Dofka Dental Terminology Chapter 4

Prosthodontist

Replaces missing teeth with artificial appliances such as dental crowns, full mouth dentures, or partial bridgework

Periodontist

treats diseases of periodontal (Gingiva and supporting) tissues.

Orthodontist

corrects malocclusion and improper jaw alignment

Pediatric dentist

performs dental procedures for the child patient, also called pedodontist

endodontist

treats the diseased pulp and periradicular structures

Oral and Maxillofacial surgeon

performs surgical treatment of the teeth, jaws, and related areas

Forensic dentist

discovers and uses pathological evidence for legal proceedings

American Dental Association (ADA)

official organization of dentists and dental specialists

Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH)

completes postsecondary education in dental hygiene instruction; concerned with the prevention of dental disease, specializing in the cleaning, polishing, and radiographing of teeth, periodontal treatment, fluoride and sealant application, and patient education

ADHP

Advanced Dental Hygiene Practitioner or dental therapist

Dental assistant

aids the dentist in diagnosis, treatment, dental care, and general duties.

RDA

state registered dental assistant

CDA

nationally certified dental assistant

Dental Assisting National Board (DANB)

National agency responsible for administering the certification examination and issuing the credential of certified dental assistant

CDA and COA

Certified dental assistant and certified orthodontic assistant

American Dental Assistants Association (ADAA)

Professional organization that represents the profession of dental assisting on a national level

Dental Laboratory Technician

performs dental lab procedures under written orders from a licensed dentist

CDT

Certified Dental Technician

NADL

national association of dental laboratories

Denturist

independently specializes in the construction of dentures and may practice only in those states that recognize, license, and permit this profession

Solo

dental practice owned and operated by a single dentist or practice

Partnership

Dental practice owned and operated equally by two or more dentists

Group

dental practice employing a multitude of dentists

Clinics and Hospitals

a clinic setting or hospital care center that offers dentistry services.

specialty practice

various specialists work in private offices or facilities concerned with their training.

Miscellaneous Practice Sites

includes research, insurance companies, education, publication, specialty houses, employment and recruiting agencies, charity clinics, and other areas.

Shaft or handle

used to grasp the instrument; supplied in various weight, diameters, and surfaces that may be smooth, padded(tactile), grooved or serrated; may be rounded or octagonal-shaped plastic or metal with manufacturer's name and/or formula code etched on one side.

Shank

Connects the handle to the working end

Working end

also called blade or nib; rounded end is the toe; the pointed end is the tip, which may be beveled, curved, scooped, or spoon shaped and present on both ends

Armamentarium

A setup of instruments most typically a mouth mirror, explorer, periodontal probe, cotton forceps, and a piece of 2x2 gauze.

Mouth mirror

used for reflection, retraction, and visual observation

explorer

a sharp, flexible, pointed instrument used to detect caries and marks; and to pick up cotton points or materials.

Cotton forceps

A tweezer-like instrument used to transport small items to and from the mouth

Periodontal probe

a longer pointed instrument with measured marks on the tip; used to asses depths of tissue pockets; available with a round or flat blade and may be color-coded to help determine measurements.

expro

double-ended instrument with a diagnosing probe tip at one end and an explorer tip at the other end

scaler

thin-bladed hand instrument with pointed tip and two cutting edges; used to scale or (scrape off) supragingival hard deposits from teeth; designed for quadrant use.

sickle scaler

sharp blade in the shape of a sickle; used to remove calculus from tooth surfaces

scallette

hygiene instrument combining a scaler on one tip and a curette on the other tip to save time and tray space during treatment

curette

rounded-tipped thin blade with a longer neck and two cutting edges; designed for specific tooth area and used to remove subgingival deposits.

implant scaler/curette

nonmetallic, resin-tipped instrument, designed to remove deposits around titanium implant abutments

periodontal file

hand instrument with rough edge or teeth working surface; used to smooth in root planning.

Periodontal knife

hand instrument with flat-bladed incision tip of various shapes and angles; used to remove or re contour soft tissue.

Scalpel

handle for attachment of blades of assorted sizes and shapes; used to incise (cut into) or remove tissue; also used in specialized dental procedures.

excavator

hand instrument with long-necked, cup-like, sharp-edged blades; used to remove soft decayed tissue from preparations; also may be called spoon excavators.

gingival margin trimmer

hand instrument with long, slender, curved, flat blade; used to break away enamel margins during tooth preparations and smooth or refine the cavity preparation.

hoe

smaller bladed instrument resembling a farm hoe; used to break or pull away enamel tissue during preparations

hatchet

hand instrument with a sharp-edged hatchet-like tip; used to remove hard tissue.

chisel

Hand instrument with cutting edge that is used to cut away enamel tissue. Chisels have straight shafts, or a curved shaft, such as the Wedelstaedt chisel, or may have an extra angled shaft, such as the biangle chisels

Cleoid/ Discoid

double-ended, long-necked, carving instrument with a pointed tip on one end (cleoid) and a disc- shaped blade on the other end (discoid); used to carve anatomy features in newly placed restorations or can be used to remove decay adn tooth tissue during cavity preparations

carver

thin-bladed hand instrument used to remove decay or carve newly placed restorative material; blade faces come in various shapes.

