Definitions of Dental
Terms
O-Z
Onlay: A gold or porcelain inlay extended to cover the cusps
for protection of the tooth, leaving more natural tooth than a crown. See
"Restoring your teeth."
Oral Sedation: Any substance taken orally (i.e., a pill
or liquid) to reduce anxiety and relax the patient. Used in conjunction
with some form of anesthesia during dental procedures.
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon: A specialist who deals
with the diagnosis and surgical treatment of diseases, injuries, and deformities
of the mouth and supporting structures. Often simply called an Oral Surgeon.
Oral Surgery: Surgery of the mouth including removal of
teeth, particularly wisdom teeth.
Orthodontics: Dental specialty that treats misalignment
and malocclusion of teeth. Treatment usually consists of braces or a retainer.
A variety of procedures and braces are now available.
Orthodontist: A dental specialist who corrects irregularities
of the teeth primarily through the use of braces or a retainer. See "Braces
(Orthodontics)."
Palate: The general term that refers to the roof of the
mouth.
Panorex: A single full-mouth x-ray, created by an
x-ray camera that moves around the entire face and provides a single sheet
of film showing the entire mouth.
Partial Denture: A removable appliance (prosthesis) that
replaces some of the teeth in either the upper or lower jaw, as opposed
to a full denture, which replaces all the upper or lower teeth. Affixed
to a natural tooth (abutment). An alternative to a partial denture is a
dental implant. See "Replacing missing teeth."
Pediatric Dentistry: Dental specialty focusing on treatment
of children’s teeth. See "A Parent's Guide."
Pedodontist: A dentist who specializes in the treatment
of children’s teeth. The more common terminology is Pediatric Dentist.
Periodontal Disease: The general term for the inflammation
or disease affecting the gums. See "Gum Disease."
Periodontics: The treatment of diseases of the gum or bone
(supporting structure). See "Gum Disease."
Periodontist: A dentist who specializes in the treatment
of gum disease.
Plaque: A sticky substance that forms on the surface of
the teeth and harbors bacteria growth and acid formation beneath its surface,
causing tooth decay. Plaque build-up can irritate the gums and cause periodontal
disease. Treated by regular dental cleanings, or prophylaxis, performed
by a dentist or dental hygienist. See "Gum Disease."
Porcelain Veneers: Plastic or porcelain facing which is
bonded directly to a tooth to improve its appearance, producing a very
natural appearance. See "Veneers."
Prophy Jet: Air polishing for stain removal.
Prophylaxis: (Also called a “prophy” for short.) The professional
cleaning and removal of plaque, stains, and calculus on the teeth, performed
by a dentist or dental hygienist. Ideally performed at least every six
months. See "Professional cleaning."
Prosthodontics: The replacement of missing or lost teeth
with artificial teeth. Common procedures are crowns, bridges, dentures,
and implants. See "Replacing missing teeth."
Prosthodontist: A dentist who specializes in restoring
teeth and replacing missing teeth with crowns, bridges, dentures, and implants.
Pulp Chamber: The opening in the center of the crown of
a tooth that contains the pulp (nerve tissue) and stretches to the tip
of the root. See "What are teeth made of?"
Quadrant: One fourth of the mouth or half of the bottom
or top section of the mouth.
Retainer: An appliance for maintaining the positions of
the teeth and jaws immediately after the completion of orthodontic treatment.
Root Canal: A procedure used to save an abscessed tooth
in which the pulp chamber is cleaned out, disinfected, and filled with
a permanent filling. Generally performed by an Endodontist. See "Root canals
(Endodontics)."
Root Planing: Deep cleaning of the teeth to remove hardened
plaque below the gum line. This periodontal procedure is usually performed
one quadrant at a time, usually by a periodontist or periodontal assistant.
See "Gum Disease."
Root Resection: The removal of the root of a tooth
while retaining the crown. (See "What are teeth made of?") Usually performed
by an Endodontist.
Scaling: A treatment for gum disease involving removal
of hardened plaque (tartar or calculus) from teeth. Performed by a dental
hygienist during a prophylaxis (dental cleaning), or in more extreme cases
by a periodontist. See "Professional cleaning."
Sealant: Plastic coating applied to grooves of the teeth
to prevent decay, generally performed on children who are more prone to
dental caries, or cavities. See "Sealants."
Sleep Apnea: A disorder, which is potentially fatal, in
which a person who is asleep may stop breathing multiple times for more
than 10 seconds. A general dentist or an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon
treats this disorder.
Sterilization: The process of eliminating bacteria and
viruses from tools, surfaces and equipment. OSHA (Occupational Safety &
Health Administration) has specific standards for sterilization in all
dental offices. See autoclave and heat sterilization.
Tartar: Also called calculus. Calcified plaque that forms
from mineral salts in the saliva and deposits on the teeth. Removed in
the course of a prophylaxis, or dental cleaning. Some toothpastes claim
to reduce tartar accumulation, but only regular dental checkups can prevent
this accumulation from causing gum disease and tooth loss. See "Gum Disease."
TMD (Temporomandibular Disorders): Problems associated
with the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) which connects the lower jaw with
the skull. Typically associated with pops and pain in the joint. See "TMD."
Ultrasonic Cleaning: Tooth cleaning (prophylaxis) that
uses high frequency sound waves to gently remove deposits such as tartar
and stains from the teeth.
Veneers: Plastic or porcelain facing which is bonded directly
to a tooth to improve its appearance, producing a very natural appearance.
See "Veneers."
Whitening: A process of whitening teeth that uses special
compounds usually containing hydrogen peroxide. Sometimes lasers are used
in conjunction with these compounds. Over-the-counter whitening products
are not the prescription strength that dentists use and are therefore less
effective. See "Tooth whitening."
Wisdom Teeth: The third set of molars, the last teeth to
come in. For many people, wisdom teeth become impacted and must be removed
by oral surgery. See "Wisdom teeth."
X-ray: Radiation used for diagnostic purposes to photograph
the bone tissue of the tooth above and below the gum line. See also digital
radiography and panorex |
