Lexicon Flashcards
learn dental jargon
Active Patients
Patients who have had at least 1 visit (for any treatment or service, with anyone… doctor or RDH) within the last 18 months
Accounts Receivable
“AR” All money owed to the practice including both that owed by patients and outstanding insurance balances
Amalgam
Silver filling
Anterior
front. as in “Anterior Composite” which is a white or tooth-colored filling on one of the front teeth
AACD
The American Academy of cosmetic dentistry is the largest organization in the world dedicated solely to the Art and Science of cosmetic dentistry. There are approximately six or seven thousand. dentists around the world in the academy. In the entire history of the academy, only about 400 dentists have ever achieved accreditation. Accreditation by the AACD is a two-year process which includes performing 5 cases specified by the academy, photo-documenting those cases, and then coming before the board to present them. Accreditation examination also includes an oral defense of those cases as well as written documentation and presentation which is submitted to the board for each case. Achieving accreditation by the AACD is a huge accomplishment for any dentist who wants to perfect and improve and their skills in appearance-related or aesthetic dentistry. Way more doctors fail to achieve accreditation and do not pass the exam than those who succeed. Subsequent to having achieved accreditation in 1990, the first dentist in Massachusetts to have done so, Dr. Orent was asked to serve on the board of accreditation as an examiner and did so for 6 years . Way more doctors fail to achieve accreditation and do not pass the exam than those who succeed. Subsequent to having achieved accreditation in 1990, the first dentist in Massachusetts to have done so, Dr. Orent was asked to serve on the board of accreditation as an examiner and did so for 6 years
Asymptomatic
Doesn’t have any symptoms. The tooth has No pain, bleeding, or fracture. Often an asymptomatic patient thinks everything is “just fine.” A tooth can be asymptomatic and NOT have problems. Or it COULD have problems.
Back Door
Recall retention, i.e., how well they get folks back in for a hygiene visit, cleaning etc. “close the back door” means reduce the loss of patients who don’t return for routine recall
BT Call
breakthrough call (the calls we do with a prospective new member)
BT Call
breakthrough call (same as BSS)
Bu, Cr
build-up and crown.
Buildup and Crown
If a tooth is too badly decayed or broken that a filling would not support it… a build-up is like a super strong core or filling we bond into the broken down shell of the remaining tooth structure after having removed the caries (= decay). The crown (cap) is then placed over the buildup.
Caries
bacterial decay. In layman’s terms, a “cavity.”
CBCT
cone beam computer tomography. a piece of $50,000 to $80,000+ technology that scans and gives 3D computer generated views of all the structures. Bone, teeth, nerves etc. It’s used most often to determine how much bone there is an exactly where is best to place an implant
CE
continuing education courses
Cerec
CAD CAM. Cerec (and Trios, Planmeca et.) is CAD CAM (computer assisted design, computer assisted manufacture) technology to make same day crowns in-office. Instead of an impression, it’s a virtual 3D scanned impression. then the computer runs a milling device and cuts the crown to be cemented same day
Clear Correct
is another brand of clear aligners, e.g. Invisalign (the original clear aligner). we often say to the doctors Invisalign or WHATEVER brand of clear aligners you prefer
Coaches: Scheduling Institute SI
Jay Geier. SI = The Scheduling Institute… the 800 pound gorilla of dental practice consulting and coaching. Owned/run by Jay Geier. Last I heard doing $50,000,000 per year, likley now doing $100,000,000 or more
Coaches: MGE
Very large management consulting group based on Scientology. Some doctors like and benefit from MGE but will tell you they are NOT aligned with the scientology part of it. Others love the whole thing, and some hate it DUE to the scientology.
Scientology
L.Ron Hubbard. Some (e.g. MGE) PM companies use it as a basis for diagnosing what’s wrong with your practice, then point towards problems in your life that are the root cause etc.
