dental terminology
The following alphabetical list of dental terms
and definitions is presented here for you to assist you in evaluating your care.
ABUTMENT
The teeth on either side of a missing tooth. Abutments are the part of the
bridge used to support the replacement of the missing teeth (pontics).
Abutment also describes the components that connect an implant to the final
dental restoration.
AMALGAM Silver filling. Amalgams are
usually placed on the back teeth (posterior teeth).
ANESTHESIA Relieves the sensation of
pain.
ANTERIOR TEETH The front teeth (incisors
and cupids).
ARCH The upper or lower jaw.
BACK TEETH See Posterior Teeth
BICUSPIDS The first and second
bicuspids, those are the fourth and fifth teeth from the center of the mouth to
the back of the mouth. These are the back teeth that are used for chewing, they
only have two points (cusps).
BITEWING X-ray that shows the upper and
lower teeth's biting surfaces on the same film. This x-ray shows the portion of
the teeth above the gum line.
BRIDGE A fixed appliance (prosthesis)
that replaces missing teeth. A bridge is a series of crowns (abutments and
pontics).
BRUXISM Clenching or grinding of the
teeth.
CALCULUS The sticky film on your teeth
(plaque) that has hardened. Also known as tartar.
CANAL The narrow chamber inside the root
of the tooth that contains the nerve and blood vessels.
CANINES See cuspids.
CARIES Correct technical term for decay.
CLEANING See prophylaxis.
COMPLETE SERIES See Full Mouth X-rays.
COMPOSITE FILLING Tooth colored filling.
Insurance companies usually only allow them on the front teeth (anterior teeth).
When composites are done on the back teeth (posterior teeth) the insurance
company usually pays them as an amalgam. Composites are also known as resin
fillings.
CROWN Full coverage for a tooth. when
the tooth cannot be restored by a filling.
CURETTAGE Surgical scraping of bacteria
from the soft tissue. This is a periodontal procedure and is usually performed
one quadrant at a time. Procedure code 4220.
CUSPS The high points on the chewing
surfaces of the back teeth (posterior teeth).
CUSPIDS The third tooth from the center
of the mouth to the back of the mouth. These are the front teeth that have one
rounded or pointed edge used for biting. Also known as canines.
DECIDUOUS TEETH See Primary Teeth.
DENTURE A removable appliance
(prosthesis) that replaces all of the teeth in either the upper or lower jaw.
EDENTULOUS All the teeth are missing in
either the upper or lower arch.
ENDO See Endodontics.
ENDODONTICS (ENDO) The treatment of
diseases or injuries that affect the root tip or nerve of the tooth. The most
common procedure that you will deal with is a root canal.
FLUORIDE Topical application of a gel or
liquid that prevents decay.
F.M.X. See Full Mouth X-rays.
FRONT TEETH See Anterior Teeth.
FULL MOUTH X-RAYS (F.M.X.) X-rays
showing all the teeth. Includes 14 periapicals and 2 or 4 bitewings. Also known
as a complete series.
GENERAL ANESTHESIA Relieves the
sensation of pain on the whole body. General anesthesia renders you unconscious.
GINGIVA The gums.
IMPACTION An unerupted or partially
erupted tooth that will not fully erupt because it is obstructed by another
tooth, bone, or soft tissue.
IMPLANT A post that is implanted in the
bone. A crown, bridge or denture is then placed over the implant
INCISORS The central and lateral
incisor, those are the first and second teeth from the center of the mouth to
the back of the mouth. These are the front teeth with the flat edges for biting.
INLAY A laboratory processed restoration
made of metal, acrylic or porcelain. This filling does not involve the high
points of the tooth (cusps).
LOCAL ANESTHESIA Relieves the sensation
of pain in a localized area.
MANDIBLE The lower jaw.
MAXILLA The upper jaw.
MAXIMUM The maximum dollar amount of
benefits a plan will pay toward the cost of dental care over a specific period
of time (usually one year).
MOLARS The first, second and third
molars, those are the sixth, seventh and eighth teeth from the center of the
mouth to the back of the mouth. The back teeth with the large chewing surface on
top. They have 4 points (cusps).
NIGHTGUARD A removable acrylic appliance
to minimize the effects of grinding the teeth (bruxism) or joint problems (T.M.J.).
Usually worn at night to prevent the grinding of teeth or relieve joint pain.
Also known as an occlusal guard.
OCCLUSAL The chewing surfaces of the
back teeth.
