Common Dental Terms Defined

Amalgam Filling: An alloy of different metals including silver, tin, copper, and mercury which has been used for over 150 years in dentistry to fill cavities in teeth. Commonly referred to as “silver fillings” because of the color. The other type of filling is “Resin”—see more detail below. Both filling materials have been deemed safe by the American Dental Association.

A dental abscess is a collection of pus and/or debris that grows in tissue—an abscess is pink to red in color, normally presenting with swelling, inflammation, and tenderness. Without timely treatment, an abscess can result in difficulty swallowing and at its extreme can potentially block breathing.

A bitewing radiograph refers to an image produced using standard x-ray, which is specific to the bitewing view of the mouth. The bitewing radiograph allows the dentist to examine the bone condition of the crowns of the posterior teeth and alveolar bone.

Bruxism is the excessive grinding of the teeth and/or excessive clenching of the jaw. It is unrelated to normal functions such as eating or talking. Mouth guards worn at night can be an effective aid to minimize the tooth damage caused by bruxism.

A dental bridge refers to the process of creating a bridge over a gap in the teeth, to replace one or more missing teeth pontic (fake) teeth.

A crown is used to repair a broken or damaged tooth. The crown is placed over a large filling or a broken tooth, or may be needed if the patient has had a root canal.

Cavity / decay / caries is defined as the area of a dead, rotted area on a tooth. It is also referred to as a dead tooth structure and can lead to dental issues including loss of the tooth, if not promptly treated. (See article “Stages of Tooth Decay”).

Calculus is the hardened dental plaque on an individual’s teeth, which is also referred to as tartar, which develops over time due to various reasons such as poor hygiene or diet and lack of dental regular dental cleanings.

Dentures are false teeth, historically made from a variety of materials. They are supported both by their own design and against both hard and soft tissues in the mouth. Dentures are also generally removed daily, for cleaning.

Dry Socket is a complication after having a tooth removed (extracted). The scab that covers the socket is removed and leaves it exposed. This area can easily be infected afterwards. The dentist may have to pack it with something to encourage healing and prevent infection from setting in it.

Tooth enamel is the thin, outer covering of the tooth that protects the tooth crown, which is the visible part above the gum line. It is composed primarily of calcium phosphate and is translucent, allowing the underlying dentin to determine the color of the tooth, which can range from white and yellowish or gray depending on exposure to elements such as coffee and wine that stain the teeth over time.

An extraction refers to the surgical removal of teeth, due to severe damage or decay, severe traumatic injury to the tooth, or to reduce crowding. Teeth that must be extracted due to damage may be referred to as “non-restorable.”

A filling is a type of material that goes into a drilled or cleaned out tooth to restore its ability to be used regularly. Materials for fillings can either be amalgam or resin with the filling material placed on one or more surfaces on the tooth after the decay is removed.

A fixed prosthesis is a dental area that focuses on permanent restoration of either a single tooth or groups of teeth. This can include crowns, veneers, bridges, dentures, or partials.

A removable prosthesis is a custom set of artificial teeth to replace missing or removed teeth. The prosthesis can be removed by the user to make cleaning easier.

Full-mouth x-rays are a set of x-rays of the entire mouth to capture images of all tooth positions in the mouth. Generally, these x-rays are taken annually as part of a dental cleaning / exam appointment.

Gingivitis is an early stage of gum disease characterized by inflammation and bleeding of the gums. It can result in gums becoming red, swollen, and irritated. It is caused by lack of proper dental care. It can lead to more serious gum issues and sometimes even loss of teeth. To prevent this, you should brush and floss daily along with regular appointments.

A dental implant is a piece of material (screw) that is inserted via an oral surgery procedure into the existing bone to support an artificial tooth (crown) or other implant prosthesis. Once the implant body has healed in the jawbone, the restorative phase can be completed in which the implant-supported crown, bridge, or denture prosthesis are attached to the implant.

An immediate / interim denture is a denture, either complete or partial, that is placed in the patient’s mouth immediately following the extraction of teeth and is intended to be temporary until the mouth / gums are fully healed and a permanent denture is configured.

An impacted tooth is a tooth that has failed to erupt through the gum and has grown improperly inside of the gum / jaw. This can be a serious problem and is usually only correctable via oral surgery. This may also be referred to as an unerupted tooth as it has not yet emerged from the gums. Or this may simply refer to teeth that have naturally not yet emerged from the gums, like the adult teeth in a child’s mouth. For any of these circumstances, a dentist should be consulted.

A dental infection that leads to oral swelling may require ‘incision and drainage,’ the act of cutting and releasing infectious fluids. If left untreated, these infections travel quickly through surrounding tissue and may even be fatal.

Maintenance refers to the dental maintenance done by the dentist to include a periodic thorough cleaning to make sure the teeth stay clean and healthy. It is often done 1-2 times a year. It is to prevent any tooth damage and loss of teeth and to ensure the gums stay healthy to support the teeth. This cleaning done by the dentist is to support good home care hygiene as both are required for overall good oral health.

The mandible refers to the jaw or a jawbone. It is most commonly used when referring to the lower jawbone.

The maxilla is the upper jawbone and is formed by two bones that fuse together during a child’s early development. Together, they form the upper palate and the upper jawline.

