A
Abutment:
The teeth on either side of a missing tooth. Abutments are the part of the
bridge used to support the replacement of the missing teeth (pontics).
Amalgam: Silver filling. Amalgams are usually placed on the
back teeth (posterior teeth).
Anesthesia: Relieves the sensation of pain.
Anterior Teeth: The front teeth (incisors and cupids).
Arch: The upper or lower jaw.
B
Back Teeth: See Posterior Teeth
Bicuspid: The first and second bicuspids, those are the
fourth and fifth teeth from the center of the mouth to the back of the mouth.
These are the back teeth that are used for chewing, they only have two points
(cusps).
Bitewing: X-ray that shows the upper and lower teeth’s
biting surfaces on the same film. This x-ray shows the portion of the teeth
above the gumline.
Bridge: A fixed appliance (prosthesis) that replaces missing
teeth. A bridge is a series of crowns (abutments and pontics).
Bruxism: Clenching or grinding of the teeth.
C
Calculus: The sticky film on your teeth (plaque) that has
hardened. Also known as tartar.
Canal: The narrow chamber inside the root of the tooth that
contains the nerve and blood vessels.
Canines: See cuspids.
Caries: Correct technical term for decay.
Cleaning: See prophylaxis.
Complete Series: See Full Mouth X-rays.
Composite Filling: Tooth colored filling. Insurance
companies usually only allow them on the front teeth (anterior teeth). When
composites are done on the back teeth (posterior teeth) the insurance company
usually pays them as an amalgam. Composites are also known as resin
fillings.
Crown: Full coverage for a tooth.When the tooth cannot be
restored by a filling a crown is usually fabricated.
Curettage: Surgical scraping of bacteria from the soft
tissue. This is a periodontal procedure and is usually performed one quadrant at
a time. Procedure code 4220.
Cusps: The high points on the chewing surfaces of the back
teeth (posterior teeth).
Cuspids: The third tooth from the center of the mouth to the
back of the mouth. These are the front teeth that have one rounded or pointed
edge used for biting. Also known as canines.
D
Deciduous Teeth: See Primary Teeth.
Denture: A removable appliance (prosthesis) that replaces
all of the teeth in either the upper or lower jaw.
Diagnostics: Procedures performed by the dentist to identify
what’s going on in the mouth. The most common procedures you will deal with are
the exam and x-rays classifies as preventive.
E
Edentulous: All the teeth are missing in either the upper or
lower arch.
Endo: See Endodontics.
Endodontics (Endo): The treatment of diseases or injuries
that affect the root tip or nerve of the tooth. The most common procedure that
you will deal with is a root canal.
F
Fluorides: Topical application of a gel or liquid that
prevents decay.
F.M.X.: See Full Mouth X-rays.
Front Teeth: See Anterior Teeth.
Full Mouth x-rays (F.M.X.): X-rays showing all the teeth.
Includes 14 periapicals and 2 or 4 bitewings. Also known as a complete
series.
G
General Anesthesia: Relieves the sensation of pain on the
whole body. General anesthesia renders you unconscious.
Gingiva: The gums.
I
Impaction: An unerupted or partially erupted tooth that will
not fully erupt because it is obstructed by another tooth, bone, or soft
tissue.
Implant: A post that is implanted in the bone. A crown,
bridge or denture is then placed over the implant
Incisors: The central and lateral incisor, those are the
first and second teeth from the center of the mouth to the back of the mouth.
These are the front teeth with the flat edges for biting.
Inlay: A laboratory processed restoration made of metal,
acrylic or porcelain. This filling does not involve the high points of the tooth
(cusps)
L
Local Anesthesia: Relieves the sensation of pain in a
localized area.
M
Mandible: The lower jaw.
Maxilla: The upper jaw.
Molars: The first, second and third molars, those are the
sixth, seventh and eighth teeth from the center of the mouth to the back of the
mouth. The back teeth with the large chewing surface on top. They have 4 points
(cusps).
N
Nightguard: A removable acrylic appliance to minimize the
effects of grinding the teeth (bruxism) or joint problems (T.M.J.). Usually worn
at night to prevent the grinding of teeth or relieve joint pain. Also known as
an occlusal guard.
O
Occlusal: The chewing surfaces of the back teeth.
Occlusal Guard: See Nightguard.
