Glossary · 229 terms · Plain English

Dental glossary

What your dentist just said, in plain English. Look up a word from your treatment plan, your x-ray report, or your insurance statement.

Conditions 69 · Procedures 33 · Anatomy 26 · Appliances 24 · Materials 14 · Specialties & people 13 · Insurance & billing 19 · Chairside jargon 31

1

100-80-50 coverage: A common dental plan structure that pays about 100% for preventive care, 80% for basic procedures and 50% for major procedures.

A

Abfraction: A wedge-shaped notch worn into a tooth right at the gum line, not caused by decay.
Abutment: The connector that joins a dental implant to its crown, or a natural tooth that supports a bridge or partial denture.
Alternate benefit: A dental insurance rule that pays based on the cheapest acceptable treatment, even if you and your dentist choose a costlier one.
Alveolar bone: The ridge of jawbone that surrounds the tooth roots and holds each tooth in its socket.
Alveoloplasty: A minor surgical procedure that smooths and reshapes the jawbone ridge, usually after teeth are removed.
Amalgam: A silver-colored metal filling material made by combining liquid mercury with a powdered alloy of silver, tin and copper.
Angular cheilitis: Sore, red, cracked skin at one or both corners of the mouth.
Ankyloglossia: A condition present from birth in which a short or tight band under the tongue limits how far it can move.
Ankylosed tooth: A tooth whose root has fused directly to the jawbone, so it can no longer move or erupt.
Annual maximum: The most a dental insurance plan will pay toward your care in one benefit year.
Apicoectomy: A minor surgery that removes the tip of a tooth's root and the infected tissue around it to save the tooth.
Avulsed tooth: A tooth that has been knocked completely out of its socket by an injury.

B

Bitewing: A small dental X-ray that shows the upper and lower back teeth together, used mainly to find cavities between teeth.
Black hairy tongue: A usually temporary condition in which the top of the tongue looks dark and furry.
Bleeding on probing: Bleeding from the gum when a hygienist gently measures the pocket around a tooth, used as a sign of inflammation.
Bone spicule: A small, sharp sliver of bone that works its way through the gum after a tooth has been removed.
Bruxism: Habitual clenching or grinding of the teeth, during the day, during sleep, or both.
Buccal: The side of a back tooth that faces the cheek.

C

Calculus: Plaque that has hardened into a rough mineral deposit on the teeth, also called tartar.
Canine teeth: The four pointed teeth at the corners of the mouth, used for gripping and tearing food.
Canker sore: A small, painful, shallow ulcer inside the mouth that is not contagious.
Cantilever bridge: A dental bridge in which the replacement tooth is supported by a crowned tooth, or teeth, on one side only.
CBCT: A three-dimensional dental X-ray scan that shows teeth, jawbone, nerves and sinuses in detail.
CDT code: A standard code, starting with the letter D, that identifies each dental procedure on treatment plans and insurance claims.
Cementum: The thin, bone-like layer that covers a tooth's root and helps anchor it to the jaw.
Ceramic braces: Braces that use tooth-colored or translucent brackets in place of metal ones so they are less noticeable.
Clear aligners: A series of removable, transparent plastic trays that move teeth gradually into new positions.
Coinsurance: The percentage of a covered dental fee that you pay, with the insurance plan paying the rest.
Cold sore: A cluster of small blisters on or around the lips caused by the herpes simplex virus.
Composite resin: A tooth-colored filling material made of plastic resin mixed with fine glass particles.
Coordination of benefits: The rules that decide how two dental insurance plans share the cost when a person is covered by both.
Copay: A fixed dollar amount you pay for a dental visit or procedure under your insurance plan.
Core buildup: A filling-like restoration that rebuilds the missing center of a damaged tooth so it can hold a crown.
Cosmetic dentist: A dentist who focuses on improving the appearance of teeth and smiles, with treatments such as whitening, bonding and veneers.
Cracked tooth syndrome: A partial crack in a back tooth that causes sharp, hard-to-pinpoint pain when biting.
Craze lines: Fine, shallow vertical lines in the enamel that are common in adult teeth and usually only cosmetic.
Crossbite: A bite in which one or more upper teeth close inside the lower teeth instead of outside them.
Crown lengthening: A gum procedure that exposes more of a tooth by removing or repositioning gum tissue, and often a little bone.
Cusp: A raised point on the chewing surface of a tooth.