OCCLUSAL GUARD See Nightguard.
ONLAY A laboratory processed restoration
made of metal, porcelain or acrylic that replaces one or more of the highest
points of the tooth (cusps).
ORAL SURGERY (O.S.) Surgery of the
mouth.
ORTHO See Orthodontics.
ORTHODONTICS (ORTHO) Straightening of
the teeth.
O.S. See Oral Surgery.
P.A. Common dental language for a
periapical. See Periapical.
PALATE Roof of the mouth.
PANOREX An x-ray taken outside of the
mouth that shows all the teeth on one film.
PARTIAL DENTURE A removable appliance
(prosthesis) that replaces some of the teeth in either the upper or lower jaw.
See illustration below.
PEDO See Pedodontics.
PEDODONTICS (PEDO) The treatment of
children's teeth.
PERIAPICAL An x-ray that shows the whole
tooth (above and below the gum line). Also known as a single film or P.A.
PERIO See Periodontics.
PERIO CHARTING Measures the depth that
the gums have detached from the side of the tooth forming a pocket (perio
pocket).
PERIODONTAL MAINTENANCE Cleaning of the
teeth following periodontal treatment, includes perio charting. Procedure code
4910. Also known as a perio prophy or perio recall.
PERIODONTICS (PERIO) The treatment of
diseases of the gum or bone (supporting structure).
PERIO POCKET The pocket that forms when
the gums detach from the side of the tooth.
PERIO PROPHY See Periodontal
Maintenance.
PERIO RECALL See Periodontal
Maintenance.
PERMANENT FIRST AND SECOND MOLARS The
adult first and second molars, they are the sixth and seventh teeth from the
center of the mouth to the back of the mouth. Does not include the third molar
(wisdom tooth).
PERMANENT MOLARS The adult first, second
and third molars.
PERMANENT DENTITION See Permanent
Teeth.
PERMANENT TEETH The adult teeth. Also
known as the permanent dentition.
PLAQUE A sticky film on the teeth. If it
is not removed by brushing it can harden into calculus.
PONTIC The part of a bridge that
replaces the missing teeth.
POSTERIOR TEETH The back teeth
(Bicuspids and molars).
PREVENTIVE Procedure performed to
prevent decay and gum disease.
PRIMARY DENTITION See Primary Teeth.
PRIMARY TEETH The baby teeth. Also known
as the primary dentition. The baby teeth are replaced by the adult teeth
(permanent teeth).
PROPHY See Prophylaxis.
PROPHYLAXIS Cleaning the teeth. Also
known as a prophy.
PROSTHETICS A fixed or removable
appliance to replace missing teeth. Example: bridges, dentures and partials.
Sometimes single crowns are considered prosthetics.
PROSTHODONTICS Dealing with the
replacement of missing teeth.
PROVIDER The dentist who renders
treatment to the patient.
QUADRANT
One of the four equal sections of the mouth. The upper right, upper left, lower
right or the lower left.
R.C.T. See Root Canal Therapy.
RESIN FILLING See Composite Filling.
RESTORATIVE Procedures performed to
restore the missing part of the teeth. Some insurance companies only consider
the fillings to be restorative, others consider the fillings, crowns, bridges
and dentures to be restorative.
ROOT CANAL THERAPY (R.C.T.) The nerve of
the tooth is removed from the canal inside the root and replaced with a filling
material
ROOT PLANING Deep cleaning of the teeth
to remove calculus below the gum line. This is not a prophylaxis. This is a
periodontal procedure and is usually performed one quadrant at a time. Procedure
code 4341.
SEALANT Clear application of acrylic
placed over the biting surface of the tooth to prevent decay. Most insurance
companies only allow these on permanent teeth.
SINGLE FILM See Periapical.
TARTAR See Calculus.
TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT (T.M.J.) Temporo
(temporal bone), mandibular (lower jaw). This is the connecting hinge between
the lower jaw and base of the skull. Also known as T.M.J.. T.M.J. treatment is
sometimes paid under medical.
THIRD MOLAR See Wisdom Tooth.
T.M.J. See Temporomandibular Joint.
VIRGIN TEETH Teeth that have no decay or
fillings.
WISDOM TOOTH The third molar, this is
the eighth tooth from the center of mouth to the back of the mouth. Wisdom teeth
are often impacted (obstructed from erupting) and have to be extracted.
Note: These definitions were compiled
from both Dr. Tim Hart and Trojan Professional Services, Inc. of Southern
California.
