★ Patient Education

Dental Dictionary

Plain-English definitions for the dental terms you might hear in the chair — A through Z. 99 entries and counting.

A B C D E F G H I J O P R S T U V W X Y Z

A

7 entries

Abscess Drainage: Procedure to treat bacterial infection by making an incision and draining pus.
Amalgam Fillings: Durable dental fillings made from mercury, silver, tin, and copper.
Anesthesia Administration: Medical treatment preventing pain via injection, gas, or IV.
Apicoectomy: Endodontic procedure removing tooth root tip and sealing the canal.
Arch Development: Orthodontic procedure widening narrow jaws using appliances.
Athletic Mouthguards: Protective devices worn during sports to shield teeth and gums.
Autotransplantation: Transplanting a tooth from one site to another in same patient's mouth.

B

8 entries

Bad Breath Treatment: Combines hygiene practices and professional cleaning to eliminate halitosis.
Bite Adjustment: Correcting misaligned bites through reshaping or orthodontics.
Bonding: Applying tooth-colored resin and hardening with light.
Bone Grafting: Surgical repair using transplanted bone for jaw reconstruction.
Braces: Orthodontic devices applying constant pressure to align teeth.
Bridges: Fixed appliances replacing missing teeth using adjacent supports.
Broken Tooth Repair: Multiple procedures including bonding, veneers, or crowns.
Buccal Frenectomy: Removing tissue band restricting mouth function.

C

8 entries

Cancer Screening: Detecting oral cancer through visual inspection and palpation.
Cavity Fillings: Removing decay and filling with amalgam, composite, or porcelain.
Cleanings: Professional removal of plaque and tartar preventing disease.
Cleft Lip And Palate Repair: Surgical correction of birth defects affecting mouth.
Composite Fillings: Tooth-colored durable fillings for small to mid-sized cavities.
Cosmetic Dentistry: Procedures improving appearance without necessarily restoring function.
Crown Lengthening: Surgical recontouring exposing more tooth surface.
Crowns: Tooth-shaped caps restoring shape, size, and strength.

D

7 entries

Custom Night Guards: Protective devices preventing teeth grinding damage.
Dental Implants: Artificial titanium roots holding replacement teeth.
Dentures: Removable appliances replacing missing teeth.
Digital X-Rays: Modern imaging using sensors with reduced radiation.
Diode Laser Therapy: Precise soft tissue procedures using laser technology.
Direct Pulp Capping: Applying medication to exposed nerve to avoid root canal.
Dry Socket Treatment: Placing medicated dressing after extraction complications.

E

5 entries

Emergency Dentistry: Immediate care for severe pain, bleeding, or tooth trauma.
Enamel Shaping: Gentle contouring correcting minor imperfections.
Endodontic Retreatment: Second root canal procedure after initial failure.
Endodontic Surgery: Locating fractures or hidden canals; includes apicoectomy.
Extraction: Removing teeth for various clinical reasons.

F

4 entries

Facial Trauma Repair: Treating face injuries including lacerations and fractures.
Fissure Sealants: Plastic material blocking bacteria in tooth grooves.
Fluoride Treatment: High-concentration application preventing decay.
Frenectomy: Removing tissue connecting cheeks, tongue, or lips to gums.

G

3 entries

Gingival Grafting: Covering exposed roots using tissue from palate or bank.
Gum Disease Treatment: Ranging from hygiene to surgical procedures.
Gum Surgery: Various procedures treating periodontal disease.

H

3 entries

Halitosis Treatment: Managing bad breath through hygiene and disease treatment.
Head And Neck Cancer Screening: Physical examination detecting cancer signs.
Home Care Instructions: Patient guidance for maintaining oral health.

I

7 entries

Impacted Tooth Exposure: Exposing partially or unerupted teeth.
Implant Restoration: Replacing tooth crown using implant components.
Inlays And Onlays: Indirect restorations for moderate decay.
Interceptive Orthodontics: Early intervention for growing children.
Interproximal Reduction: Removing enamel between crowded teeth.
Intravenous Sedation: IV administration of sedative drugs.
Invisalign: Clear removable aligners as alternative to braces.

J

3 entries

Jaw Fracture Repair: Surgical realignment using plates, screws, or wires.
Jaw Surgery: Orthognathic procedures correcting skeletal irregularities.
Joint Disorder Treatment: Managing temporomandibular joint dysfunction.

O

6 entries

Occlusal Adjustment: Reshaping bite surfaces improving alignment.
Oral And Maxillofacial Pathology: Identifying oral diseases through biopsies.
Oral Cancer Screening: Thorough examination detecting cancer signs.
Oral Surgery: Specialty focusing on mouth and jaw surgical procedures.
Orthodontics: Correcting teeth and jaw misalignments.
Overdentures: Implant or tooth-supported removable dentures.

P

5 entries

Partial Dentures: Removable appliances replacing some missing teeth.
Periodontal Surgery: Treating advanced gum disease.
Porcelain Veneers: Thin shells bonded correcting discoloration or gaps.
Prophylaxis: Professional cleaning removing plaque and tartar.
Pulpotomy: Removing infected pulp from primary teeth.

R

5 entries

Retainers: Custom appliances holding teeth after orthodontic treatment.
Ridge Augmentation: Adding bone or tissue to jaw for aesthetics or implants.
Root Canal Treatment: Removing infected pulp and sealing canals.
Root Planing: Smoothing roots removing bacterial toxins.
Rubber Dam: Isolating teeth during procedures keeping area clean.

S

5 entries

Scaling And Root Planing: Deep cleaning treating gum disease.
Sinus Lift: Adding bone to upper jaw for insufficient height.
Sleep Apnea Treatment: Using oral appliances or CPAP devices.
Splinting: Bonding teeth for stability and support.
Sports Dentistry: Preventing and managing sports-related injuries.

T

5 entries

Teeth Whitening: Lightening tooth color using bleaching or laser.
Temporomandibular Joint Disorders: Conditions causing jaw pain and dysfunction.
Tmj Treatment: Using medications, therapy, and splints.
Tongue Tie Release: Surgical correction of restricted tongue movement.
Tooth Extraction: Removing teeth from jaw socket.

U

3 entries

Uncovering Implants: Exposing implants for restoration attachment.
Unilateral Space Maintainer: Preserving space after primary tooth loss.
Upper Denture: Removable prosthesis replacing upper teeth.

V

3 entries

Vertical Root Fracture Treatment: Extraction or endodontic surgery.
Vital Pulp Therapy: Preserving nerve health in deep decay cases.
Vizilite Oral Cancer Screening: Chemiluminescent light detecting abnormalities.

W

5 entries

Water Flosser: Pulsating water device cleaning between teeth.
Wax Try-In: Testing wax replica before final restoration.
Whitening Trays: Custom-fitted trays holding bleaching gel.
Wide Diameter Implants: Larger implants for compromised bone.
Wisdom Tooth Extraction: Removing third molars when impacted.

X

1 entry

Xerostomia Treatment: Managing dry mouth through various interventions.

Y

2 entries

Yellow Gold Crowns: Durable biocompatible gold restorations.
Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia Implants: Enhanced strength ceramic implants.

Z

4 entries

Zenithal Caries: Cavities at gum line from recession exposure.
Zinc Oxide Eugenol Cement: Temporary restoration cement.
Zirconia Crowns: Strong ceramic restorations offering durability.
Zygomatic Implants: Anchoring into cheekbone for severe bone loss.

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