Collections
Money received both from patients and insurance. Money deposited in the bank
Comprehensive Exam
Complete and thorough exam usually done for each new patient. Often can be 45 min to an hour. Far more thorough than a 5 or 10 minute recall exam
Cone Beam
CBCT Cone Beam computer tomography. a piece of $50,000 to $80,000+ technology that scans and gives 3D computer generated views of all the structures. Bone, teeth, nerves etc. It’s used most often to determine how much bone there is an exactly where is best to place an implant
Copay
Copayment. it’s the amount a patient pays. E.g. fee $1,000. Insurance PPO requires 30% adjustment (write off). Thus $700 is the “allowable” fee. Perhaps insurance pays $300 of that, and the patients “copay” is $400.
Craze Lines
very tiny little micro-fractures routinely found throughout the enamel. They rarely if ever cause any problems, are not necessarily visible without magnification, are harmless and thus don’t require treatment.
Crown
Cap over the tooth for support. Could be white (porcelain or other materials), could Gold
Cusp
Cusp is one of 2 chewing points on a bicuspid (premolar) or 4 points on a molar
DA, CDA, EFDA
DA - dental assistant, CDA - certified dental assistant , EFDA - expanded functions dental assistant - all have different certifications based on state laws
Dawson, Pankey
Two deceased dentists each of whom built 2 of the worlds most respected reconstruction and occlusion continuing education programs/institutes.
Dentin
is the inner yellowish substance under the enamel. it is MUCH softer than the enamel.
Diagnodent
one of many technologies that uses a diode laser to look below the enamel surface and a few mm into the tooth (dentin) to determine whether or not caries (dental cavity) has penetrated through the enamel and into the dentin… thus needs to be drilled out and a filling placed
Diagnodent, Canary, SoPro
see above (Diagnodent)
Differential Diagnosis
It is the act of using either technology, tests, symptoms etc. in order to decide WHICH of 2 or more conditions or disease states your patient is presenting with.
Downgrade
the insurance company chooses not to pay based upon the actual service provided, but instead, suggests that a cheaper alternative could have been done and thus they pay based on that alternative… worse, they may require that the dentist writes off the difference thus not allowing them to bill the patient for the difference)
DSO
Dental Service Organization. E.g. Heartland, Aspen, etc… this is “corporate dentistry.” These guys buy up small practices and create a chain of corporate offices which often require the doctors to hit quotas e.g. you must do 15 crowns and 12 root canals etc… These guys operate at super high efficiency and volume, and make the corp a lot of money… but pretty much burn out the docs and team, and patient care may suffer as a result. They get a LOT of the young doctors just out of school, because a doc just out of school can have 1/2 to 3/4 million in loans
EC
Enrollment coach (sales person)
Endo
Endo - short for endodontic therapy or often called “ root canal” - treating (i.e. removing) the nerve of the tooth in order to save the tooth. They remove the nerve and blood vessels then seal up the canal. Usually a GP then places a crown on the tooth for support. GPs often do most of their own endo.
Endodontist
A Dentist who continued education to specialize in Endodontics
Enrollment Coach
Same as EC same as Sales person
EOB
Explanation of Benefits. Its a report that accompanies the insurance payment for a patient’s treatment. If in-network, it will show how much the dentist is required to write-off due to the PPO network contract. It may also indicate denial of a claim, or downgrading (the insurance company chooses not to pay based upon the actual service provided, but instead, suggests that a cheaper alternative (they say) could have been done and thus they pay based on that alternative… worse, they may require that the dentist writes off the difference thus not allowing them to bill the patient for the difference)
Explorer Stick, Tugback
an “Explorer” is the dental pick, or hook-shaped metal instrument the doctor or RDH jams into the biting surface of a natural tooth to see if there is decay. If it pulls right out of the deep groove of the biting surface with ZERO resistance, then the doctor thinks there’s no cavity. If the doctor or RDH senses “tugback” (resistence when pulling the exporer off the groove, then they have diagnosed a cavity. Problem is, Journal of Caries Research shows that 76% of the time a doctor or RDH assumes there’s no cavity due to the absence of explorer tugback, they have missed caries (decay)
False Positives
a false positive is when the reading on the diagnodent for a particular groove in a tooth, indicates decay… the doctor opens up the tooth with the drill… and it turns out that there is NO DECAY! It was a false positive
FFS
Fee-for-service. i.e. they are not in-network with any PPOs (or any other type of discounted rate contracted insurance). They charge and get their full fees
Composite
a toothcolored filling or “white filling” often referred to as resin (high-tech plastic) - they are one in the same
Resin
a tooth colored filling or “ white filling” often referred to as composite - they are one in the same
Amalgam
a metal looking filling ( silver in color )
Pit, fissure and groove
these are the tiny crevices usually in the biting surfaces of molars and premolars, but can have pits on the lingual (tongue side) of the upper anterior (front)
Florida Probe
Software that allows for voice-controlled Perio charting (hygienist can speak the pocket readings and it charts automatically)
Front Door
New patient flow
FUP
Followup
GLQ
Golden Line of Questions. These are the specific questions and T-Off questions we ask during Uncover to get us to the truth of the pain and emotional consequences as quickly as possible
GP
General Practitioner or General Dentist. NOTE: we ONLY work with GPs and Prosthodontists (if the doctor on the call is any other specialty, ask if he has GPs working for him. If not, let him know we can only help General Dentists, then wish him well and politely end the call.
