Dental Terminology by Charline Dofka-Chapter 12: Prosthodontics

prosthesis

replacement for a missing body part; can be fixed or removable

fixed appliance

prosthesis that is placed in the mouth and is not intended for removal

removable appliance

prosthesis that is placed in and out of the mouth at the patient's will

implantology

science of dental implants, involves the use of fixed and removable appliances in some instances

noble metals

valuable alloys: gold (Au), palladium (Pd), platinum (Pt); used in the construction of prostheses

base metals

chromium-cobalt or chromium nickel; used in the construction of prostheses, may be used alone or in a mixture with noble alloys

porcelain

hard, translucent ceramic ware; shells, veneer covers or facings fused to the surface of a metal crown to give the appearance of natural tooth surface

PFM

porcelain fused to metal

composite

resin material used for tooth-colored replacement

acrylic

synthetic resin material used in fabrication of appliance parts, as coverings for the metal frameworks, or as natural tissue replacement

ceramic

hard brittle material produced from non-metallic substances fired at high temperatures; supplied in block shape for milling into crown and tooth forms

titanium

corrosion-resistant, lightweight, strong bio-compatible metal used in dental implants and posts

hardness

ability of metal to withstand penetration

tensile strength

capability of a material to be stretched

ductility

ability of a material to be drawn or hammered out, as into a fine wire, without breaking

elasticity

ability of a material to be stretched and the resume its original shape

malleability

ability of a material to be pressed or hammered out into various forms and shapes

elongation

ability of a material to stretch before permanent deformation begins

inlay

solid casted or milled restoration involving some occlusal and proximal surfaces that is cemented into a tooth preparation

onlay

solid casted or milled restoration that covers some occlusal tooth cusp and side wall area that is cemented onto the prepared site

crown

fabricated, tooth-shaped cover replacement for a missing crown area that is cemented onto the remaining prepared crown surfaces

full crown

cast metal, tooth-shaped cover that replaces the entire crown area; acrylic resin crowns maybe be used as a temporary crown cover during treatment

jacket crown

thin, preformed, metal shield used to cover a large area of anterior crowns; can be gold metal covered with porcelain material to resemble tooth enamel

dowel crown

full crown cover with dowel pin extending into the root canal of a pulpless tooth, usually positioned on anterior teeth

three-quarter crown

similar to full crown, covering all of the crown except the facial surface of the tooth that remains intact, to present an esthetic, natural appearance

porcelain-fused-to-gold (PFM)

crown that has a complete capping of metal based with fused porcelain to metal, giving tooth contour, shape, and cover

direct veneer

veneer that is placed and cured directly on the tooth surface to build up the area of replace missing tooth structure

indirect veneer

tooth material is prepared in the lab and later cemented onto the tooth structure

bridge

prosthesis used to replace one or more teeth

fixed bridge

bridge that is cemented into the oral cavity and not removed by the patient; the number of teeth involved in the appliance determines the number of units

Maryland bridge

bridge that replaces anterior or posterior tooth and is cemented directly to the adjacent or abutting teeth; also called resin-bonded bridge

resin-bonded bridge

bridge that replaces anterior or posterior tooth and is cemented directly to the adjacent or abutting teeth; also called Maryland bridge

cantilever bridge

bridge with unsupported end, usually saddled

pontic

artificial tooth part of bridge that replaces the missing tooth and restores function to the bite

abutment

natural tooth or teeth that are prepared to hold or support the retaining part of the bridgework in position

adjacent teeth

may be included in units if they are involved in the bridge area

denture

removable appliance composed of artificial teeth set in and acrylic base

complete denture

full denture designed to replace the entire dentition of an upper or lower arch

partial denture

removable appliance, usually composed of framework, artificial teeth, and acrylic material; replaces one or more teeth in an arch

immediate denture

denture prosthesis that is placed into the mouth at the time the natural teeth are surgically removed

overdenture

prosthetic denture that is prepared to fit and be secured upon implant posts or prepared retained roots

framework

metal skeleton or spine onto which a removable prosthesis is constructed

saddle

part of the removable prosthesis that strides or straddles the gingival crest; used to balance the prosthesis, and serves as a base for placement of artificial teeth

rests

small extensions of removable prosthesis made to fit or sit atop the adjoining teeth; provide balance and stability for partial denture appliance; named for the area that is in contact with the tooth surface-occlusal, lingual, incisal, etc.

