Dental terminology #2 Flashcards
Abrasion
Tooth wear caused by improper brushing or excessively forceful use of toothpicks or floss
Abutment
Tooth or teeth on either side of a missing tooth that supports a fixed bridge or removable partial
Acrylic resin
a plastic widely used in dentistry
air/mircro abrasion
A drill-free technique that blasts the tooth surface with air and an abrasive. The relatively new technology may avoid the need for an anesthetic and can be used to remove some tooth decay, old composite restorations and superficial stains, and discolorations, and prepare a tooth surface for bonding or sealants.
Alveolar bone
the bone surrounding the root of the tooth, anchoring it in place; loss of this bone is a possible sign of periodontal (gum) disease
amalgam
a common filling material used to repair cavities. Silver fillings contain mercury in combination with silver, tin, copper, and sometimes zinc
anaerobic bacteria
bacteria that do not need oxygen to grow; they are generally associated with periodontal disease
analgesia
a state of pain relief; an agent for lessening pain
antibiotic
a drug that stops or slows the growth of bacteria
antiseptic
a chemical agent that can be applied to living tissues to destroy germs
apex
tip of the root of a tooth
baby bottle tooth decay
decay in infants and children, most often affecting the upper front teeth, caused by liquids given and left clinging to the teeth for long periods
biofeedback
a relaxation technique that involves learning how to better cope with pain and stress by altering behavior, thoughts, and feelings
biopsy
removal of a small piece of tissue for diagnostic examination
bleaching
chemical treatment of natural teeth that uses peroxide to produce the whitening effect
bone resorption
decrease in the amount of bone supporting the roots of teeth; a common result of periodontal (gum) disease
bruxism
grinding or gnashing of the teeth, most commonly during sleep
calcium
an element needed for the development of healthy teeth, bones, and nerves
calculus
hard, calcium-like deposits that form on teeth due to inadequate plaque control, often stained yellow or brown (aka tar tar)
canker sore
sores or small shallow ulcers that appear in the mouth and often make eating and talking uncomfortable
cementum
hard tissue that covers the roots of teeth
cleft lip
a physical split or separation of the two sides of the upper lip that appears as a narrow opening or gap in the skin of the upper lip
cleft palate
a split or opening in the roof of the mouth
composite resin filling
tooth-colored restorative material composed of plastic with small glass or ceramic particles; usually “cured” or hardened with filtered light or chemical catalyst
conventional denture
a denture that is ready for placement in the mouth about eight to 12 weeks after the teeth have been removed
cusps
the high points on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth
cyst
an abnormal sac containing gas, fluid or a semisolid material
demineralization
loss of mineral from tooth enamel just below the surface in a carious lesion; usually appears as a white area on the tooth surface
fistula
channel emanating pus from an infection site; a gum boil
fluoride
a mineral that helps strengthen teeth enamel making teeth less susceptible to decay
fluorosis
discoloration of the enamel due to too much fluoride ingestion into the bloodstream also called enamel mottling
gum recession
exposure of dental roots due to shrinkage of the gums as a result of abrasion, erosion, periodontal disease, or surgery
gutta percha
the material used in the filling of root canals
halitosis
bad breath of oral or gastrointestinal origin
immediate denture
a complete or partial denture that is made in advance and can be positioned as soon as the natural teeth are removed
impression
mold made of the teeth and soft tissues
incision and drainage
surgical incision of an abscess to drain pus
inlay
similar to a filling but made outside the mouth and then cemented or bonded in
leukoplakia
a white or gray patch that develops on the tongue or the inside of the cheek. It is the mouth’s reaction to chronic irritation of the mucous membranes of the mouth
mercury
a metal component of amalgam fillings
muscle relaxant
a type of medication often prescribed to reduce muscle contractions, thus relieving pain
onlay
a type of restoration (filling) made of metal, porcelain, or acrylic that is more extensive than an inlay in that it covers one or more cusps. Onlays are sometimes called partial crowns
overbite
an excessive protrusion of the upper jaw resulting in a vertical overlap of the front teeth
overjet
an excessive protrusion of the upper jaw resulting in a horizontal overlap of the front teeth
overdenture
a denture that fits over residual roots or dental implants
partial denture
a removable appliance that replaces some of the teeth in either the upper or lower jaw
pathology
study of disease
periodontal ligament
the connective tissue that surrounds the tooth (specifically covering the cementum) and connects the tooth to the jawbone, holding it in place
porcelain fused to metal (PFM) crown
restoration with metal coping (for the strength) covered by porcelain (for appearance)
post
thin metal rod inserted into the root of a tooth after root canal therapy; provides retention for a cap that replaces lost tooth structure
pregnancy gingivitis
gingivitis that develops during pregnancy. the hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy especially the increased level of progesterone may make it easier for certain gingivitis-causing bacteria to grow and make gum tissue more sensitive to plaque and exaggerate the body’s response to the toxins (poisons) that result from plaque
pregnancy tumors
an extreme inflammatory reaction to a local irritation (such as food particles or plaque) that occurs in up to 10% of pregnant women and often in women who also have pregnancy gingivitis. pregnancy tumors appear on inflamed gum tissue as large lumps with deep red pinpoint markings on it, usually near the upper gum line. the red lump glistens, may bleed and crust over, and can make eating and speaking difficult and cause discomfort.
recontouring
a procedure in which small amounts of tooth enamel are removed to change a tooth’s length, shape, or surface
remineralization
redeposition or replacement of the tooth’s minerals into a demineralized (previously decayed) lesion. This reverses the decay process and is enhanced by the presence of topical fluoride
saliva
clear lubricating fluid in the mouth containing water, enzymes, bacteria, mucus, viruses, blood cells and undigested food particles
