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

Laminate: A thin plastic or porcelain veneer produced in a dental laboratory and then bonded to a tooth

Lesion: An injury or wound; area of diseased tissue

Maxilla: the upper jaw

Mandible: the lower jaw

Malignant: Having the properties of dysplasia, invasion, and metastasis

Milk teeth: The deciduous (baby) teeth

Malocclusion: Improper alignment of biting or chewing surfaces of upper and lower teeth

Mastication: The process of chewing food

Molars: The three teeth in each dental quadrant used for grinding food

Occlusion: The relationship of the upper and lower teeth upon closure

Orthodontics: A dental specialty that treats misalignment of teeth

Onlay: A laboratory-produced restoration covering one or more cusps of a tooth

Osseous: Boney

Overdenture: A denture that fits over residual roots or dental implants

Palate: The hard and soft tissues forming the roof of the mouth that separates the oral and nasal cavities

Periapical (PA): The region at the end of the roots of teeth

Partial Denture: A removable dental prosthesis (appliance) that replaces one or more natural teeth

Pathology: The study of disease

Periodontal: Pertaining to the supporting and surrounding tissue of the teeth

Periodontitis: Inflammation and loss of the connective tissue of the supporting or surrounding structure of teeth with loss of attachment

Plaque: A soft sticky substance that accumulates on teeth and is composed of bacteria and food debris due to inadequate dental hygiene

Prognosis: The anticipated outcome of treatment

Prophylaxis: Cleaning of the teeth for the prevention of periodontal disease and tooth decay