides

Bite

Relationship of the upper and lower teeth on closure (occlusion)

Bruxism

Grinding or gnashing of teeth, most commonly while the patient is asleep

Biopsy

Process of removing tissue for histologic evaluation

Bleaching

A cosmetic dental procedure that whitens the teeth using a bleaching solution

Bonding

It refers to how a filling, orthodontic appliance, or some fixed partial dentures are attached to teeth

Calculus

Hard deposit of mineralized material adhering to crowns and/or roots of teeth

Cavity

Decay in the tooth caused by caries; also referred to as a carious lesion

Cementum

Hard connective tissue covering the tooth root

Composite

A dental restorative material made up of separate parts

Crown

The portion of a tooth above the gum line

Crown

A dental restoration covering all or most of the natural tooth

Cusp

The pointed portion of the tooth

Caries

Commonly used term for tooth decay

Decay

Destruction of tooth structure caused by toxins produced by bacteria

Dentin

The part of the tooth that is beneath the enamel and cementum

Denture

An artificial substitute for natural teeth and adjacent tissues

Denture Base

The part of the denture that holds the artificial teeth and fits over the gum

Direct Restoration

A restoration fabricated inside the mouth

Diastema

A space between the teeth

Enamel

Hard calcified tissue covering the dentin of the crown of the tooth

Erosion

Wearing down of tooth structure, caused by chemical (acids)

Extraction

The process of removing a tooth or a tooth parts

Eyeteeth

The four upper and lower canine teeth

Excision

Surgical removal of bone or tissue

Filling

Restoring of lost tooth structure by using materials such as metal, alloys, plastic, or porcelain

Full denture

A removable dental prosthesis (appliance) that replaces all upper and lower teeth

Gingiva

Gum tissue

Gingivectomy

The surgical removal of gum tissue

Gingivitis

The inflammation of gum tissue

Graft

A piece of tissue or alloplastic material placed in contact with tissue to repair a defect or supplement a deficiency

Impacted Tooth

An unerupted or partially erupted tooth that is positioned against another tooth, bone, or soft tissue, so that complete eruption is unlikely

Implant

Material inserted or grafted into tissue

Inlay

An indirect filling made by a dental laboratory that is cemented or bonded into place

Interproximal

Between the teeth

Intraoral

Inside the mouth

Impression

A mold made of the teeth and soft tissues

Jaw

A common name for either the maxilla or the mandible

Jacket

The crown for a front tooth, usually made of porcelain used to cover all surfaces of the clinical crown