Glossary

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 called incisors and cuspids.

Arch - The upper or lower jaw. 

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 - Teeth grinding.  

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.

Cusps - The pointed parts on top of the back teeth's chewing surface.

Cuspids - Front teeth that typically have a protruding edge. 

Dentin - The tooth layer underneath the enamel.

Denture - A removable set of teeth. 

Endodontics - A form of dentistry that addresses problems affecting the tooth's root or nerve.  

Fluoride - A harmless over-exposure to fluoride resulting in tooth discoloration.

Fluorosis - A harmless over-exposure to fluoride and resulting sometimes in tooth discoloration. 

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. 

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. 

Laminate veneer - A shell that is bonded to the enamel of a front tooth. The shell is usually thin and made from porcelain resin.  

Malocclusion - Bad bite relationship.

Mandible - The lower jaw.

Maxilla - The upper jaw.

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.

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.  

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.

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.

Prosthodontics - The field of dentistry that deals with artificial dental appliances.

Pulp - The inner tissues of the tooth containing blood, nerves and connective tissue.  

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. 

Sealant - A synthetic material placed on the tooth's surface that protects the enamel and chewing surfaces.  

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. 

Veneer - A laminate applied or bonded to the tooth. 

Whitening - A process that employs special bleaching agents for restoring the color of teeth.

Wisdom tooth - Third set of molars that erupt last in adolescence.