clasp

extension of partial framework that grasps the adjoining teeth to provide support and retention of the prosthesis

retainer

in fixed prosthesis, part of the appliance that joins with the abutting, natural tooth to support the appliance that joins with span of a bridge over the water; some are thin bars extending from quadrant to quadrant, called lingual bars or palatial bars

connector

used to connect quadrants of a partial denture or connect and support an overdenture

stress breaker

connector applied in stress-bearing areas to provide a safe area for breakage

artificial teeth

anatomical substitutes for natural teeth; made of porcelain or acrylic material in various shades and shapes, called molds

denture base

acrylic part of the denture prosthesis that substitutes for the gingival tissue

flange

projecting rim or lower edge of prosthesis

post dam

posterior edge of the maxillary denture; helps to maintain the denture and suction

elastometric

having properties similar to rubber

hydrocolloid

impression material that is both reversible and irreversible; agar-like material that can change from one form to another

reversible hydrocolloid

impression material that can change from a solid or gel state to a liquid form and back again, depending upon temperature changes

thermoplastic

quality of a material that changes from a rigid to plastic or movable form as a result of application of heat

irreversible hydrocolloid

quality that, once chemically set or in gel form, cannot be reversed or used again; water balance and stability can be affected by humidity

alginate

irreversible hydrocolloid

imbibition

swelling from absorption of water

extruder gun

twin-cartridge, calibrated mixing dispenser; used for rubber bases

basic types of rubber bases

silicone, polyether, polysulfide, polyvinylsiloxane

compound

thermoplastic and non-elastic impression material; may be used in edentulous impressions; supplied in cakes or blocks; heated to a soft, pliable mass, placed in an impression tray, put into mouth

edentulous

without teeth

alveoectomy

surgical removal of alveolar bone crests, may be required to provide smooth alveolar ridge for denture seating

alveoplasty

surgical reshaping or contouring of alveolar bone

extraction

surgical removal of teeth; if completed before the insertion of an immediate denture, a clear template may be used as a guide to prepare the alveolar surface

coping

metal cover placed over the remaining natural tooth surfaces to provide attachments for overdentures

reduction

removal of tooth decay and surfaces to receive the appliance; various margin edges are prepared on the natural tooth to accommodate the thickness and material of the covering artificial crown

chamfer

(tapered margin at tooth cervix); preparation for crown placement

shoulder

(cut gingival margin edge); preparation to provide junction of the crown and tooth

bevel

(slanted edge); tooth preparation for seating and holding a crown

core buildup

use of synthetic material to enlarge tooth core area to provide support for an artificial crown and to protect the pulpal tissues; small brass pins may be inserted into the material to aid retention and strength

post placement

addition of a metal retention post to teeth that have had pulp removal and root canal enlargement, to aid in stability and strength

undercut

removal of tooth structure near the gingival edge to provide a seat or placement for the extending edge of the appliance

retraction cord

chemically treated cord placed in the gingival sulcus to obtain chemical or physical shrinking of the gingiva, also used to control bleeding

bite registration

impression of the teeth while in occlusion; taken to assist with fabircation of the prosthesis

open bite

bite registration in which patient bites into impression material

closed bite

bite registration in which impresion material is injected and expressed around desired teeth while they are in occlusion

opposing arch

bite registration in which impressions of the occlusal surfaces of both arches are taken in the same procedure

work order

written directions from the dentist to the laboratory completing the case; the impressions, bite registration, and orders are sent together

temporary/provisional coverage

temporary protection for the prepared tooth while laboratory work is being completed; may be in form of an aluminum cap, acrylic custom cover, or preformed resin crown form cemented onto the prepared teeth for protection until the final try-in and delivery

seating

placement and fitting of appliance for try-in and final cementation; patient bites on a stick/device, applying pressure for application of the crown/prosthetic item

condylar inclination

observation of bite relationship and TMJ involvement

centric

articulation movement occuring when the condyle rests in the temporal bone during biting, resting, and mouth movements

protrusion

measurement with the mandible thrust forward, with the lower jaw out

retrusion

measurement with the mandible drawn backward

lateral excursion

measurement with side-to-side movement of the mandible

appearance indicators

notations of the smile line and the length of the cuspid point

implant

surgical insertion of implant posts/prepared frame to provide stabilization for overdentures/appliance retention

root form implant-endosseous

screw-type device that is screwed/cemented into the mandibular bone; used for a single tooth/post implant

endosseous

within the alveolar bone

plate form implant

implant used for the narrow jaw bone; flat plate style

subperiosteal

implant plate or frame placed under the periodontium and stablized on the mandibular bone; used when bone height/width is insufficient; rests on top of the bone

transosteal

implant; larger plate stabilized on the lower border of the mandibular bone with posts extending through the gingiva; used to anchor prostheses in difficult situations

osseointegration

process in which implant appliances bond with bone tissue in order to obtain stability