Dental Glossary
Dental Dictionary
Find common dental terms and their meanings here
A
Amalgam
Material made from mercury and other alloy mixtures used to restore a drilled portion of a tooth.
Anesthesia
Medications used to relieve pain
Anterior teeth
Front teeth. Also known as incisors and cuspids
Arch
The upper or lower jaw
B
Baby Bottle Tooth Decay
Caused by sugary substances in breast milk and some juices, which combine with saliva to form pools inside the baby's mouth
Bicuspids
A premolar tooth; tooth with two cusps, which are pointed or rounded eminences on or near the masticating surface of a tooth
Bitewings
X-rays that help a dentist diagnose cavities
Bonding
Application of tooth-colored resin materials to the surface of the teeth
Bridge
A prosthetic replacement of one or more missing teeth cemented or otherwise attached to the abutment teeth or implant replacements
Bruxism
Medical term for grinding of teeth
C
Calculus
A hard deposit of mineralized substance adhering to crowns and/or roots of teeth or prosthetic devices
Canal
The narrow chamber inside the tooth's root
Canines
Also called cuspids
Canker Sore
One that occurs on the delicate tissues inside your mouth. A canker sore is usually light-colored at its base and can have a red exterior border
Caries
A commonly used term for tooth decay, or cavities
Cold Sore
Usually occurs on the outside of the mouth, usually on or near the nose or lips. A cold sore is contagious because it is caused by the herpes simplex virus, and it is usually painful and filled with fluid
Composite Filling
Tooth colored restorations, also known as resin fillings
Composite Resin
A tooth colored resin combined with silica or porcelain and used as a restoration material
Contouring
The process of reshaping teeth
Crown
An artificial tooth replacement that restores missing tooth structure by surrounding the remaining coronal tooth structure. It is also placed on a dental implant
Cuspus
The pointed parts on top of the back teeth's chewing surface
Cuspids
Front teeth that typically have a protruding edge
D
Dentin
The tooth layer underneath the enamel
Denture
A removable set of teeth
E
Endodontics
A form of dentistry that addresses problems affecting the tooth's root or nerve.
F
Fluoride
A mineral that occurs naturally in many foods and water. Helps prevent tooth decay by making the tooth more resistant to acid attacks
Fluorosis
A harmless over-exposure to fluoride and resulting sometimes in tooth discoloration
G
Gingiva
Another word for gum tissue
Gingivitis
A minor disease of the gums caused by plaque
Gum Disease
An infection of the gum tissues. Also called periodontal disease
I
Impacted Teeth
A condition in which a tooth fails to erupt or only partially erupts
Implant
A permanent appliance used to replace a missing tooth
Incisor
Front teeth with cutting edges; located in the center or on the sides near the front
Inlay
An artificial filling made of various materials, including porcelain, resin, or gold
L
Laminate veneer
A shell that is bonded to the enamel of a front tooth. The shell is usually thin and made from porcelain resin
M
Malocclusion
Bad bite relationship
Mandible
The lower jaw
Maxilla
The upper jaw
Molar
Usually the largest teeth, near the rear of the mouth. Molars have large chewing surfaces
N
Neuromuscular Dentistry
Addresses more than the aches and pains felt in and around the neck and head that are associated with your teeth and jaw
O
Onlay
A filling designed to protect the chewing surface of a tooth
Orthodontics
A field of dentistry that deals with tooth and jaw alignment
Overdenture
A non-fixed dental appliance applied to a small number of natural teeth or implants
P
Palate
Roof of the mouth
Partial Denture
A removable appliance that replaces missing teeth
Pediatric Dentistry
A field of dentistry that deals with children’s teeth
Perio Pocket
An opening formed by receding gums
Periodontal Disease
Infection of the gum tissues. Also called gum disease
Periodontist
A dentist who treats diseases of the gums
Permanent Teeth
The teeth that erupt after primary teeth. Also called adult teeth
Plaque
A sticky, colorless substance that covers the teeth after sleep or periods between brushing
Posterior Teeth
The bicuspids and molars. Also called the back teeth
Primary Teeth
A person's first set of teeth. Also called baby teeth or temporary teeth
Prophylaxis
The act of cleaning the teeth
Prosthodontics
The field of dentistry that deals with artificial dental appliances
Pulp
The inner tissues of the tooth containing blood, nerves and connective tissue
R
Receding gum
A condition in which the gums separate from the tooth, allowing bacteria and other substances to attack the tooth's enamel and surrounding bone
Resin Filling
An artificial filling used to restore teeth. Also called a composite filling
Root Canal
A procedure in which a tooth's nerve is removed and an inner canal cleansed and later filled
Root Planing
Scraping or cleansing of teeth to remove heavy buildup of tartar below the gum line
S
Sealant
A synthetic material placed on the tooth's surface that protects the enamel and chewing surfaces
T
TMJ
Temporomandibular joint disorder. Health problems related to the jaw joint just in front of the ear
Tarter
A hardened substance (also called calculus) that sticks to the tooth’s surface
V
Veneer
A laminate applied or bonded to the tooth
W
Whitening
A process that employs special bleaching agents for restoring the color of teeth to a white shine
Wisdom Teeth
Third set of molars that erupt last in adolescence and often need to be removed