Onlay: A laboratory processed restoration made of metal,
porcelain or acrylic that replaces one or more of the highest points of the
tooth (cusps).
Oral Surgery (O.S.): Surgery of the mouth.
Ortho: See Orthodontics.
Orthodontics (Ortho): Straightening of the teeth.
O.S.: See Oral Surgery.
P
P.A.: Common dental language for a periapical. See
Periapical.
Palate: Roof of the mouth.
Panorex: An x-ray taken outside of the mouth that shows all
the teeth on one film.
Partial Denture: A removable appliance (prosthesis) that
replaces some of the teeth in either the upper or lower jaw.
Pedo: See Pedodontics.
Pedodontics (Pedo): The treatment of children’s teeth.
Periapical: An x-ray that shows the whole tooth (above and
below the gumline). Also known as a single film or P.A.
Perio: See Periodontics.
Perio Charting: Measures the depth that the gums have
detached from the side of the tooth forming a pocket (perio pocket).
Periodontal Maintenance: Cleaning of the teeth following
periodontal treatment, includes perio charting. Procedure code 4910. Also known
as a perio prophy or perio recall.
Periodontics (Perio): The treatment of diseases of the gum
or bone (supporting structure).
Perio Pocket: The pocket that forms when the gums detach
from the side of the tooth.
Perio Prophy: See Periodontal Maintenance.
Perio Recall: See Periodontal Maintenance.
Permanent First And Second Molars: The adult first and
second molars, they are the sixth and seventh teeth from the center of the mouth
to the back of the mouth. Does not include the third molar (wisdom tooth).
Permanent Molars: The adult first, second and third molars.
Permanent Dentition: See Permanent Teeth.
Permanent Teeth: The adult teeth. Also known as the
permanent dentition.
Plaque: A sticky film on the teeth. If it is not removed by
brushing it can harden into calculus.
Pontic: The part of a bridge that replaces the missing
teeth.
Posterior Teeth: The back teeth (Bicuspids and molars).
Preventive: Procedure performed to prevent decay and gum
disease. The procedures that Trojan classifies as preventive are the exam,
x-rays and prophys. The exam and x-rays are also known as diagnostic
procedures.
Primary Dentition: See Primary Teeth.
Primary Teeth: The baby teeth. Also known as the primary
dentition. The baby teeth are replaced by the adult teeth (permanent teeth)
Prophy: See Prophylaxis.
Prophylaxis: Cleaning the teeth. Also known as a prophy.
Prosthodontics: A fixed or removable appliance to replace
missing teeth. Example: bridges, dentures and partials. Sometimes single crowns
are considered prosthetics.
Prosthetic Replacement: How old does the crown, bridge,
partial or denture have to be before it can be replaced? They usually must be
unserviceable also.
Prosthodontics: Dealing with the replacement of missing
teeth.
Q
Quadrant: One of the four equal sections of the mouth. The
upper right, upper left, lower right or the lower left.
R
R.C.T.: See Root Canal Therapy.
Resin Filling: See Composite Filling.
Restorative: Procedures performed to restore the missing
part of the teeth. Some insurance companies only consider the fillings to be
restorative, others consider the fillings, crowns, bridges and dentures to be
restorative.
Root Canal Therapy (R.C.T.): The nerve of the tooth is
removed from the canal inside the root and replaced with a filling material
Root Planing: Deep cleaning of the teeth to remove calculus
below the gumline. This is not a prophylaxis. This is a periodontal procedure
and is usually performed one quadrant at a time. Procedure code 4341.
S
Sealant: Clear application of acrylic placed over the biting
surface of the tooth to prevent decay. Most insurance companies only allow these
on permanent teeth.
Single Film: See Periapical
T
Tartar: See Calculus.
Temporomandibular Joint (T.M.J.): Temporo (temporal bone),
mandibular (lower jaw). This is the connecting hinge between the lower jaw and
base of the skull. Also known as T.M.J.. T.M.J. treatment is sometimes paid
under medical.
Third Molar: See Wisdom Tooth.
T.M.J.: See Temporomandibular Joint.
V
Virgin Teeth: Teeth that have no decay or fillings.
W
Wisdom Tooth: The third molar, this is the eighth tooth from
the center of mouth to the back of the mouth. Wisdom teeth are often impacted
(obstructed from erupting) and have to be extracted.