D

DDS vs. DMD: Two names for the same dental degree: both a DDS and a DMD are fully qualified general dentists.
Deciduous teeth: The first set of 20 teeth, which children start to lose around age six to make way for adult teeth.
Deductible: The amount you pay toward covered dental care each year before your insurance plan starts paying its share.
Dental assistant: A member of the dental team who helps the dentist during procedures and prepares patients, instruments and rooms.
Dental caries: The clinical term for tooth decay, the process by which acids from bacteria dissolve tooth structure.
Dental cement: The material dentists use to attach crowns, bridges, veneers and orthodontic bands to teeth.
Dental discount plan: A membership program, not insurance, that gives reduced fees at participating dentists in exchange for an annual or monthly fee.
Dental erosion: Gradual loss of tooth surface dissolved by acids that do not come from bacteria.
Dental flipper: A lightweight, removable acrylic plate carrying one or more false teeth, usually worn as a temporary replacement.
Dental fluorosis: A change in the look of tooth enamel caused by taking in too much fluoride while the teeth were forming.
Dental hygienist: A licensed professional who cleans teeth, checks gum health and teaches patients how to care for their mouths.
Dental impression: A physical mold or digital scan that records the exact shape of your teeth and gums.
Dental phobia: An intense fear of dental visits that can lead a person to avoid care even when in pain.
Dental wax: A soft, moldable wax pressed over braces or other sharp spots to stop them rubbing the cheeks, lips or tongue.
Dentin: The yellowish layer under the enamel that makes up most of a tooth and carries sensation to the nerve.
Dentin hypersensitivity: Short, sharp tooth pain triggered by cold, heat, sweets, acid or touch on exposed dentin.
DHMO: A type of dental plan in which you choose a primary dentist from a network and pay set copays for covered services.
Diastema: A visible gap between two teeth, most often the two upper front teeth.
Disclosing tablets: Chewable tablets containing a food-grade dye that colors dental plaque so you can see where brushing has missed.
Distal: The side of a tooth that faces away from the middle of the mouth, toward the back.
Dry socket: A painful condition after a tooth extraction in which the blood clot in the socket is lost and the bone is left exposed.

E

Early childhood caries: Tooth decay in the baby teeth of young children, often affecting the upper front teeth first.
Emergency dentist: A dentist or clinic that offers urgent, same-day or after-hours appointments for problems that cannot wait.
Enamel: The hard, white outer shell of a tooth that protects it from chewing forces and decay.
Enamel hypoplasia: A defect in which tooth enamel formed thinner or less complete than normal, leaving pits, grooves or discolored patches.
Enameloplasty: Removing small amounts of enamel to smooth or slightly reshape a tooth.
Endodontist: A dental specialist in diagnosing tooth pain and treating the pulp and roots of teeth, best known for root canals.
Explanation of benefits: A statement from your insurer showing how a dental claim was processed; it is not a bill.

F

Facial cellulitis: A spreading bacterial infection in the soft tissues of the face, often starting from an infected tooth.
Fluoride: A naturally occurring mineral that strengthens tooth enamel and helps prevent cavities.
Fluoride varnish: A concentrated fluoride coating painted onto teeth at the dental office to help prevent decay and reduce sensitivity.
FMX: A complete set of small dental X-rays that together show every tooth from crown to root tip.
Frenectomy: A minor procedure that removes or releases a frenum, the small band of tissue tethering the lip or tongue.
Frenulum: A small fold of tissue that connects the lip or tongue to the gums or the floor of the mouth.
Frequency limitation: A dental plan rule limiting how often it will pay for a particular service, such as two cleanings per year.
Full mouth debridement: A preliminary cleaning that removes heavy plaque and tartar so the dentist can examine the teeth and gums properly.

