Glossary of dental terms
There are 219 entries in this glossary.All
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Abrasion |
Loss of tooth structure caused by a hard toothbrush, poor brushing technique, or Bruxism (grinding or clenching the teeth). |
| Abscess |
An infection of a tooth, soft tissue or bone |
| Abutment |
Tooth or teeth that support a fixed or removable bridge |
| Adhesive Dentistry |
Contemporary term for dental restorations that involve "bonding" of composite resin or porcelain fillings to natural teeth |
| Air Abrasion |
Removal of tooth structure by blasting a tooth with air and abrasive, a relatively new technology that may avoid the need for anesthetic |
| Allergy |
Unfavorable systemic response to a foreign substance or drug |
| Alveolar bone |
The jaw bone that anchors the roots of teeth |
| Amalgam |
A most common filling material, also known as "silver fillings,"containing mercury (app 50%), silver, tin, copper and zinc used for fillings |
| Analgesia |
A state of pain relief; an agent lessening pain |
| Anesthesia |
Partial or complete elimination of pain sensation; numbing a tooth is an example of local anesthesia; general anesthesia produces partial or complete unconsciousness |
| Anterior teeth |
The six upper or six lower front teeth |
| Antibiotic |
A drug that stops or slows the growth of bacteria |
| ANUG |
An acronym for Acute Necrotizing Ulcerative Gingivitis, commonly known as trench mouth or Vincent's disease, aggravated by stress and/or smoking |
| Apex |
The tip of the root of a tooth |
| Apicoectomy |
Surgical removal of the root tip to treat a dead tooth |
The Fort Loramie Dental Center welcomes you to our general dentistry practice which offers comfortable, comprehensive dental care for your entire family.