▶ Abrasion
Wear on the teeth caused by actions other than eating e.g. hard toothbrush, poor brushing technique, holding objects between teeth or Bruxism (grinding or clenching the teeth).
▶ Abscess
An infection of a tooth, soft tissue or bone.
▶ Abutment
Tooth or implant that supports a fixed or removable bridge.
▶ Acrylic Resin
A resin used as a denture base material, for other dental restorations, and for trays.
▶ Alveolar Bone
The jaw bone that anchors the roots of teeth.
▶ Amalgam
An alloy used in dental restorations; a common filling material.
▶ Analgesia
Loss of the feeling of pain without loss of consciousness.
▶ Anesthesia
Partial or complete elimination of pain sensation; local anesthesia numbs a particular area like a tooth without causing loss of consciousness; general anesthesia is a controlled state of unconsciousness used in some dental procedures.
▶ Apex
The tip of the root of a tooth.
▶ Apicoectomy
Removal of the tip of a tooth root.
▶ Arch
Describes the alignment of the upper or lower teeth.
▶ Bleaching
A cosmetic procedure that uses a bleaching solution to whiten teeth.
▶ Bonding
A composite resin applied to a tooth to change the colour or shape; can also refer to the method used to adhere fillings and dental appliances or restorations to teeth.
▶ Bone Reabsorption
Decrease in bone supporting the roots of teeth; a common result of periodontal (gum disease).
▶ Braces
Devices used in orthodontics to gradually reposition teeth to a more favorable alignment.
▶ Bridge
A fixed or removable dental appliance used to replace missing teeth.
▶ Bruxism
Constant grinding or clenching of the teeth that frequently occurs while sleeping.
▶ Calculus
Also known as tartar, the hard deposit of minerals that stick to teeth.
▶ Cavities
Tooth decay or cavities.
▶ Cementum
Hard connective tissue covering the tooth root.
▶ Composite
A dental restorative material made up of different parts (e.g. resin and quartz particles).
▶ Crown
The part of a tooth that is covered with enamel; an artificial substitute for that part of the tooth.
▶ Decay
Decomposition of tooth structure; also known as cavities.
▶ Dental Implant
A cylinder surgically placed in the bone of the upper or lower jaw to provide support for a dental restoration or appliance; usually made of titanium.
▶ Dentin
The part of the tooth below the enamel.
▶ Denture
Removable (partial or complete) artificial substitute for natural teeth and adjacent gum tissue.
▶ Enamel
Durable, hard, white outer layer of the tooth that covers and protects the dentin, the layer just beneath it.
▶ Endodontist
Specialist who treats injuries, diseases and infections of the tooth pulp (nerves).
▶ Erosion
Wearing down of teeth caused by chemicals (acids).
▶ Extraction
Removal of a tooth or parts of a tooth.
▶ Facing
Tooth colored overlay on the visible portion of a crown; may be acrylic, composite or porcelain.
▶ Filling
Restoration of lost tooth structure with metal, porcelain or resin materials.
▶ Full Mouth Reconstruction
Extensive restorations of natural teeth with crowns or fixed bridges to manage bite problems.
▶ Full-Mouth X-Rays
A combination of x-rays that show all of the teeth (their crowns and roots) and the jaw bone that surrounds them.
▶ Gingiva
Gum tissue.
▶ Gingivectomy
Surgical removal of gum tissue.
▶ Gingivitis
Inflammation of gum tissue.
▶ Gingivoplasty
Surgical procedure to reshape gingiva.
▶ Halitosis
Bad breath of oral or gastrointestinal origin.
▶ Impacted Tooth
Partial or completely unexposed tooth that is wedged against another tooth, bone, or soft tissue, in such a manner that tooth eruption is unlikely.
▶ Impression
Mold made of the teeth and soft tissues.
▶ Inlay
Porcelain or resin filling bonded in place to restore a decayed or broken tooth.
▶ Intraoral Camera
A small video camera used to view and magnify oral conditions.
▶ Laminate
Thin plastic or porcelain veneer produced in a dental laboratory and then bonded to a tooth.
▶ Laminate Veneer
A very thin porcelain resin shell bonded to the enamel of the front teeth.
▶ Laughing Gas
Nitrous oxide; odorless gas that reduces anxiety and creates a state of relaxation.
▶ Night Guard
Acrylic appliance used to prevent wear and temporomandibular damage caused by grinding or clenching of the teeth during sleep.
▶ Nitrous Oxide
A gas used to reduce patient anxiety.
▶ Onlay
A porcelain or resin filling that protects a tooth by covering only the chewing surface; a laboratory produced restoration covering one or more cusps of a tooth.
▶ Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon
A dental specialist who manages the diagnosis & surgical treatment of diseases, injuries, and deformities of the mouth and supporting structures.
▶ Oral Hygiene
Process of maintaining cleanliness of the teeth, gums and mouth.
▶ Orthodontist
Dental specialist who treats misalignment of teeth.
▶ Periodontal Disease
Inflammation of the gingival (gums) that can lead to infection and, in severe cases, deterioration of the jaw bone and loss of a tooth.
▶ Plaque
Soft sticky substance that accumulates on teeth; composed mostly of bacteria.
▶ Porcelain
A durable, ceramic, tooth-colored material that is used in veneers and crowns.
▶ Post
Thin metal rod inserted into the root of a tooth after root canal therapy; provides retention for a "coping" that replaces lost tooth structure and retains crown.
▶ Restoration
Replacement of portion of a damaged tooth.
▶ Root
Tooth structure that connects the tooth to the jaw.
▶ Root Canal (Therapy)
Procedure that must be performed when the pulp within a tooth dies or becomes infected; removes the pulp of a tooth and fills the root canal.
▶ Root Planing
Removal of bacteria, calculus and damaged dentin or cementum on the root surfaces.
▶ Scaling
Removal of plaque and calculus from tooth surfaces.
▶ Sealants
Plastic resin bonded in the pits and fissures of back teeth for the prevention of decay.
▶ Tartar
See calculus.
▶ TMD (or TMJ disorder)
Temporomandibular disorder; term given to condition characterized by facial pain and restricted ability to open or move the jaw.
▶ TMJ
The temporomandibular joint, the point where the lower jaw attaches to the skull.
▶ Tooth Whitening
A chemical or laser process to lighten the color of teeth.
▶ Veneer
Plastic or porcelain facing bonded directly to a tooth to improve its appearance; typically used for repairing chipped, cracked, or worn teeth.
▶ Wisdom Teeth
Third (last) molars that usually erupt at age 18-25 (when "wisdom is attained").
▶ X-Rays
X-rays are used to reveal problems that cannot be observed with the naked eye.