G

General dentist: The primary dental care provider who examines, diagnoses and treats most everyday dental problems.
Geographic tongue: A usually benign condition in which smooth red patches with pale borders appear on the tongue and shift position over time.
Gingiva: The clinical name for the gums, the soft tissue that surrounds the teeth and covers the jawbone.
Gingival hyperplasia: Overgrowth of gum tissue, which can make the gums look thick or puffy and partly cover the teeth.
Gingival recession: The gradual pulling back of the gum edge, which exposes the root of a tooth.
Gingivectomy: Surgical removal of excess or diseased gum tissue.
Gingivitis: Mild, reversible inflammation of the gums, usually caused by plaque left along the gum line.
Gingivoplasty: Reshaping the outline of healthy gum tissue to improve its contour and appearance.
Glass ionomer: A tooth-colored dental material that bonds chemically to teeth and slowly releases fluoride.
Glossitis: Inflammation of the tongue, which can make it swollen, sore, smooth or changed in color.
Gum boil: A pimple-like bump on the gum where pus from an underlying tooth or gum infection drains to the surface.
Gutta-percha: The rubber-like material used to fill and seal the inside of a tooth's roots after root canal treatment.

H

Halitosis: The clinical term for persistent bad breath.
Hard palate: The bony front part of the roof of the mouth.
Hawley retainer: A removable retainer made of an acrylic plate and a metal wire that holds the teeth in place after braces.
Headgear: An orthodontic appliance worn partly outside the mouth to guide jaw growth or move back teeth.
Hemisection: Cutting a multi-rooted tooth in two and removing the damaged half, so the healthy half can be kept.
High bite: A filling or crown that is slightly too tall, so that tooth hits before the others when you bite.
Hydroxyapatite: The calcium phosphate mineral that makes up most of tooth enamel and bone; a synthetic form is used in some toothpastes.
Hyperdontia: Having one or more extra teeth beyond the usual 20 baby teeth or 32 adult teeth.
Hypodontia: A condition in which one or more teeth never develop.

I

Immediate denture: A denture made in advance and inserted on the same day the remaining teeth are removed.
Impacted tooth: A tooth that is blocked from coming fully into the mouth by bone, gum or another tooth.
In-network: Describes a dentist who has a contract with your insurance plan to accept its negotiated fees.
Incipient decay: The earliest stage of tooth decay, limited to the enamel, before an actual hole has formed.
Incisal: Relating to the biting edge of a front tooth.
Incision and drainage: A procedure in which a dentist or surgeon makes a small opening to release pus from an abscess.
Incisors: The eight thin, flat front teeth used for biting into food.
Interproximal: Describing the area between two neighboring teeth, where their sides face each other.
Interproximal reduction: Removing a very thin layer of enamel from the sides of teeth to create a little space during orthodontic treatment.
IV sedation: Sedative medicine given through a vein to keep you deeply relaxed during dental treatment.

L

Leukoplakia: A white patch inside the mouth that cannot be wiped off and has no other obvious explanation.
Lingual: The side of a tooth that faces the tongue.
Lingual braces: Braces with brackets and wires attached to the back, tongue-side surfaces of the teeth so they cannot be seen from the front.
Local anesthesia: Numbing medicine injected near a tooth to block pain in one area of the mouth during treatment.
Ludwig's angina: A rare, fast-spreading infection of the floor of the mouth and upper neck that can block the airway.