Plastic Filling Instrument (PFI)

hand instrument with a flat blade; used to carry, transfer, and pack materials, or to restorative material while it is still in a move able or plastic storage.

condenser

Hand instrument with a thick, rounded or oval shaped, flat head that is sometimes serrated. It is used to pack or condense restorative material into the cavity Preparation

burnisher

hand instrument with a smooth, rounded head that comes in various shapes; used to smooth out restorative material or other metal surfaces, such as a matrix strip

amalgam carrier

hand instrument with a holding cylinder for the transfer of amalgam material while in a plastic form; it has a spring level pusher to expel the material into the preparation. Is supplied in assorted sizes from 1.5 to 3.2 mm with various cylinder materials on the end tips. They are color coded for size (red=jumbo, yellow=large, and white=medium)

matrix holder, matrix strip, and wedge

holder device used to maintain artificial wall (matrix strip) around the tooth preparation

loupes

though are not considered an instrument, eye loupes are glasses used for magnification, precision, and identification purposes, and are required in many procedures; may have light sources and a splash side

High Volume Evacuator (HVE)

curved metal or resin, beveled tip with a large hole, inserted into a high evacuation tube system handle with off/on and intensity controls; used for gross removal of fluids and debris from the mouth

saliva ejector tip

smaller suction tip that is inserted into the evacuation tubing from the dental unit; used for a steady, constant fluid removal from the oral cavity.

cuspidor

Funnel shaped evacuation system (for spit)

Contra-angle Handpiece (CAHP)

handpiece with an obtuse angled head (more than 90 degrees). A CAHP is inserted into the power unit's straight handpiece and is used to gain access to posterior teeth and difficult areas.

Right-angle Handpiece (RAHP)

handpiece with the head at a 90-degree angle; is inserted and connects into the power unit's handpiece; employed in general use throughout the oral cavity.

prophy angle handpiece (PHP)

small prophylaxis handpiece rotary angle with a 90 degree head; has a limited opening in the working end for polishing cups or brush placement; used to polish teeth; some are disposable and some are battery powered with swivel heads and optic light sources

fiber-optic handpiece

specific slow or high-speed handpiece that supplies a light source to the operative site for improved vision

rheostat

Foot pedal on a dental hand piece that controls hand piece speed

air abrasion

Air-powered handpiece delivering abrasive aluminum oxide powder or sodium bicarbonate under force to clean or prepare tooth surfaces or remove some carious tissue

ultrasonic handpiece

high speed vibration scaling tips used for scaling and curettage purposes; sometimes called ultrasonic scaler

curing light handpiece

hand-held device that focuses a light beam to cure or "set" specified materials

intraoral camera

handpiece with a small camera situated in the head; used to transmit various views of the oral setting

electrosurgery handpiece

combination of assorted metal tips that fit into a probe handle; these tips pass electrical currents that incise and coagulate the blood in a surgical procedure

laser handpiece

photon handpiece that emits a precise light energy wavelength that is concentrated to perform specialized tasks; various wavelengths are utilized for a specific target or procedure, such as tooth whitening, caries removal, or surgical gingivectomy

caries detection scanner

a noninvasive laser scan that detects early decay in occlusal areas

implant drilling unit

lighted, digitally controlled drilling handpiece with sterile irrigation that is used to smooth alveolar bone, drill operative sites, and install implants

shank

the end of the bur that is inserted into the handpiece

neck

connecting area between the shank and the working end or head of the bur

working end or head (bur)

end that cuts tissue or works on the tooth or material involved

dentated burs

burs that have extra teeth in a crosscut pattern

truncated burs

shortened burs

friction-grip bur (FG)

smooth ended bur, held in the handpiece by the friction grip chuck inside the handpiece head

latch-type bur (RA)

has grooved insertion bur end that hooks and locks into the head of a latch type handpiece

Straight Handpiece (HP)

has a smooth, extended shaft the fits directly into the straight handpiece, available in mini, regular, or surgical lengths.

Mandrel

a slim, metal holding device that fits into slow hand pieces and is used to smooth and cut.

stone, wheel, and discs

abrasive or chemically treated discs, wheels, cups, and points with various shapes that can be permanently mounted or glued on a shaft or placed on discs or mandrels; used for smoothing ay chairside or in the lab

diamond rotary instruments

pulverized industrial diamonds glued on a shaft or disc and commonly called BURS or POINTS.

bur block

a tray device used to hold the small rotary instruments during use at the chair and while being sterilized

operatory

small treatment room equipped with dental appliances

dental chair

chair appliance, usually electric powered, that raises, lowers, and tilts to provide easy access and proper vision; may be a lounge or upright chair style. Most use foot pedal controls to eliminate contamination.

operatory light

viewing light for patient care; may be wall mounted, on a floor stand, lowered from the ceiling, or attached to the chair unit; the light may be dimmed or the beam calibrated for specific vision needs; some lights are activated by motion sensor devices, eliminating touching and contamination

stools

movable seats for the dental personnel; they have height adjustments and back rests; some have torso rests extending in front for forward leaning support

dental unit

upright, stationary, or movable table-style working appliance that provides hand piece power, aspiration, water, and air.

cabinets

mobile, floor, or wall-mounted storage cabinets with drawer space for supplies and equipment

radiographic units

various configurations; a dental practice may have a radiographic control unit in a central area with the X-ray head or power source in each opertory area; other facilities have head and control units in the operatory room or may use a separate radiographic area for panoramic, cephalometric, or 3D exposures

diagnostic or auxiliary units

include perio-pocket detectors, newly developed electronic diagnostic devices used to assist with a patient survey