Gram Negative Anaerobic Bacteria
it’s the type of bacteria that lives DEEP in the periodontal (gum) pockets around the neck of the tooth. They hide down there because “anerobic” means they DIE in the presence of oxygen
Hygiene recall visit
typically prophy (cleaning), periodic exam (recall exam), bitewing xrays (usually shooting 4, 2 on each side), Fluoride treatment
RDH
Licensed hygienist usually female BUT don’t assume, since perhaps 10% are male. They clean teeth, do periodontal phase I therapy, shoot xrays, etc.
Implant
Titanium substitute for a missing tooth. Drill into the bone, screw the implant in place, then put an “implant crown” onto the implant “abutment”
Implant Placement
The surgical portion of getting an implant. Drill into the bone, screw the implant in place. IMPORTANT because… when you are speaking about Precision targeted marketing funnels, a TON of the doctors would love to bring in more implant patients. A small % of the GPs not only “RESTORE IMPLANTS (make the crown on top of the implant)” but they also PLACE implants (the surgical portion) instead of referring to a periodontist or oral surgeon.
Implant Restoration
The crown (tooth portion, above the gum) placed on an implant
Incipient Caries
Incipient = early or initial stage. Incipient caries = a cavity that is just barely into the enamel and has not yet broken through to the Dentin (soft, inner part of the tooth below the enamel)
Inlay
a restoration white or gold, made at a lab (or milled in-office) to restore the drilled out portion after removal of decay or caries. Specifically difference between an inlay and an onlay is that the inlay is WITHIN the cusps, whereas an ONLY extends up onto or over at least one cusp
PPO
Preferred Provider Organization. The Devil! Satan! The abyss of the Earth! PPO insurance seduces dentists to sign a contract with the knowledge the doc can get more patients. The downside is that when you are signed up, thus “in net-work” with a PPO, you are bound by law to REDUCE YOUR FEES based upon the PPO contract. That reduction can range from 20% (about the lowest you’ll see) to 40%… and some in CA are at 50%!
DMO
Dental Maintenance Organization. (unsure exactly what these are… but they are NOT PPOs and are likely WORSE)
In-network
signed a PPO contract (or other form of network insurance contract)
preferred provider
An in-network, under contract, provider of services. insurance seduces dentists to sign a contract with the knowledge the doc can get more patients. The downside is that when you are signed up, thus “in net-work” with a PPO, you are bound by law to REDUCE YOUR FEES based upon the PPO contract. That reduction can range from 20% (about the lowest you’ll see) to 40%… and some in CA are at 50%!