M

Malocclusion: Any bite in which the upper and lower teeth do not line up or meet the way they ideally should.
Mamelons: The three small rounded bumps on the biting edge of newly erupted front teeth.
Mandible: The lower jawbone, which holds the bottom teeth and moves when you chew and speak.
Mandibular advancement device: A mouthpiece worn during sleep that holds the lower jaw slightly forward to help keep the airway open.
Maryland bridge: A bridge that replaces a missing tooth with a false tooth held by thin wings bonded to the backs of the neighboring teeth.
Maxilla: The upper jawbone, which holds the top teeth and forms most of the roof of the mouth.
Mesial: The side of a tooth that faces toward the middle of the mouth, toward the front.
Micrognathia: A lower jaw that is noticeably smaller than usual, most often identified in infancy.
Mini dental implants: Implants that are narrower than standard dental implants, most often used to stabilize a loose lower denture.
Missing tooth clause: A dental insurance exclusion under which the plan will not pay to replace a tooth that was lost before your coverage began.
MOD: Dental shorthand for a filling or cavity that covers three surfaces of a back tooth: mesial, occlusal and distal.
Molars: The large, flat back teeth that do most of the grinding when you chew.
Mucocele: A soft, fluid-filled bump inside the mouth, usually on the lower lip, caused by a damaged or blocked minor salivary gland.

N

Night guard: A removable appliance worn over the teeth during sleep to protect them from grinding and clenching.
Nitrous oxide: A mild sedative gas, breathed through a small nose mask, that helps you relax during dental treatment.

O

Occlusal: Relating to the chewing surface of a back tooth, or more generally to the bite.
Occlusal adjustment: Reshaping small areas of the biting surfaces so the upper and lower teeth meet more evenly.
Occlusion: The way the upper and lower teeth come together when you close your mouth and chew.
Open bite: A bite in which some upper and lower teeth do not touch when the mouth is closed, leaving a visible gap.
Open contact: A small gap between two neighboring teeth that should be touching, which lets food wedge in.
Open margin: A gap where the edge of a crown or filling does not seal tightly against the tooth.
Oral cancer: Cancer that starts in the lips, tongue, gums, cheeks, floor or roof of the mouth.
Oral lichen planus: A long-term inflammatory condition that causes lacy white lines or sore red areas on the lining of the mouth.
Oral pathologist: A dental specialist who diagnoses diseases of the mouth and jaws, largely by examining biopsy tissue under a microscope.
Oral sedation: A prescribed sedative pill or liquid taken before a dental appointment to reduce anxiety.
Oral surgeon: A surgical specialist who treats conditions of the mouth, jaws and face, including wisdom teeth, implants and jaw surgery.
Oral thrush: A yeast infection in the mouth that typically causes creamy white patches on the tongue and inner cheeks.
Orthodontic elastics: Small removable rubber bands that hook between upper and lower braces or aligners to correct how the jaws fit together.
Orthodontic spacers: Small rubber or metal rings placed between back teeth for a short time to create room for orthodontic bands.
Orthodontist: A dental specialist who diagnoses and corrects misaligned teeth and jaws using braces, aligners and other appliances.
Orthognathic surgery: Surgery that repositions the upper jaw, lower jaw or both to correct a bite problem that braces alone cannot fix.
Osseointegration: The process by which jawbone grows onto and bonds with a dental implant, anchoring it firmly.
Osseous surgery: Gum surgery that cleans deep pockets and reshapes damaged bone around the teeth to make the gums easier to keep healthy.
Overbite: The vertical overlap of the upper front teeth over the lower front teeth; the term is used when that overlap is larger than normal.
Overdenture: A removable denture that clips onto dental implants, or sits over retained tooth roots, for a more secure fit.

