| amalgam |
silver/mercury alloy used to fill cavities |
| bleaching |
cosmetic whitening of teeth using peroxide |
| caries |
cavities, tooth decay |
| carcinogenic |
cancer-causing |
| cariogenic |
decay-causing |
| composites |
tooth-colored restorative materials |
| cosmetic dentistry |
aesthetic improvement of the color and
shape of teeth performed by a general dentist |
| edentulous |
having lost most or all of the natural
teeth |
| endodontist |
treats oral condition that arise as a result
of disease or injury of the dental pulp of the tooth,
such as a root canal |
| general dentist |
primary care provider for patients in all
age groups who take responsibility for the diagnosis,
treatment, management and overall coordination of services
to meet patients' oral health needs |
| geriatric dentist |
general dentist who primarily treats senior
citizens |
| gingivitis |
reversible inflammation of gum tissue not
including the bone |
| malocclusion |
misalignment of teeth and or jaws |
| microair abrasion |
a drill-free technique using an instrument
resembling a tiny sand blaster that delivers tiny aluminum
oxide particles to the surface where it cuts away the
decayed area |
| mouthguards |
an appliance used to protect teeth from
injury |
| occlusal surface |
the chewing surface of the tooth |
| oral and maxillofacial surgeon |
treats and surgically corrects diseases,
injuries and defects of the mouth and jaws |
| oral pathologist |
examines oral tissues for evidence of suspected
abnormalities such as cancer. |
| orthodontics |
a branch of dentistry dealing with irregularities
of the teeth and their correction, as by means of braces
and retainer |
| orthodontist |
designs and applies corrective and supportive
appliances, braces, to realign crooked teeth |
| pediatric dentist |
provides treatment and care for children
from birth through adolescence |
| periodontal disease |
inflammation and irritation of the gums,
which if left untreated, can cause the jawbone and teeth
to deteriorate and fall out |
| periodontist |
diagnoses and treats diseases of the tissues
supporting and surrounding the teeth, especially periodontal,
gum, disease |
| plaque |
bacterial colonies which have mineralized
and attack teeth, causing dental decay |
| porcelain veneer |
ultra-thin shells of ceramic material bonded
to the front of the tooth |
| prophylaxis |
professional cleaning of the teeth by a
dentist or hygienist |
| prosthodontist |
constructs artificial appliances designed
to restore and maintain oral function by replacing missing
teeth and other oral structures such as dentures |
| public health dentist |
is concerned with the dental health needs
of entire communities, and can design and administer large-scale
prevention and dental care programs by compiling and analyzing
statistics |
| radiosurgery |
surgery technique that uses radio waves
to produce a pressureless, bloodless incision; can also
be used to heat bleaching agents |
| resin |
plastic material used in bonding, restorative
and replacement procedures |
| restorative dentistry |
process of restoring missing, damaged or
diseased teeth to normal form and function, performed
by general dentists |
| sealant |
plastic coating used to protect teeth from
decay |
| special patient |
person with disability who requires particular
dental care needs |
| third molars |
wisdom teeth |
| TMD |
temporomandibular disorder; problems relating
to your temporomandibular joint which includes locking
of the jaw, frequent headaches, sore jaw muscles and painful
clicking of the jaw |
| TMJ |
temporomandibular joint |
