Glossary

-A-
  • Abscess | infection caused by severe tooth decay, trauma, or gum disease
  • Amalgam | a silver and mercury material used for fillings
  • Anesthetic | a drug used by your doctor to eliminate a patient's localized pain during certain dental procedures
  • Anterior | the teeth in the front of your mouth
  • Antiseptic | an agent that can be applied to living tissues to destroy germs
  • Apex | the very tip of the root of a tooth
  • Aspirator | a suction device your dentist uses to remove saliva from your mouth

-B-
  • Bleaching Agent | a gel used to whiten and brighten teeth
  • Bonding | a plastic composite painted on the teeth to correct stains or damage
  • Bridge | one or more artificial teeth attached to your adjacent teeth
  • Bruxism | the clenching or grinding of teeth, most commonly while sleeping

-C-
  • Calculus | the hardened plaque that can form on neglected or prone teeth, commonly known as tartar
  • Canine | the pointy teeth just behind the laterals
  • Caries | another name for cavities or decayed teeth
  • Cavity | a tiny hole in the tooth caused by decay
  • Central | the two upper and two lower teeth in the center of the mouth
  • Crown | an artificial tooth, or cover, made of porcelain or metal
  • Cuspid | the pointy teeth just behind the laterals, also known as canines

-D-
  • Decalcification | the loss of calcium from the teeth
  • Deciduous Teeth | also called "baby teeth"
  • Dental Implants | an implant is attached to the jawbone that replaces a missing tooth or teeth
  • Denture | a removable set of artificial teeth

-E-
  • Enamel | the hard surface of the tooth above the gum line
  • Endodontist | a dentist who specializes in root canals and the treatment of diseases and infections of the dental pulp (inner tooth)
  • Extraction | the removal of a tooth or teeth

-F-
  • Filling | a plug made of metal or composite material used to fill a tooth cavity
  • Fluoride | a chemical solution used to harden teeth and prevent decay

-G-
  • Gingivitis | inflammation of gums around the roots of the teeth
  • Gums | the firm flesh that surrounds the roots of the teeth

-I-
  • Impacted Tooth | often occurring with wisdom teeth, it is a tooth that sits sideways below the gum line, often requiring an extraction
  • Incisal | related to incisors (see below)
  • Incisor | one of the flat, sharp-edged teeth in the front of the mouth
  • Inlays | a custom-made filling cemented into an unhealthy tooth
  • Instant Orthodontics | alternative to braces using bonded porcelain veneers or crowns

-L-
  • Lateral | these are the teeth adjacent to the centrals

-N-
  • Night Guard | a plastic mouthpiece worn at night to prevent grinding of the teeth. Often used to treat TMJ

-P-
  • Pedontist | also known as a pediatric dentist, a dentist that specializes in the treatment of children's teeth
  • Periodontist | a dentist specializing in the treatment of gum disease
  • Plaque | a sticky buildup of acids and bacteria that causes tooth decay
  • Posterior Teeth | the teeth in the back of the mouth
  • Primary Teeth | also known as "baby teeth" or deciduous teeth
  • Prosthodontist | a dentist specializing in the restoration and replacement of missing teeth or severely damaged teeth

-R-
  • Root | the portion of the tooth below your gum line
  • Root Canal | cleaning out and filling the inside nerve of a tooth that is heavily decayed

-S-
  • Sealant | a plastic coating applied to teeth to prevent decay. Used most commonly for children
  • Secondary Teeth | the permanent teeth
  • Six-Year Molar | commonly known as "the first molar"
  • Sleep Apnea | a potentially serious disorder in which a sleeping person may stop breathing for 10 seconds or more, often continuously throughout the night

-T-
  • Tartar | see calculus
  • Teeth Whitening | a process designed to whiten and brighten teeth
  • TMJ Syndrome | a disorder associated with the joint of the jaw, often caused by a misalignment of or a disparity in upper and lower jaw sizes.
  • Twelve-Year Molar | commonly known as "the second molar"

-V-
  • Veneer | a plastic, porcelain, or composite material used to improve the attractiveness of a stained or damaged tooth