Adjustments
An adjustment is the amount by which the PPO requires the doctor to WRITE OFF of their fee. E.g. $1,000 crown and that PPO contract requires a 30% adjustment… that’s a reduction of $300 off the crown. The doc is only legally able to collect a total of $700 between what insurance pays and the patient portion
FFS
abbreviation for fee for service ( see FFS above)
fee-for-service
when patients pay the full fee and no insurace comanies are involved
OON
out of network = a dentist who is NOT signed with the patient’s PPO insurance… they CAN still treat the patient and CAN still get insurance benefits paid for the patient… but the 2 big differences out of network are that 1. the insurance company will pay less (patient pays more) and, 2. the insurance company will send the check to the patient (thus the doc must be sure to collect from the patient)
out of network provider
out of network = a dentist who is NOT signed with the patient’s PPO insurance… they CAN still treat the patient and CAN still get insurance benefits paid for the patient… but the 2 big differences out of network are that 1. the insurance company will pay less (patient pays more) and, 2. the insurance company will send the check to the patient (thus the doc must be sure to collect from the patient)
full fee
office fee - not to be confused with an allowed amount (the amount an insurance company dictates as the maximum allowable amount by law, IF the doc is in-network)
top-line fee
same as full fee
We enter the network fees
Some doctors/offices have given up entering their full fees into the computer. Mrs. Jones has a $1500 crown. She has Aetna PPO which e.g. requires $400 adjustment… so the office enters $1,100 as the production in her account INSTEAD OF the $1500 which SHOULD have been entered. They do this for a few reasons. Saves time. It’s easier. This saves them from having to do a 2nd step, which is after the EOB comes in with the check, they’d have to do the adjustment at that time. The REASON they should be putting in FULL FEE then adjusting is that its the ONLY way they’ll know how much they are losing to insurance each year.
We enter our full fee then adjust aftewards
This is the way it SHOULD be done from a business standpoint (see “we enter network fees” for the other way)
EOB
estimation of benefits - when insurance pays they send an EOB to list out what they pay, what patient is responsible for and the allowed contracted fee if there is one
Invisalign
a brand of “clear aligners” to straighten teeth - many other brands out there - this one is very popular and used when applicable vs - metal or clear bracket and wires ( traditional braces)
Itero
A 3D scanner that takes an OPTICAL IMPRESSION. Replaces gooey messy impression material in full mouth trays when needing an impression for a crown or other units
Loupes
High magnification device that dentists and surgeons where on or over their glasses to magnifiy
Open Margin
Margin is where the filling or crown meets the remaining tooth structure. When initially placed, fillings and crowns are very tightly sealed, perfectly fitting, against the remaining tooth structure. Over the years, the edges of the filling or tooth can begin to erode or pull back, leaving a small but (under magnification) visible opening between the tooth and the restoration. When the margins are open, saliva with bacteria leaks in between, often causing new decay or cavities under the old filling or crown
Mandible
lower jaw
Maxillary
upper jaw
Milled
A restoration (porcelain-like, perhaps Zirconia etc.) that is created by 3D CAD CAM in-office
MOD, MODB, MODBL etc
Surfaces of the tooth. E.g. on MOD would be a 3-surface filling. MODB 4-suface. DO, or MO 2-surface etc. The doctor might mention that there was this big old hunkin MODBL or MODBLXYZ (that’s not real, but an exaggeration) filling… meaning that the remaining tooth structure is likely not enough to support another filling and if there’s decay around or under the old filling, the only proper solution would be a build-up and crown (not another even bigger filling!)
MODBLF explained
M = Mesial or towards the front of the mouth. D = Distal or towards the back of the mouth. O = Occlusal or the biting or chewing surface. B = Buccal or towards the cheek. L = Lingual or towards the tongue. I = Incisal or at biting edge of front teeth. F = facial, same as buccal but for the front teeth (the surface facing out on front teeth)
Occlusion
The way the teeth meet, come together, chew, function. Occlusion depends not only on the way the teeth meet, but also on the muscles of occlusion, as well as the TMJ or Jaw joint
Onlay
An Onlay could be porcelain or gold and like a crown, it gives strength to a tooth that has been damaged beyond what a filling can fix. However, it does NOT require drilling 360 degrees around the tooth as is required to prep or prepare a crown. It is used if one side or the other, e.g. buccal (side towards the cheek) or the lingual (side towards tongue) is undamaged. So, picture in your mind a 3/4 crown.
