Common Dental Terms|Building Smiles Dental Nigeria

Abrasion:

Removal of tooth structure due to rubbing and scraping (e.g. incorrect brushing method)

Abscess:

A collection of pus, usually formed because of infection

Abutment:

A tooth or tooth structure which is responsible for the anchorage of a bridge or a denture.

Amalgam:

A silver filling material

Anesthetic:

An agent that causes temporary loss of sensation/feeling

The front position

Apex:

The end of the root

Asepsis:

No micro-organism

Attrition:

Wear of teeth due to activities such as chewing

Bitewing:

A kind of dental x-ray which is taken with the teeth bite together. The main function of this kind of x-ray is to detect cavity in between teeth and height of bone support.

Bleaching:

Whitening of teeth

Bridge:

A prosthetic fixture placed inside the mouth to replace missing teeth

Bruxism:

Tooth grinding

Canine:

The third tooth from the middle of the jaw

Canker sore:

An ulceration with yellow base and red border in mouth that can be caused by trauma or herpes simplex virus

Caries:

Tooth decay

Cavity:

A hole on the tooth

Cast:

A model of teeth

Cementation:

The process of "glue" the appliance/prosthesis on the associated area

Chlorhexidine:

An anti-microbial agent that is available in many forms such as gels and rinses and serves as an effective agent in controlling gum diseases

Clasp:

A metal arm extends from a removable partial denture that helps to hold on to natural tooth structure and thus provide anchorage for the denture

Cold sore:

An ulcer or blister on lip that can be a form of herpes simplex

Composite:

Tooth-colored filling

Cross-bite:

An abnormal bite relationship of upper and lower jaw.

Crown:

(porcelain/plastic/metal)A crown is almost like a "cap" on a tooth. It covers the tooth partially or totally above the gum to restore its function and outlook.

Decay:

The rotten part of the tooth

Dentistry:

A branch of medicine that involves diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of any disease concern about teeth, oral cavity, and associated structures

Dentition:

The position, type, and number of teeth in upper and lower jaw

Denture:

An artificial object to replace missing teeth and their neighboring structures

Denturist:

The person who specializes in fabricating dentures, and not responsible for making any type of diagnosis or carrying out any other treatment

Desensitization:

A procedure to reduce the sensitivity of teeth

Diagnosis:

The process of identifying dental disease

Edentulous:

Having no teeth

Eruption:

The process of the tooth appearing in the mouth

Excision:

The action of cutting something off

Filling:

A restoration places on a tooth to restore its function and appearance

Flipper:

A temporary denture to replace missing teeth during the waiting period for long term treatment

Floss:

A thread/tape goes in between teeth for cleaning

Fluoride:

A compound of fluorine used in different forms such as water, gels, rinses to strengthen up teeth

Fluoride Treatment:

Teeth treatment with fluoride agents like gel or rinse applied to prevent tooth decay

Framework:

A metal skeleton of a removable partial denture to support the false teeth and the plastic attachments

Gingivitis:

The mildest form of gum disease: inflammation of gum

Hemorrhage:

Bleeding

Homeostasis:

Stop bleeding

Impaction:

A condition that a tooth is not able to come in normally or stuck underneath another tooth or bone

Implant:

A device put in the jaw bone to support a false tooth, a denture or a bridge

Impression:

A mold taken by some jelly-like material loaded on a tray

Incisal:

The cutting edge of front teeth

Incisor:

The four upper and lower front teeth

Interproximal:

The space in between two adjacent teeth

Lingual:

The side of the tooth towards the tongue

Mesial:

The side of the tooth towards the middle of the jaw

Molar:

The last 3 upper and lower teeth on both side of the mouth

Mouthguard:

A device to be worn in the mouth and prevents injury on teeth and/or jaw during teeth grinding or sport events

Occlusal:

The biting surface of the back teeth

Occlusion:

The way how the upper and lower teeth close together

Onlay:

A restoration covers the entire biting surface of a tooth

Open bite:

A condition in which the upper teeth are not able to contact the opposing lower teeth

Overbite:

The overlap of upper teeth and lower teeth when they close together

Overhang:

The portion of filling material that hangs beyond the border of the cavity

Palate:

The roof of the mouth

Panoramic Radiograph:

An x-ray film to obtain the wide view of upper and lower jaw and their associated structures

Perforation:

An opening on a tooth or other oral structure

Periapical:

The surrounding of the bottom of the root of a tooth

Permanent teeth:

Adult teeth appearing at around 6 years

Pin:

A piece of metal usually used for better retention of a filling

Polish:

A process to make the tooth or filling or other denture smooth and glossy

Pontic:

The false tooth in a bridge or denture to replace the missing tooth

Post:

A big pin which can be made with different materials such as metal or carbon utilized to support a big buildup on a tooth

Posterior:

Located at the back

Pre-medication:

Medication needs to be taken before treatment

Premolar:

The two teeth located in front of the molar

Primary teeth:

Baby teeth

Prophylaxis/prophy:

The procedure of teeth polishing, also means the prevention of diseases

Prosthesis:

An artificial part to replace missing teeth and their associated structures

Pulp:

The inner most part of a tooth containing nerves and blood vessels

Pulpectomy:

The removal of the whole pulp inside a tooth

Radiograph:

An x-ray picture

Recementation:

The process of glueing the appliance/prosthesis back on the associated area

Retainer:

A device used for maintaining the position of teeth in the jaw in orthodontic treatment

Retreatment:

The process of repeating the root canal treatment

Root:

The bottom part of tooth anchoring the tooth to its supporting units

Root planing:

The action of cleaning on the root area of teeth

Rubber dam:

A rubber sheet that fits around teeth and isolates the area from the rest of the oral cavity

Scaling:

The action of cleaning of teeth below the gum-line

Sealant:

A thin layer of plastic-like material covers the grooves and pits on a tooth to prevent cavity

Sedation:

The use of medication to calm down and immobilize a patient

Space Maintainer:

An appliance to maintain the space in between teeth

Splint:

An appliance or a material to prevent movement of a mobile part

Temporo-mandibular Joint:

The joint that links two jaws

Torus:

An outgrowth on bone that usually develops on the roof of the mouth or around the premolar area on the lower jaw

Veneer:

A layer of tooth-colored material (can be porcelain, composite, or ceramics) that attaches to the front of the tooth

Wisdom tooth:

The eighth (also the last tooth) tooth from the middle of the jaw

Xerostomia:

Dry mouth

The Best Dental Facility For Your Smile

Building Smiles Dental Clinic is always at the advancing front of technological developments and offerings that make our patients enjoy their dental treatments. Our staff remain abreast of new skills in their various specialties.