Dental Terminology
All
- Abscess
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An area of acute or chronic infection. Abscesses will sometimes drain pus into the mouth via a fistula. May be of tooth (endodontic/puplal) or gum (periodontal) origin.
- Abutment
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The teeth which are used to support a fixed(non-Removable) partial denture (aka a fixed bridge, or permanent bridge) via a crown, or teeth which are used to support a removable partial denture (aka a removable bridge or plate) . Implant Abutment: the middle connector in an implant restoration. It is usually screwed into the implant and projects into the mouth and is used to support the replacement tooth crown. It can be custom made or stock (pre-made one size fits all) and can also be used to support removable appliances (ie removable partial dentures).
- ADA
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The American Dental Association. It is the governing body for dentistry. It sets dental policy and determines the recognized dental specialties.
- Adult Teeth
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Also known as permanent teeth. These are the teeth that erupt after the primary or deciduous teeth. They are also called the adult teeth. They begin with the eruption of the first or 6 year molar around the sixth year of life. This tooth is immediately distal to the primary second molars (Baby teeth “A,J,K,T”) and does not replace a baby tooth but erupts distal to them. There are 32 permanent teeth in the adult mouth. From the midline moving distally the adult has a central incisor, a lateral incisor, a canine, a first and second pre-molar and then first, second, and third molars in each quadrant. They are identified by numbers beginning with the upper right third molar called tooth number one (this is the upper right wisdom tooth). The numbering system continues mesially to the mid-line before continuing distally to the upper left ending at tooth number 16 in the upper left. This is tooth number 16, the numbering system then drops down to the lower left third molar, this is tooth number 17. The system then moves mesially to the lower midline before continuing to the lower right distal ending with tooth number 32 which is the lower right third molar or wisdom tooth.
- Alendronate Sodium
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An orally administered bisphosphonate used for the treatment of osteoporosis. At is also called Fosamax.
- Alloderm
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A product used to rebuild missing gum tissue, or as a membrane to contain a bone graft. It is human derived (meaning it is an allograft) dermis which has been sterilized and freeze dried.
- Allogenic
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From a different individual of the same species. A heart transplant is an allogenic graft of living tissue.
- Allograft
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Hard or soft tissue that is harvested from organ donors and is transplanted into a different person. In dentistry most allografts are of non-living tissue (i.e. bone and dermis). The tissue is cleaned, irradiated and stripped of all its living cells leaving a sterile non-reactive (non-allergenic) matrix of collagen, and or mineral which can be used to grow new tissue in a different individual. The tissue is considered universally safe.
- Altered Passive Eruption
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An interruption in the passive eruption process of a tooth or teeth. Passive eruption is the slow growth of the tooth, face and recession of the gum tissue which results in the full exposure of the anatomic crown and the settling of the gum tissue at the junction of the enamel of the crown and the root of the tooth. This junction is called the Cemento-Enamel Junction or CEJ.
- Alveolar
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That part of the jawbone which holds the teeth in place. The teeth are connected to the jawbone by a ligament attachment. This ligament is called the periodontal ligament and connects hard tissue to hard tissue just like other ligaments in the body.
- Amalgam
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A mixture of metals used to fill/ restore a cavity. Amalgam restorations are commonly called silver fillings or Mercury fillings. They are very stable restorations which have been safely used for many decades. The advantages of them are they are inexpensive, long lasting and technically forgiving to place. The disadvantages of them are they can turn dark over time and are not aesthetically pleasing to most people. Note while these restoration do contain Mercury which is poisonous in its unbound form, amalgam restorations are not poisonous. The Mercury is not poisonous when it is chemically bound to other metals as it is in amalgam fillings. It is very safe in this combination. Here is an analogy to help clarify this point. Pure (unbound) oxygen is highly explosive, but when combined (Bound) to Hydrogen it become water which is not at all explosive
- Analgesic
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Any medicine used to dull or relieve pain. Examples include Aspirin, Tylenol, Ibuprofin and narcotic drugs.
- Anesthesia
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Medicine used to relieve pain or sensation. In dentistry we mostly use local anesthesia which is injected into an area to numb or freeze the area or teeth so that they can be repaired without discomfort.