OP
I have 4 OPS in my office. Means they have 4 operatories = treatment rooms = chairs
Operatory
I have 4 OPS in my office. Means they have 4 operatories = treatment rooms = chairs
Oral Systemic Link
The relationship between the health of the mouth, and the health of the entire body. E.g. if you have gum disease (periodontal disease) you have infection living deep in the periodontal pockets (surrounding the neck of the teeth). the bacteria will always cross the blood-membrane barrier and then go through your bloodstream causing all sorts of other health issues (potentially). e.g. Diabetic patients have trouble with circulation in their fingers and toes and gums. Perio disease can make it tougher for them to control their blood sugar etc etc… can put their limbs and life at risk. Recent research showed that if a patient has perio disease (even no symptoms), they are at THREE TIMES HIGHER RISK of dying from COVID than the patient with healthy gums.
Invisalign
brand of “clear aligners” to straighten teeth
Clear Correct
brand of “clear aligners” to straighten teeth
Six month smiles or SMS
this is a method that some GPs studied and use to do fairly rapid orthodontics
Ortho Fx
brand of “clear aligners” to straghten teeth
Orthodontist
When a General Dentist continues thier education in a specialty area - generally another 2 years of specialty training for traditional braces. sometimes called “straightwire”
Traditional bands and brackets ortho
metal or clear brackets attached to teeth with a wire in them to straighten teeth
Ontraport
Ontraport. Our CRM (the software app we use to store contacts, data, send emails, texts, charge members etc.)
OTP
Ontraport. Our CRM (the software app we use to store contacts, data, send emails, texts, charge members etc.)
Pedodontist
Children’s dentist. NOTE: the ONLY specialty we can help are prosthodontists! if you learn you have a pedodontist on the phone, politely end the conversation and wish them well.
Perio
Periodontal or gums. Perio also includes, gums and bone (the tissues surround the tooth)
SRP
Scaling and Root Planing = deep scaling = deep cleaning… it’s the first phase of care for a gum infection prior to (or sometime not even needing) perio surgery. root planing is smoothing off the roots with the scaling instruments. this is done by quadrant. Sometimes 1 or 2 quads per visit. Usually under local anesthetic
Phase I Perio
Scaling and Root Planing = deep scaling = deep cleaning… it’s the first phase of care for a gum infection prior to (or sometime not even needing) perio surgery. root planing is smoothing off the roots with the scaling instruments. this is done by quadrant. Sometimes 1 or 2 quads per visit. Usually under local anesthetic
Deep Cleaning
is same as SRP
Periodontist
Gum specialist (2 years after GP dental school)
Complete perio probing and charting
measuring of the periodontal pockets or spaces between the gums and teeth. done with a probe, usually by RDH, sometimes by the doctor. Healthy is 3mm or less with no bleeding. Infection is 4 mm or deeper, with bleeding upon probing
Gingival Recontouring
If a patient has a “gummy smile…” they show too much gum and as a result, their teeth look smaller than normal, the dentist may use a laser or a scalpel to reshape, recontour, redesign the maxillary anterior (top front) gums to create better esthetic balance.
Posterior
towards the back. as in Posterior or back teeth (from the premolars aka bicuspids back to the molars)
Prepping
Prepping is drilling. E.g. you “prep” a crown by drilling the old silver out and shaping the remaining tooth structure so that a crown can be made to fit on top of the remainder. The “prep” is the remaining tooth structure after drilling but before placing the filling or crown.
Prevident
prescription Fluoride toothpaste
Production, Top Line
Production Top Line = how much the office billed (during whatever time period) based on FULL FEES
Production, Adjusted
aka “collectible production.” Production minus adjustments for PPOs and other minor adjustments (friends, family, military, senior citizens, clergy) NOTE: the minor are usually VERY small and NOT something we want to discuss or spend any time on
Prophy
dental cleaning. Prophylaxis
Prostho
Prosthodontist is a GP dentist who went back for at least 2 more years of speciality training in crown & bridge. Crowns, implants, major reconstruction, occlusion etc. Prostho is the ONLY specialty we can work with and help.