P

Palatal expander: An orthodontic appliance fixed to the upper back teeth that gradually widens a narrow upper jaw.
Panoramic X-ray: A single wide X-ray image that shows all the teeth, both jaws, the jaw joints and the sinuses.
Partial denture: A removable appliance that replaces some missing teeth and is held in place by the remaining natural teeth.
Pediatric dentist: A dental specialist who cares for infants, children and teenagers, including those with special health care needs.
Peri-implantitis: Inflammation around a dental implant that has started to destroy the bone supporting it.
Periapical abscess: A pocket of pus at the tip of a tooth's root, caused by infection that started inside the tooth.
Periapical X-ray: A small dental X-ray that shows one or two whole teeth from the crown to the tip of the root and the surrounding bone.
Pericoronitis: Inflammation or infection of the gum around a tooth that has only partly come through, usually a lower wisdom tooth.
Periodontal abscess: A pocket of pus in the gum beside a tooth, usually arising from a deep gum pocket.
Periodontal charting: The recording of gum pocket depths and related measurements around every tooth to assess gum health.
Periodontal ligament: The thin layer of fibers that attaches a tooth root to the jawbone and cushions it during chewing.
Periodontal maintenance: The ongoing cleanings and gum checks scheduled after treatment for periodontitis, usually every three to four months.
Periodontal pocket: A deepened space between a tooth and the gum, formed when gum disease detaches the gum from the tooth.
Periodontist: A dental specialist in the gums and bone that support the teeth, and in placing dental implants.
Periodontitis: A chronic gum infection that destroys the bone and tissues holding the teeth in place.
Permanent retainer: A thin wire glued to the back of the front teeth to keep them from shifting after orthodontic treatment.
Plaque: The soft, sticky film of bacteria that constantly forms on teeth.
Pontic: The artificial tooth in a dental bridge that fills the space of a missing tooth.
Porcelain: A glass-like ceramic used to make natural-looking crowns, veneers, inlays and bridges.
Porcelain-fused-to-metal: A crown or bridge with a metal inner shell for strength and a tooth-colored porcelain layer on the outside.
Power chain: A connected strip of elastic rings stretched across braces brackets to pull teeth together and close gaps.
PPO: A type of dental plan with a network of dentists who accept reduced fees, while still paying something if you go outside it.
Pre-authorization: A request sent to your dental insurer before treatment to find out what the plan expects to pay.
Premium: The amount you pay, usually monthly, to keep a dental insurance plan active, whether or not you use it.
Premolars: The eight teeth between the canines and molars, used for both tearing and crushing food.
Prognathism: A jaw that projects further forward than usual, most often the lower jaw.
Prophy: Dental shorthand for prophylaxis, the routine professional cleaning given to people with generally healthy gums.
Prosthodontist: A dental specialist in restoring and replacing teeth with crowns, bridges, dentures and implant-supported teeth.
Pulp: The soft core of a tooth that contains its nerves and blood vessels.
Pulp capping: Placing a protective material over an exposed or nearly exposed tooth nerve to help it heal and avoid root canal treatment.
Pulp necrosis: Death of the nerve and blood supply inside a tooth, often called a dead tooth.
Pulpectomy: Removal of all the pulp from inside a tooth, from both the crown and the roots.
Pulpitis: Inflammation of the pulp, the nerve-containing tissue inside a tooth, and a common cause of toothache.
Pulpotomy: Removal of the pulp from the crown of a tooth while leaving the healthy pulp in the roots, done mostly on baby molars.

Q

Quadrant: One of the four sections of the mouth: upper right, upper left, lower left and lower right.

R

Ranula: A soft, bluish, fluid-filled swelling on the floor of the mouth under the tongue, arising from a salivary gland.
Recall: The routine return visit for an exam and cleaning, and the system a dental office uses to schedule it.
Recurrent decay: New tooth decay that forms at the edge of, or underneath, an existing filling or crown.
Remineralization: The natural process by which minerals are redeposited into tooth enamel that has been weakened by acid.
Restoration: The general dental term for anything that repairs or replaces damaged or missing tooth structure, such as a filling or crown.
Root canal retreatment: Redoing a root canal on a tooth that has not healed or has become infected again.
Rubber dam: A thin stretchy sheet placed over the teeth during treatment to isolate the tooth being worked on and keep it clean and dry.

