Dr. Greg Austria/Riverside Ohio Dentist/Beavercreek Dentist
Below is a list of terms commonly used in our dental office. Not to worry, there will be no pop quiz, but you CAN impress your friends with your new-found knowledge. Read on to become smarter..
- Abscess – A painful infection at the root of a tooth or between the tooth and gum. Usually forms because of infection.
- Abutment – A tooth or tooth structure which is responsible for the anchorage of a bridge or denture.
- Amalgam – A silver filling material.
- Anterior – The front position.
- Apex – The end of the root.
- Bitewing – A kind of dental x-ray which is taken with the teeth biting together. Done as a means to detect cavities in between teeth and at the height of bone support.
- Bridge – A prosthesis which is fixed inside the mouth to replace missing teeth.
- Bruxism – Teeth grinding.
- Canine – The third tooth from the middle of the jaw. There are 4 of them. They are the longest teeth in humans.
- Caries – Tooth decay.
- Cavity – A hole on the tooth.
- Cast – A model of teeth.
- Chlorhexidine – An anti-microbial agent. It is available in many forms such as gels and rinses. It is an effective agent in controlling gum disease.
- Composite – A white filling material.
- Crown – A crown is like a “cap” on a tooth. It covers the tooth partially or totally above the gum to restore its function and outlook.
- Decay – The disintegrating part of the tooth.
- Denture – An artificial prosthesis to replace missing teeth and their neighbooring structures.
- Distal – A direction indication in the mouth. It indicates the direction away from the middle of the jaw.
- Filling – A restoration placed on a tooth to restore its function and appearance.
- Flipper – A temporary denture to replace missing teeth during the waiting period for long term treatment.
- Fluoride Treatment – Teeth treatment with fluoride agents like gel or rinse.
- Gingivitis – The mildest form of gum disease: inflammation of the gum. The earliest sign is bleeding gums.
- Impaction – A condition where a tooth is not able to come in normally or is stuck underneath another tooth or bone.
- Implant – A device put in the jaw bone to support a false tooth, a denture or a bridge.
- Impression – A mold taken with some jelly-like material loaded on a tray.
- Incisal – The cutting edge of a front tooth.
- Incisor – The four upper and lower front teeth.
- Lingual – The side of the tooth towards the tongue.
- Mesial – The side of the tooth toward the middle of the jaw.
- Molar – The last three upper and lower teeth on both sides of the mouth.
- Mouthguard – A device to be worn in the mouth. Depending on the design of it, it prevents injury to teeth and/or jaw during teeth grinding or sports events.
- Occlusal – The biting surface of the back teeth.
- Occlusion – The way the upper and lower teeth close together.
- Overbite – The overlap of upper teeth and lower teeth when they close together.
- Palate – The roof of the mouth.
- Panoramic Radiograph (Pano) – An x-ray film to obtain the wide view of upper and lower jaw and their associated structures.
- Polish – A process to make the tooth or filling or other denture smooth and glossy.
- Pontic – The false tooth in a bridge or denture to replace the missing tooth.
- Post – A pin which can be made with different materials such as metal or carbon. Its function usually is to support a big buildup on a tooth.
- Posterior – Located at the back.
- Prophylaxis/Prophy – The procedure of teeth polishing. It also means the prevention of diseases.
- Pulp – The innermost part of a tooth. It contains nerves and blood vessels inside a tooth.
- Recall – The regular checkup and teeth cleaning appointment.
- Restoration – An item a dentist uses to restore the normal function of a tooth or an area in the mouth. It can be a filling, crown, bridge or implant.
- Retainer – A device used for maintaining the position of teeth in the jaw in orthodontic treatment.
- Root – The bottom part of the tooth. It anchors the tooth to its supporting units.
- Root Canal – The canal that runs inside the root of the tooth. It contains the nerves and blood vessels inside the tooth.
- Root Planing – The action of cleaning the root area of the teeth.
- Scaling – The action of cleaning teeth below the gumline.
- Sealant – A thin layer of plastic-like material covering the grooves and pits on a tooth to prevent a cavity.
- Tempromandibular Joint (TMJ) – The joint that links the jaw to the skull.
- Veneer – A layer of tooth-colored material (can be porcelain, composite, or ceramics) that attaches to the front of the tooth. It is usually used to improve the appearance of the tooth.
- Wisdom Tooth – The eighth (and last) tooth from the middle of the jaw.
Dr. Greg Austria/Riverside Ohio Dentist/Beavercreek Dentist
