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Dental Plans-Guide to Dental Terms

Dental Plans Terms Can Be Complicated And So Can Dental Problems and Dental Services Terms.

Brief Explanation of Common Dental Problems and Dental Services Terms.

Abscess
A localized infection in the bone or soft gum tissues, usually at the end of the root tip.

Treated with antibiotics and possibly a root canal.    Top of Page

Amalgam Filling

An amalgam filling is silver-colored. It's relatively inexpensive; durable; and resistant to wear.

It is a valued treatment option for dentists and patients.     Top of Page

Bitewing
A dental x-ray film with a central projection on which the teeth can close, holding it in position

for the radiographic examination of several upper and lower teeth simultaneously.    Top of Page

Bonding
Your dentist prepares the tooth by etching the tooth's surface so the bonding material has

more surface area to bond to. After coating the tooth with a bonding liquid, the dentist places

composite resin (putty like) on the tooth and it is molded to the desired shape. One the material

is set, the resin is trimmed and polished.     Top of Page

Bridge
A bridge is a dental appliance made of metal or porcelain, or a combination of both. The bridge

is used to replace one or more teeth. The teeth on both sides of the missing tooth are used to

anchor the fixed bridge.   Top of Page

Cement
A special type of glue used to hold a crown in place. It also acts as an insulator to protect the

tooth's nerve.   Top of Page

Composite Filling
Composite fillings are a mixture of glass or quartz filler in a resin medium that produces a

tooth-colored filling. They are sometimes referred to as composites or filled resins. Composite

fillings provide good durability and resistance to fracture in small-to-mid size restorations that

need to withstand moderate chewing pressure. Less tooth structure is removed when the dentist

prepares the tooth, and this may result in a smaller filling than that of an amalgam.    Top of Page

Crowns
Crowns, also referred to as "caps", are coverings made of natural looking porcelain, which fit

over teeth. If additional strength is needed, the porcelain crown consists of an underlying metal

shell.     Top of Page

DDS
Doctor of Dental Surgery or DMD, Doctor of Dental Medicine. Degrees given to dental school

graduates. Both degrees are the same, but particular dental schools identify at their discretion

their graduates as DMD or DDS.   Top of Page

Dental Hygienist
A dental professional specializing in cleaning the teeth by removing plaque, calculus, and

diseased gum tissue. The hygienist acts as the patient's guide in establishing a proper

oral hygiene program.    Top of Page

Dental Implant
A dental implant is an artificial tooth root placed into the jaw to hold a replacement tooth

or bridge in place. Dental experts say that implants are actually more tooth-saving than

traditional bridgework, since implants do not rely on neighboring teeth for support.

Top of Page

Dry Socket
A localized inflammation of the tooth socket following an extraction due to infection or

loss of a blood clot.   Top of Page

Endodontist
A specialist who treats injuries, diseases, and infections of the tooth nerve tissue (pulp).   

Top of Page

Extraction
The removal of a tooth that is severely decayed, broken, loose, or causing crowding.  

Top of Page

Fluoride
A chemical compound used to prevent dental decay, utilized in fluoridated water systems

and/or applied directly to the teeth.

Top of Page

Halitosis
Halitosis, or bad breath, may be caused by bacteria in the mouth, however, it sometimes

may be an indication of gum disease. Persistent bad breath needs the attention of a dental

professional to prevent possible tooth loss.   Top of Page

Impacted Tooth
An unerupted or partially erupted tooth that is positioned against another tooth, bone or soft

tissue so that complete eruption is unlikely.    Top of Page

Local Anesthetic
The injection given in the mouth to numb the areas where a tooth or area needs a dental

procedure. Often referred to as novocaine.

Top of Page

Molars
The back teeth which are designed for grinding food before swallowing.     Top of Page

Nitrous Oxide
A controlled mixture of nitrogen and oxygen gases (N2O) that is inhaled by the patient in

order to decrease sensitivity to pain. Also referred to as laughing gas.    Top of Page

Novocaine
A generic name for the many kinds of anesthetics used in the dental injection, such as

Xylocaine, Lidocaine, or Novocaine.

Top of Page

Periodontal Diseases (Gum Disease)
Gingivitis and periodontitis are serious infections, if left untreated, can lead to the loss of

the tooth. Periodontal disease is a chronic bacterial infection that affects the gums and bone

supporting the teeth.   Top of Page

Prophylaxis
The professional cleaning and removal of plaque, stains, and calculus on the teeth, performed

by a dentist or dental hygienist. Most dental experts recommend that professional teeth cleaning

be done at least every six months.   Top of Page

Root Canal
According to the American Dental Association - Here's how your tooth is saved through treatment:
First, an opening is made through the crown of the tooth.
An opening is made through the crown of the tooth into the pulp chamber.
The pulp is then removed. The root canal(s) is cleaned and shaped to a form that can be filled.
The pulp is removed, and the root canals are cleaned, enlarged and shaped.
Medications may be put in the pulp chamber and root canal(s) to help get rid of germs and prevent

infection.
A temporary filling will be placed in the crown opening to protect the tooth between dental visits.

Your dentist may leave the tooth open for a few days to drain. You might also be given medicine

to help control infection that may have spread beyond the tooth.
The pulp chamber and root canals are filled and sealed.
The temporary filling is removed and the pulp chamber and root canal(s) are cleaned and filled.
In the final step, a gold or porcelain crown is usually placed over the tooth. If an endodontist

performs the treatment, he or she will recommend that you return to your family dentist for this

final step.
The crown of the tooth is then restored.     Top of Page

T.M.J.
The temporomandibular joints (TMJs) connect your lower jaw to your skull. There are two matching

joints, one on each side of your head, located just in front of your ears.
The abbreviation "TMJ" refers to the joint but is often used to refer to any disorder or symptom

in this area. Some of the symptoms may include - popping sounds in the jaw; the inability to fully

open the mouth; jaw pain; headaches; toothaches; earaches and other types of facial pain.    

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Tooth Whitening
Tooth whitening consists of a mild bleaching of the tooth surface to restore discolored or stained

teeth to their natural, healthy color. Many dental experts suggest that over-the-counter whiteners

are ineffective and unproven and recommend this procedure be done in a dentist's office.   

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Veneers
Veneers are custom, porcelain facings which are bonded to the surfaces of the teeth to whiten

teeth, close spaces and straighten teeth. Veneers are also used to repair chipped or worn teeth.   

Top of Page

Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teeth, also known as third molars are the last teeth to erupt. This occurs usually between

the ages of 17 and 25. There remains a great deal of controversy regarding whether or not these teeth

need to be removed. It is generally suggested that teeth that remain completely buried or un-erupted

in a normal position are unlikely to cause harm. However, if these impacted teeth are in an abnormal

position (a dentist can show you this on an x-ray), their potential for harm should be assessed.