S

Salivary glands: The glands in and around the mouth that make saliva.
Salivary stone: A small hardened mineral deposit that forms in a salivary gland or its duct and can block the flow of saliva.
Scaling and root planing: A deep cleaning that removes plaque and tartar from below the gum line and smooths the tooth roots to treat gum disease.
Scalloped tongue: Wavy indentations along the edges of the tongue where it rests against the teeth.
Silver diamine fluoride: A liquid brushed onto a cavity to stop decay from progressing without drilling; it turns the decayed area black.
Sinus lift: A bone graft procedure that adds bone to the upper back jaw, beneath the sinus, so dental implants can be placed.
Socket preservation: Placing bone graft material into the socket right after a tooth is removed to limit shrinkage of the jawbone.
Soft palate: The soft, muscular back part of the roof of the mouth, which ends in the uvula.
Space maintainer: A small appliance that holds open the gap left by a baby tooth lost early, until the adult tooth is ready to come in.
Stainless steel crown: A ready-made metal cap used mainly to cover and protect a badly decayed or weakened baby molar.
Stomatitis: A general term for inflammation and soreness of the lining of the mouth.
Submandibular gland: One of a pair of saliva-producing glands that sit under the lower jaw on each side.
Surgical extraction: Removal of a tooth that requires cutting the gum, removing bone or dividing the tooth, not only loosening and lifting it out.

T

Temporary crown: A short-term cap that protects a prepared tooth while the permanent crown is being made.
Temporary filling: A soft, short-term filling placed to protect a tooth until permanent treatment is completed.
Temporomandibular joint: The hinge-and-slide joint in front of each ear that connects the lower jaw to the skull.
Tetracycline staining: Permanent gray, brown or yellow discoloration inside teeth caused by certain antibiotics taken while the teeth were forming.
TMJ disorder: A group of conditions causing pain or poor function in the jaw joint and the muscles that move the jaw.
Tongue papillae: The tiny natural bumps that cover the top of the tongue and hold the taste buds.
Tonsil stones: Small, pale, often foul-smelling lumps of hardened debris that form in the folds of the tonsils.
Tooth abrasion: Wearing away of tooth surface caused by repeated rubbing from something other than the opposing teeth.
Tooth mobility: The clinical term for looseness of a tooth, which dentists grade by how far the tooth moves.
Tooth numbering: The system dentists use to identify each tooth by a number or letter.
Tooth resorption: A process in which the body's own cells break down and absorb part of a tooth.
Tooth root: The part of a tooth below the gum line that anchors it in the jawbone.
Tooth splinting: Joining a loose or injured tooth to its neighbors so that it is held steady while it heals or to share biting forces.
Torus mandibularis: A slow-growing, usually benign bony bump on the tongue side of the lower jaw.
Torus palatinus: A usually benign bony lump in the middle of the roof of the mouth.
Treatment plan: The written list of dental procedures a dentist recommends for you, usually with the order, fees and insurance estimates.
Trench mouth: A severe, painful gum infection with ulcers, bleeding and foul breath that comes on quickly.
Trismus: Reduced ability to open the mouth, usually from spasm or stiffness in the jaw muscles.

U

UCR fee: The maximum amount a dental insurer will recognize for a procedure in your area when calculating what it pays.
Underbite: A bite in which the lower front teeth close in front of the upper front teeth.
Uvula: The small fleshy teardrop that hangs from the back edge of the soft palate.

W

Waiting period: The length of time after a dental plan starts before it will pay for certain types of treatment.
Watch: A note in the dental chart marking a spot that is being monitored for change and does not need treatment yet.
Wisdom teeth: The third and last set of molars, which usually appear at the very back of the mouth in the late teens or twenties.

X

Xerostomia: The medical term for a persistently dry mouth, usually from reduced saliva flow.
Xylitol: A sugar substitute used in sugar-free gum and mints that mouth bacteria cannot turn into tooth-damaging acid.

Z

Zirconia: A very strong white ceramic used for crowns, bridges and implant parts.

General information · Not dental advice

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The information provided on Urgent Dental Helper is for general informational and educational purposes only. It is NOT intended to be a substitute for professional medical or dental advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Urgent Dental Helper is not a dental practice, and nothing here has examined your mouth. Always see a licensed dentist, physician, or other qualified health provider in person about any dental or medical condition. Never disregard professional advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read or any result you received on this website.