Dental Assistant Flashcards
Alginate
Irreversible hydrocolloid dental impression material
Air compressor
Machine that provides air under pressure; and dental areas to provide air pressure to operate handpieces and air syringe
Alveolar process
Bone tissue of the maxilla and mandible that contains alveoli (sockets) for roots of the teeth.
Amalgam
Alloy (mixture) of various metals and mercury; restorative or filling material used primarily on posterior teeth.
Anesthesia
The state of inability to feel sensation, especially of pain.
Anterior
Before, or in front of
Apex
The pointed extremity of a cone like structure; rounded, lower end of the heart, below the ventricles
Apical foramen
The opening a picture of it to Siri: allows blood vessels and nerves to enter a tooth.
Aspirating syringe
Special dental anesthetic syringe designed to hold carpules
Assistant’s cart
Areas of storage for assistant’s tools, Tri-flow/ air-water syringe, high velocity oral evaluator, cuspidor.
Base
Protective dental material placed over the pulpal area of a tooth to reduce irritation and thermal shock.
Bicuspids
(Aka premolars) teeth that pulverize/ grind food and are located between cuspids and molars
Bitewings
(Cavity-detecting x-ray) X-ray that shows only the crowns of the teeth
Buccal surface
Outside surface of the posterior teeth; surface facing cheek; facial surface of bicuspids and molars
Burs
Small, rotating instruments of various types; used in dental hand pieces to prepare cavities for filling with restorative materials
Various lesions (caries)
Occurrences of tooth decay
Dental light
Light used in dental units to light the oral cavity
Dentin
Tissue that makes up the main bulk of a tooth
Dentitions
Number, type and arrangement of teeth in the mouth
Distal
Most distant / farthest from the trunk; center or midline
Doctor’s cart
Cart with tools for the doctor most have metostats, low-speed hand piece, contra angle, and burs
Enamel
Hardest tissue in the body; covers outside crown of the tooth
Federation Dentaire International System
Abbreviated means of identifying the teeth that uses a two-digit code to identify the quadrant of the tooth
Gingiva
The gums (tissues surrounding the teeth).
Halitosis
Bad breath
High-speed hand piece
(Ultraspeed hand piece) used to do most of the cutting and preparation of the tooth during dental procedures.
High-velocity oral evacuator
(High volume or high-vacuum evacuator) used to remove debris,particles, and large amounts of liquid from the oral cavity
Impression
Negative reproduction of a tooth or dental arch
Incisal
Cutting edge of a tooth
Incisors
Teeth located in the front and center of the mouth; used to cut food
Labial
Crown surface of anterior teeth that lies next to the lips; facial surface of the anterior teeth
Line angles
Area on the crown surfaces of a tooth formed by a line drawn between two surfaces
Liner
dental material that covers or lines exposed tooth tissue, usually in form of varnish
Lingual
Crown surface of teeth that is next to the tongue
Low-speed hand piece
Slower hand piece in dental units; used to remove caries and for fine finishing work
Mandibular
Teeth in the alveoli of the mandible, or lower jaw bone
Maxillary
Upper jaw bone; teeth in sockets, or alveoli of the maxilla.
Mesial
Side surface of teeth that are toward the midline of the mouth
Model
(Cast) a positive reproduction of the dental arches or teeth in plaster or similar materials
Molars
Teeth in the back of the mouth; largest/ strongest teeth; used to grind food
Occlusal
Chewing/ biting surface of posterior teeth
Occlusal films
Used to view occlusal (chewing) planes of the upper and lower jawbone.
Dientes (teeth)
Accessory to the digestive tract that tears/ breaks down food before it is swallowed
