Veterinary Dental Terminology

Question 1

alveolus

Answer 1

the socket that surrounds and supports the root of the tooth

Question 2

brachycephalic

Answer 2

refers to the shape of patient’s head; “shortened head”

Question 3

canine tooth

Answer 3

in mammals, one of the four largest, single-tooted teeth; they are relatively long and pointed and are sometimes called “fangs”

Question 4

conventional endodontic therapy

Answer 4

a procedure which removes contaminated pulp and fills the pulp cavity with a biologically inert material; also called a “root canal”

Question 5

crown

Answer 5

the part of the tooth visible above the gum line

Question 6

deciduous

Answer 6

baby teeth that will fall out, replaced by the adult dentition

Question 7

dental caries

Answer 7

tooth decay with demineralization of enamel and dentin (relatively rare in dogs)

Question 8

dolichocephalic

Answer 8

refers to the shape of a patient’s head; “long and narrow”

Question 9

epulis

Answer 9

common oral tumors, some of which are benign tumors of the periodontal ligament, some of which are locally aggressive and highly invasive neoplasms

Question 10

enamel

Answer 10

the covering over the crown of the tooth and the hardest substance in the body

Question 11

endodontics

Answer 11

a branch of dentistry dealing with the treatment of diseases that affect the tooth pulp

Question 12

exodontics

Answer 12

a branch of dentistry dealing with the extraction of teeth and related procedures

Question 13

extraction

Answer 13

removal of a tooth

Question 14

resorption lesion

Answer 14

common, painful “cavity” lesion often found at the neck of the tooth in cats; also known as ‘neck lesions’ or ‘cervical line lesions’

Question 15

gingiva

Answer 15

the gums

Question 16

gingivitis

Answer 16

inflammation of the gingiva

Question 17

malocclusion

Answer 17

improper alignment of the teeth

Question 18

mandibular

Answer 18

referring to the lower jaw

Question 19

mandibular prognathism

Answer 19

a longer than normal mandible

Question 20

maxillary

Answer 20

referring to the upper jaw

Question 21

maxillary brachygnathism

Answer 21

a shorter than normal upper jaw

Question 22

mesaticephalic

Answer 22

refers to the shape of the patient’s head; ‘medium-shaped’

Question 23

neck

Answer 23

the part of the tooth between crown and root located at the gum line

Question 24

occlusion

Answer 24

alignment of the teeth (the way the teeth fit together)

Question 25

odontoclast

Answer 25

one of the large multinucleate cells that are active during dental resoprtion

Question 26

orthodonitcs

Answer 26

a branch of dentistry dealing with the guidance and correction of malocclusion

Question 27

periodontal ligament

Answer 27

a fibrous structure which holds the tooth in the alveolus (socket)

Question 28

periodontics

Answer 28

the study and treatment of diseases of the tooth-supporting tissues

Question 29

prosthodontics

Answer 29

a branch of dentistry dealing with the construction of appliances designed to replace missing teeth and/or other adjacent structures

Question 30

pulp

Answer 30

the fleshy part in the center of a tooth comprised of soft tissue, cells, blood vessels and nerve endings

Question 31

pulp cavity

Answer 31

the hollow chamber in the tooth in which pulp tissue is located

Question 32

radiograph

Answer 32

an x-ray

Question 33

restorative/operative dentistry

Answer 33

the restoration of form and function of teeth

Question 34

root

Answer 34

the part of the tooth underneath the gum line

Question 35

root apex

Answer 35

the narrowed or pointed end of the root of a tooth

Question 36

rugae

Answer 36

the covering of the hard palate that is characterized by irregular ridges

Question 37

stomatitis

Answer 37

inflammation of the gingival and oral mucosa

Question 38

vital pulp therapy

Answer 38

a procedure which preserves healthy dental pulp