Pulp
The nerve chamber which include the nerve and the blood vessels
Quadrant
one quarter of the mouth. UR (upper right), UL (upper left) etc.
Quadrant Dentistry
when the doctor performs crowns, bridges, implants… thus PROSTHETIC dentistry (NOT FILLINGS) at least 3 or 4 units (teeth) in the SAME quadrant at the SAME TIME. Prep 1st visit, 2nd visit place all 3 or 4 units
Quadrant Prosthetic Dentistry
when the doctor performs crowns, bridges, implants… thus PROSTHETIC dentistry (NOT FILLINGS) at least 3 or 4 units (teeth) in the SAME quadrant at the SAME TIME. Prep 1st visit, 2nd visit place all 3 or 4 units
Quadrant Scaling
Periodontal or perio scaling or Phase I perio therapy (see above)
Recall visit
hygiene visit during which a cleaning, sometimes xrays, perio charting etc. are performed. most often twice per year. if a perio patient, then often 4 times per year.
Recall retention
bringing the patients back in for routine, consistent recall (prophy, reexam) visits.
Recall Apps or hi tech recall software systems
Solution Reach, Lighthouse 360, Demand Force, Weave, etc….
Periododic exam
Periodic exam = recall exam = 5 or 10 min section of the hygiene recall visit
Recare
Same as recall. Periodic exam = recall exam = 5 or 10 min section of the hygiene recall visit
Restorative
Includes, anything that rebuilds or restores teeth to their natural look and function. e.g. fillings, crowns, bridges, implants.
Scanner
E.g. Itero. Takes an optical 3D impression
Six Month Smiles
(see above in ORTHO)
Sleep dentistry
The whole realm of practice in which the doctor is diagnosing OSA or obstructive sleep apnea… e.g. when the patient is not able to breathe well during the night/sleep and his/her sleep is interrupted (apnea events… i.e. not breathing events) for 30 seconds or even a minute… hundreds of times during the night. Can be life-threatening. Dentists are not allowed to make the final diagnosis… so if they screen for and find this, they refer to a sleep MD. The MD will often Rx CPAP which is a forced air system mask the patient wears at night. If the patient can’t tolerate that, then the dentist steps in and creates an oral sleep appliance.
SPA
Senior Practice Analyst (aka EC Enrollment Coach aka sales person)
TMJ, TMD
Temporomandibular Join. Temporomandiublar Join Dysfunction. TMJ is the jaw joint.
Transillumination
The use of a wavelenght and intensity specific light which allows differential diagnosis (discovery of) deep dentin cracks. Often asymptomatic. Will put the tooth at risk of catastrophic failure (fracture which may result in loss of the tooth) if not proatively treated with a BU and Crown.
Woofoo
It’s the pre-call form we use. WF1 is the first part. WF2 is the 2nd part.
Quadrant Dentistry
There’s no magic about the definition, but Dr Orent defines “quadrant prosthetic dentistry” as at least 3 teeth in the quadrant, on which you perform either crowns, Onlays, implants, bridge etc…
that is, 3 or 4 teeth you prep during ONE SITTING, and NOT fillings.
Would you say that in your practice there’s at least ONE more quadrant, even just a THREE tooth quadrant per week that either wasn’t recommended OR… WAS recommended but not accepted? Bottom line… with the right verbal skills, graphics and presentation by your hygienist PRIOR to you walking in the room… is there room to improve by 1 quadrant of crown and bridge per week?
Umbrella Shared Leased
An Umbrella network is also called a “shared network” aka “leased network.” This is a behind the scenes relationship between a number of insurance companies. Even though you are NOT IN-NETWORK with her plan, the EOB from insurance tellsl you that you must reduce your fee for the two crowns by $1100. Her PPO is one of 9 companies in an umbrella or shared network. Based upon one of your contracts with a different plan you are legally required to reduce your fees for Mrs. Jones and anyone else in this other plan. In fact, You must reduce your fees for patients in any one of the nine plans within this umbrella or shared network.
