| A | B |
|---|
| Oral Exam | Visual inspection inside the mouth and of a patient’s bite. Corrective treatment may be prescribed or a treatment plan may be started. |
| Bitwing X-rays | X-ray’s of the teeth on either side of the mouth in order for the dentist to identify any hidden signs of decay or disease. |
| Panoramic X-rays | AKA “Pano”. X-ray of the teeth, upper and lower jaw, and surrounding bone of the mouth on one film. Commonly used by orthodontist to evaluate the need for braces and establish a treatment plan. |
| Cleanings | Cleans and polish the teeth, usually performed by the dental hygienist. AKA prophylaxis, or “prophy” |
| Fluoride | Helps prevent tooth decay by making the tooth more resistant to acid attacks from plaque bacteria and sugars in the mouth. Usually for children and adolescents. |
| Emergency Exams | Performed when there is a problem or tooth pain. |
| Sealants | Thin, plastic coating painted on the chewing surfaces of teeth to prevent tooth decay by filling in the grooves and making them more shallow. |
| Space Maintainers | Used to maintain the space between teeth as the result of premature loss of a baby tooth while the permanent tooth grows in. |
| Amalgam Fillings | Silver-colored material used to repairs cavities and minor tooth fractures/damages. |
| Composite Fillings | White, or tooth-colored, material used to repairs cavities and minor tooth fractures/damages. |
| Extractions | Removal of the tooth for various necessary reasons (e.g. wisdom teeth extractions). |
| Oral Surgery | Surgery inside the mouth such as: surgical removal of impacted teeth, broken teeth, or wisdom teeth, and surgery necessary to improve the fit of dentures. |
| Root Canal | Removal of the nerve and pulp from the inside of the tooth. |
| Pulp | The soft area within the center of the tooth. |
| Periodontal Maintenance | Ongoing treatment consisting of multiple diagnostic procedures to maintain the oral health of a patient with periodontal disease. |
| Prophylaxis | A.K.A. Cleaning |
| Scaling/Root Planning | This is a non-surgical special cleaning that removes plaque and tartar deposits on the tooth and root surfaces. Sometimes referred to as "periodontal cleaning" or "deep cleaning” and is commonly performed if a patient hasn’t had a regular cleaning in a long time. |
| Crown | A.K.A. ‘cap’. Prosthesis used to cover the entire crown of the tooth |
| Bridges | AKA partial dentures or “partials”. Fabricated restoration used to replaces a missing tooth. The bridge can be permanently adjoined to adjacent teeth, or it can be removable. |
| Implants | Prosthesis used to replace a missing tooth that is implanted directly into the bone of the jaw. A crown is placed over the implant to look like a natural tooth. |
| Inlays | A restoration (like a filling) that is made outside of the mouth to correspond to the form of the prepared cavity, then ‘welded’ into the tooth. |
| Onlays | A restoration (like a filling) that is made outside of the mouth which replaces a cusp or cusps of the tooth, then ‘welded’ onto the tooth. Smaller restoration than an inlay. |
| Braces | Apparatus, made of various materials, attached to mouth and/or teeth to correct any form of malocclusions. |
| Retainer | A piece of plastic and metal to be custom-made for fitting inside your mouth in correcting gaps, helping with speech problems or even to wear after having braces to ensure your teeth stay together. |
