HOSA - Dental Terminology : Comprehensive Dental Care and Dental Specialties

Preventive Dentistry

Focus on cleanings, fluoride, sealants, and patient education. - general

Restorative Dentistry

Repair of carious or fractured teeth with fillings, crowns, bridges. - general

Operative Dentistry

Diagnosis and treatment of defects requiring restoration. - general

Dental Caries

Disease process causing demineralization and destruction of tooth structure. - general

Plaque Biofilm

Sticky bacterial layer responsible for caries and periodontal disease. - general

Alveoloplasty

Surgical reshaping of alveolar bone for prosthetics. - maxillofacial

Impacted Tooth Extraction

Removal of unerupted teeth, often third molars. - maxillofacial

Orthognathic Surgery

Corrective jaw surgery for alignment and esthetics. - maxillofacial

TMJ Surgery

Procedures to correct temporomandibular joint disorders. - maxillofacial

Bone Graft

Placement of bone material to support implants or reconstruction. - maxillofacial

Dental Bleaching

Whitening procedure using peroxide agents. - cosmetic

Porcelain Veneer

Thin ceramic shell bonded to anterior teeth. - cosmetic

Composite Bonding

Resin applied to repair chips or discoloration. - cosmetic

Smile Design

Planning esthetic improvements based on facial proportions. - cosmetic

Diastema Closure

Cosmetic procedure to close gaps between teeth. - cosmetic

Space Maintainer

Appliance preserving arch length after early tooth loss. - pediatric

Pulpotomy

Partial pulp removal in primary teeth. - pediatric

Fluoride Varnish

Concentrated topical fluoride for caries prevention. - pediatric

Pit & Fissure Sealant

Resin applied to occlusal surfaces to prevent decay. - pediatric

Behavior Management

Techniques to reduce anxiety and improve cooperation in children. - pediatric

Fixed Bridge

Prosthesis replacing missing teeth, anchored to abutments. - proshedontics

Complete Denture

Removable appliance replacing all teeth in an arch. - prosthedontics

Partial Denture

Removable appliance replacing some teeth. - prosthedontics

Crown

Full coverage restoration protecting a tooth. - prosthedontics

Pontic

Artificial tooth in a bridge replacing a missing tooth. - prosthedontics

Root Canal Therapy

Removal of diseased pulp, filling canals with gutta-percha. - endodontics

Apex Locator

Device determining root canal length. - endodontics

Periapical Abscess

Infection at tooth root apex. - endodontics

Pulpitis

Inflammation of pulp tissue, reversible or irreversible. - endodontics

Obturation

Filling of cleaned root canals with sealing material. - endodontics

Malocclusion

Improper alignment of teeth/jaws (Class I, II, III). - orthodontics

Archwire

Wire guiding tooth movement. - orthodontics

Bracket

Attachment bonded to teeth to hold archwire. -orthodontics

Retainer

Appliance maintaining corrected tooth positions. - orthodontics

Cephalometric Radiograph

X-ray used to analyze skeletal relationships. - orthodontics

Scaling & Root Planing

Removal of calculus, smoothing root surfaces. - periodontics

Gingivectomy

Surgical removal of diseased gum tissue. - periodontics

Periodontal Pocket

Deepened sulcus due to attachment loss. - periodontics

Bone Resorption

Loss of alveolar bone from periodontal disease. - periodontics

Periodontal Ligament

Connective tissue anchoring tooth to alveolar bone. - periodontics

Dental Implant

Titanium post replacing missing tooth root. - implant dentistry

Osseointegration

Direct connection between bone and implant. - implant dentistry

Abutment

Connector attaching implant to prosthesis. - implant dentistry

Implant Crown

Restoration placed on implant abutment. - implant dentistry

Peri-implantitis

Inflammatory disease affecting tissues around implants. - implant dentistry

Autoclave

Sterilization device using pressurized steam. - office + lab equitment

Model Trimmer

Machine shaping gypsum casts. - office + lab equitment

Vacuum Former

Equipment fabricating trays and mouthguards. - office + lab equitment

Lathe

Tool used for polishing dental appliances. - office + lab equitment

Casting Machine

Device for fabricating metal restorations. - office + lab equitment