Dental Dictionary

At Lee Dental, we want all of our patients to feel comfortable and knowledgeable about their treatment, whether it’s a routine cleaning or a dreaded root canal. We’re always happy to explain what we’re doing step by step, but in case you have any questions before your next appointment, we’ve compiled a dental dictionary based on frequently asked questions.

Abscess

A painful collection of pus due to infection of the tooth or gum.

Abutment

The tooth or structure that acts as the anchor for a bridge or partial set of dentures.

Amalgam

A traditional silver filling material.

Anesthetic

An agent that causes temporary loss of sensation / feeling i.e. Xylocaine

Bitewing

A common kind of x-ray we take to detect cavities between the teeth or under restorations.

Bleaching

Whitening your teeth. (We don’t really use bleach!)

Bridge

A single tooth or group of teeth that replace a missing tooth / teeth. Some can be removed while others are cemented in place.

Bruxism

A fancy term for grinding your teeth.

Canine

The longest of our teeth, canines are the third tooth from the middle of the jaw. Some people call them “vampire teeth.”

Caries

Tooth decay.

Cavity

A hole in the tooth caused by decay.

Composite

A tooth colored filling material.

Crown

Also called a “cap,” a crown covers a tooth either partially or completely above the gum to restore its function and appearance.

Cross bite

An abnormal bite relationship, where the teeth of the bottom jaw bite to the outside of the teeth on the upper jaw.

Denture

A full or partial set of removable teeth, used to replace missing teeth.

Endodontist

A dentist who specializes in root canals and related procedures.

Filling

A dental restorative agent used to restore function to a decayed tooth.

Fluoride

A compound of fluorine added to toothpaste and other tooth cleaners to strengthen teeth.

Gingivitis

The mildest form of gum disease, inflammation of the gum. Bleeding of the gum after brushing or flossing is the earliest sign.

Impaction

A condition that describes a tooth that is not able to come in on its own because it’s stuck under another tooth or bone. It is not uncommon for wisdom teeth to be impacted.

Implant

A device put into the jaw bone to support a false tooth.

Incisor

The four upper and lower front teeth.

Molar

The last three upper and lower teeth on both sides of the mouth.

Mouthguard

A device worn to prevent teeth grinding or injury.

Nightguard

A mouthguard worn at night to prevent teeth grinding, also used to treat some forms of sleep apnea.

Over bite

The overlap of upper and lower teeth as they close together.

Orthodontics

A special field in dentistry that involves treatment of irregularities in the teeth and jaws, including the use of braces.

Periodontist

A dentist who specializes in dentures, implants, bridges and other treatments for missing teeth.

Post

A small titanium support placed into the canal of a root canaled tooth that is positioned to retain a build up of filling material when a lot of tooth structure is missing.

Premolar

The two teeth found between the canines and molars.

Primary teeth

Your baby teeth.

Prosthesis

An artificial part to replace missing teeth or other structures.

Prosthodontics

A dental specialty that involves fabrication of artificial teeth and structures.

Pulp

healthy tooth and tooth with pulpitisThe inner most part of a tooth that contains nerves and blood vessels.

Restoration

The process of repairing a decayed or damaged tooth with a restorative agent like a filling.

Retainer

A device used to maintain the position of your teeth after orthodontic treatment.

Root canal

The canal that runs inside the root of a tooth containing the nerves and blood vessels.

Root canal treatment

Removing and repairing a tooth’s pulp and root canal with a restorative material.

Sealant

A thin protective layer of plastic like material applied to the molars to prevent cavities.

Temporomandibular joint

The joint that connects your upper and lower jaw, associated with TMJ or TMJD.

Veneer

A tooth colored material (often made of porcelain), used to cover the front of a tooth for aesthetic purposes.