Mouthguard is a plastic guard put in the mouth to protect the teeth and gums at night for people who grind their teeth. Unprotected, regular teeth grinding results in destruction of the core structure of a tooth and renders teeth in overall poor condition with loss of viable function to chew food. For these patients, it is recommended that the dentist makes a custom mouthguard to be used routinely.

Oral evaluation is the general term used to describe one of several types of dental exams depending upon the issue(s) being reviewed by the dentist, whether the patient is a new or established patient, and the documentation requirements to fully record all the dental issues identified during the dental exam.

An overdenture is a partial or complete denture that is removable and sits on or over teeth already present, whether they be real or artificial teeth. This makes it unnecessary to remove the old or decayed teeth, which allows the patient to retain feeling in the teeth and prevents the jawbone from receding.

Plaque is the sticky film of bacteria that forms on teeth and can lead to cavities and gum disease. During routine dental cleanings by the dental office, this film is removed to minimize dental decay and disease.

A dental prophylaxis is performed not only to clean the teeth, but also to evaluate the oral cavity for any other problems that might be present. The cleaning not only includes what you can see, but also the area under the gum line, which is the most important part. Routine cleanings / exams are recommended at a minimum once a year and highly encouraged twice a year.

A dental prosthesis is an artificial device used to correct dental defects such as missing teeth (or missing parts of teeth). They can also be used to replace missing soft or hard structures of the jaw and palate.

A partial denture is a denture that is used for a patient missing a section of teeth, but unable to get a bridge. It replaces teeth for cosmetic or functional reasons and is removable.

The periapical is the area around the base of a tooth under the gums near the root. It is considered the membrane around that area.

Intraoral x-rays are those images (taken with the x-ray film in the mouth) showing the entire tooth structure, above and below the gum and including images of the surrounding teeth (also known as Full Mouth X-rays). Most commonly used to detect problems of the root and surrounding area.

Periodontal disease is a term used for a variety of diseases that occur along the periodontal tissues. It is often also referred to as gum disease. A common periodontal disease is gingivitis.

Periodontitis is a disease of the gums. It is characterized by inflammation in the gum tissue and tissue around the teeth. It can cause damage to the gum tissue and weakening of the bones that support teeth. It can cause teeth to loosen or tooth loss. It is the result of poor oral hygiene.

Plaque is a film-like buildup on teeth that is created by bacteria attaching itself to the tooth. Plaque is one of the main causes of cavities, tooth decay, and gum disease.

A pontic is an artificial tooth, or the part of a partial denture or dental bridge that fills in where the original tooth was. It does not include the fitting or the part of the partial denture that holds it in place. It is only the actual artificial tooth, or the part that substitutes for the missing tooth.

Dental porcelain or ceramic is a substance used to create lifelike and sturdy replacement teeth in the form of dentures, crowns, bridges, and veneers. These low-maintenance substances are widely used in the dental industry.

A dental post is a thick and metallic shaft that is implanted in a person’s tooth during a dental procedure such as a root canal to ensure the strength and health of a tooth that is treated.

Pulpectomy is a root canal, where any infected pulp tissue is cleaned out and removed due to a cavity or a chipped/broken tooth. There is a version that only takes out the infected pulp, and one where it is all cleared out. Either way, the tooth remains in the mouth. This procedure is often done as a temporary procedure to remedy the immediate pain caused by the infected pulp and to be followed with a root canal procedure.

Resin filling, also known as composite fillings, are made from a blend of plastic resins and fine glass particles and can be color-matched to the natural shade of teeth. See separate articles on the pros and cons of resin and amalgam fillings.

Reline of a denture. Any patient with dentures will occasionally need to have them adjusted due to the mouth adjusting. The dentist will do a casting of the denture area of the mouth, then use it to reline the dentures. After that is done, the dentures will fit better in the mouth. Repeated relines are not effective.

Removable appliance (prosthesis) is any dental appliance like dentures, a partial, or a retainer. They are there to help replace missing teeth or help keep them straight in the case of a retainer. They can be taken out when not needed and should be cleaned on a daily basis.

The root canal is the space below the tooth. It is composed of the tooth’s pulp chamber, nerve endings, and may also contain pathways to the root canals of other teeth in the mandible.

Root canal therapy refers to the treatment of the diseased or damaged areas of the tooth root.

A sedative filling is intended to be a temporary filling that is used to alleviate the pain that a damaged tooth can cause a patient. They are employed mostly when extensive work is needed to repair a tooth, but this work cannot be completed in a single dental session.

Scaling and Root Planing is an effective treatment for severe gum disease and vital treatment for periodontal disease, preventing tooth loss and improving oral health. It is often referred to as a deep cleaning. The procedure usually involves a local anesthetic to numb the area before removing the plaque and calculus on the surface of the tooth root and extending the treatment to underneath the outermost edges of the gum itself.

Torus is a bone-like growth that happens along the inside of the jaw right below the lower teeth close to the front of the mouth and near the tongue.

A treatment plan is a plan that is developed by the dentist’s office to provide the patient with a summary of the procedures needed to treat a variety of dental issues and planned to be completed over a period of time.

A dental veneer is a thin porcelain material created to look like a tooth that is applied to the outside of the tooth. A veneer could be applied for aesthetic purposes (cover for discolored and damaged teeth), or it could be placed on a tooth that needs additional protection.

The information in this article is provided by the office of Dr. Paul D Ellzey, DDS; contact our office at 334-358-4252 to schedule an appointment.