Dental Encyclopedia
Anterior
The front position.
Bridge
A prosthesis fixed inside the mouth to replace missing teeth.
Bruxism
Teeth grinding.
Canker sore
An ulceration with a yellow base and a red border in the mouth. It can be caused by trauma or the herpes simplex virus.
Caries
Tooth decay.
Cast
A model of teeth.
Cavity
A hole in the tooth.
Clasp
A metal arm extended from a removable partial denture. It helps to hold onto natural tooth structure and provide anchorage for the denture.
Composite
White filling.
Denture
An artificial object to replace missing teeth and their neighboring structures.
Desensitization
A procedure to reduce the sensitivity of teeth.
Diagnosis
The process of identifying dental disease.
Diastema
The space between two adjacent teeth.
Eruption
The process of a tooth appearing in the mouth.
Extruded
When a tooth is pushed partially out of the socket.
Fluoride
A compound of fluorine that can strengthen teeth.
Gingivitis
The mildest form of gum disease.
Hemorrhage
Bleeding.
Hemostasis
The cessation of bleeding.
Impaction
A condition where a tooth is not able to come in normally.
Implant
A device put in the jawbone to support a false tooth, denture, or bridge.
Impression
A mold taken by some jelly-like material loaded on a tray.
Incisal
The cutting edge of front teeth.
Incisor
The four upper and lower front teeth.
Inlay
A restoration (usually gold, composite, or ceramic) fabricated in the lab. It cements onto a tooth like a missing puzzle piece, helping to restore the normal function and outlook of the tooth.
Interproximal
The space between two adjacent teeth.
Incisor
The four upper and lower front teeth.
Lingual
The side of the tooth towards the tongue.
Mesial
A device put in the jawbone to support a false tooth, denture, or bridge.
Mouthguard
A device worn in the mouth to prevent injury. Depending on its design, it can prevent damage caused by sports or bruxism.
Nightguard
A mouthguard worn during the night.
Occlusal
The biting surface of the back teeth.
Occlusion
The way the upper and lower teeth close together.
Onlay
A restoration that covers the entire biting surface of a tooth.
Open bite
An abnormal bite relationship where the upper teeth are not able to contact the opposing lower teeth.
Orthodontics
A dental specialty involving the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of bite abnormalities or facial irregularities.
Overbite
The overlap of upper teeth and lower teeth.
Overhang
The portion of filling material that hangs beyond the border of the cavity.
Palate
The roof of the mouth.
Panoramic Radiograph
An x-ray film used to obtain a wide view of the upper and lower jaw, as well as their associated structures.
Perforation
An opening on a tooth or other oral structure.
Periapical
The surrounding of the bottom of the root of a tooth.
Periodontics
A dental specialty involving the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of gum (periodontal) disease.
Pontic
False tooth.
Posterior
Located at the back.
Pre-medication
Medication that needs to be taken before treatment.
Premolar
The two teeth located in front of the molar.
Primary teeth
Baby teeth.
Pulp
The innermost part of a tooth. It contains nerves and blood vessels.
Pulpectomy
The removal of the whole pulp inside a tooth.
Pulpotomy
The removal of the top part of the pulp inside a tooth.
Radiograph
An x-ray picture.
Retainer
A device used for maintaining the position of teeth in the jaw.
Retreatment
The process of repeating root canal treatment.
Root
The bottom part of a tooth. It anchors the tooth to its supporting units.
Root Canal
The canal that runs inside the root of the tooth. It contains the nerves and blood vessels inside the tooth.
Root planing
The action of cleaning the root area of teeth.
Rubber dam
A collection of pus. Usually forms because of infection.
Scaling
The action of cleaning teeth below the gumline.
Sealant
A thin layer of plastic-like material covering the grooves and pits on a tooth to prevent cavities.
Sedation
The use of medication to calm a patient.
Space Maintainer
An appliance to maintain the space between teeth.
Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ)
The joint that links the two parts of the jaw.
Torus
An outgrowth of bone. It usually develops on the roof of the mouth or around the premolar area on the lower jaw.
Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ)
The joint that links the two parts of the jaw.
Torus
An outgrowth of bone. It usually develops on the roof of the mouth or around the premolar area on the lower jaw.
Wisdom tooth
The eighth (also the last) tooth from the middle of the jaw.
Xerostomia
Dry mouth.
“I’m very glad I discovered Dr. Ferber. I came to him because I had a multitude of dental problems. The teeth were just a disaster, and I was totally embarrassed to smile. I kept replacing teeth and going in for crowns and root canals. Finally, I decided I wanted to go for a full-mouth implant. I wish I had done this many years ago. The results are just exemplary. If you’re suffering like I was for many, many years, do not hesitate.”
“People ask me all the time where I got my new smile done and I tell them Dr. Ferber. Before I got the work done, I didn’t feel very confident. I didn’t want anyone to see me smile. And now, I love to smile, and I get so many compliments on my smile. It was an easy, painless experience. The staff was great, and the price was right.”
“Dr. Ferber really knows his stuff. Since I had my teeth really done over, I have my smile back. And I have my giggle back! I would say that anybody questioning what they should do, they should come here. The whole team treats you like you’re family. They’re warm and they care.”
