Basic Dental Terminology

Question 1

occlusal

Answer 1

portion of the tooth that occludes or the grinding surface

Question 2

incisal

Answer 2

edge of front tooth used for cutting off food

Question 3

Dent- or Odont-

Answer 3

tooth

Question 4

Perio-

Answer 4

around

Question 5

Endo-

Answer 5

inside

Question 6

-ist

Answer 6

person who treats or does the procedure

Question 7

-itis

Answer 7

inflammation

Question 8

Perio-dont-itis

Answer 8

inflammation of the tissues around the tooth

Question 9

Gingiva

Answer 9

gums

Question 10

Pulp(nerve)

Answer 10

tissue inside the tooth containing the nerve, blood vessels and cells that repair the tooth to protect it from approaching caries by forming a layer of dentin.

Question 11

Pulp-itis

Answer 11

inflammation of the nerve

Question 12

Osseous

Answer 12

refers to bone

Question 13

Osseous surgery

Answer 13

surgery involving manipulation of bone

Question 14

Apex

Answer 14

tip or point

Question 15

Peri-

Answer 15

around

Question 16

Peri-apical

Answer 16

around the point (root tip)

Question 17

Peri-apical film

Answer 17

film that shows the end of the root

Question 18

Bite-wing film

Answer 18

a film that has a tab (wing) on the side to bite on when taken

Question 19

Pediatric dentist

Answer 19

limited to treatment of children, including special problems (handicapped, behavior problems, extensive dental disease in the young)

Question 20

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons

Answer 20

mainly do extensive surgical extractions (e.g., impacted wisdom teeth), treat fractured jaws and perform surgical procedures involving the jaws and teeth

Question 21

Orthodontists

Answer 21

fit braces for malocclusions (crooked teeth)

Question 22

Periodontists

Answer 22

treat diseases of the gums and bone (supporting tissues) - surgical procedures/scaling and root planing

Question 23

Prosthodontists

Answer 23

(Prosthetic appliances are artificial replacements for body parts.) Provide dentures, implants, fixed bridges, extensive reconstruction with crowns, etc.

Question 24

Oral Pathologists

Answer 24

specialize in diagnosis of diseases and abnormalities by clinical examinations and analysis of biopsies or laboratory tests

Question 25

Endodontists

Answer 25

treat problems with the pulp, root canals and perform surgery of the tissues around the end the roots (periapical).

Question 26

Maxilla

Answer 26

upper jaw bone

Question 27

Mandible

Answer 27

lower jaw bone

Question 28

Arch

Answer 28

he horseshoe (U)-shaped arrangement of the teeth and bone

Question 29

Maxillary arch

Answer 29

upper teeth and bone around the teeth

Question 30

Mandibular arch

Answer 30

lower teeth and bone

Question 31

Quadrant

Answer 31

area divided in fourths. For dentistry, the mouth is divided in the midline between the two central incisors and separated between the upper and lower arches for descriptive purposes

Question 32

Upper right quadrant

Answer 32

teeth and bone in patient's upper right segment. Right and left always refers to the patient's right or left. Abbreviations refer to upper right, upper left, lower left and lower right (UR, UL, LL, LR)

Question 33

Incisor tooth

Answer 33

one of the four upper or lower front teeth that have an edge versus apoint and used for incising food (cutting it off)

Question 34

Cuspid

Answer 34

pointed tooth at corners of each arch; also called canine because dogs have large cuspids or eye teeth because root is long and apex of the root is under the eye

Question 35

Bicuspid

Answer 35

has two cusps, there are two bicuspids on each side of each arch

Question 36

Pre-molar

Answer 36

teeth in front of molars (just another name for bicuspids)

Question 37

Molar

Answer 37

multiple cusp teeth used for grinding food. There are three permanent molars in each quadrant.

Question 38

Decay

Answer 38

decompose or come apart

Question 39

Abscess

Answer 39

localized infection that can spread

Question 40

Prophylaxis

Answer 40

cleaning, scaling and polishing the surfaces of the teeth to remove the stains and deposits (calculus)

Question 41

Root planing

Answer 41

the exposed root surfaces are smoothed with instruments to remove the deposits causing the irritation and inflammation

Question 42

Amalgam restoration

Answer 42

silver filling made by mixing an alloy of silver, tin, copper and zinc with mercury; used for fillings in posterior (back) teeth

Question 43

Composite resin

Answer 43

tooth-colored plastic with silica particles as a filler; may be cured with a light or chemical catalyst; primarily used for restoring front teeth.

Question 44

Veneers

Answer 44

partial crowns, done on front teeth where a thin layer of enamel is removed from the front surface (labial) and a thin layer of porcelain or plastic is bonded to the tooth.

Question 45

Cast restorations

Answer 45

used when the tooth has such a large cavity or fracture that it needs additional strength for support