| A | B |
|---|
| CDT | dental procedure codes to report services performed |
| Amalgam | an alloy metal used to fill cavities also referred to as silver |
| Anterior Teeth | teeth located in the middle of your mouth, upper and lower that you can see when you smile. |
| Bitewing | x-ray that shows upper and lower teeth when biting together, normally taken at your 6-month appointment |
| Braces | appliances that straighter the teeth and correct the bite, also includes invisible braces |
| Bridge | fixed dental appliance that replaces one or more teeth |
| Bruxism | the habit of grinding the teeth together. Often limited to the sleeping period, or during mental or physical concentration or strain, we will only cover mouth /night guards for this diagnosis |
| Composite | tooth colored filling material used to fill cavities |
| Congenitally missing tooth | a permanent tooth that did not form |
| Crown | a restoration that partially or completely covers a single tooth |
| Denture | removable prosthesis that replaces part or all upper or lower teeth |
| Endo | pertaining to the root of a tooth |
| Extraction | removal of a natural tooth |
| Full Mouth Series (FMX) | 14-22 x-rays of the teeth including bitewings and periapicals |
| General Anesthesia | a higher level of sedation where you are not aware of what is being done |
| Impacted Tooth | including an unerupted tooth that is impacted in the bone of the jaw (most common with wisdom teeth) |
| Implant | a steel post placed permanently to take the place of a tooth |
| IV sedation | used to help you relax and not feel pain during dental procedures |
| local anesthesia | ta type of anesthetic used to prevent pain in a specific area of your mouth during treatment |
| Missing Tooth Clause | teeth missing prior to coverage that are not eligible for replacement for a period of 5 years |
| Narrative / Chart Notes | notes kept by the dental office explaining a patient’s dental condition or services performed |
| Nitrous Oxide | laughing gas, not a covered benefit |
| occlusal | Top of the tooth (biting surface, posterior teeth only) |
| occlusal guard | also called night guard, bite guard, mouth guard (only covered for severe bruxism) |
| oral surgery | surgical extraction and other procedures performed in and around the mouth |
| ortho | pertaining to the straightening of teeth |
| Panoramic (pano) | x-ray that shows entire mouth, including un-erupted teeth and the jaw |
| Periapical (PA) | single x-ray that shows the crown and root of a tooth |
| Perio | pertaining to the gum and tissue around a tooth |
| Perio Chart | a reading of the pocket depths needed for some periodontal procedures, usually good for 12 months |
| Periodic Oral Evaluations | routine exam performed every 6 months |
| Perio Maintenance | periodic visits in place of a regular cleaning after periodontal procedures have been performed |
| Permanent | secondary or adult teeth |
| Posterior Teeth | teeth located in the back of your mouth, upper, lower and both sides that you cannot see when you smile |
| Primary | baby tooth |
| Quadrant | ¼ of the mouth; ½ of a maxillary or mandibular arch. Denoted as UR, UL, LL, LR |
| Restorative | typically filling |
| Retainer | appliance used after braces are removed to keep teeth in place |
| Root Canal | removal of the pulp of a tooth |
| Sealant | flowable composite material used on permanent molars to prevent cavities |
| Waiting Period | a period of time that the member must be on the plan before benefits for either major or orthodontic are eligible |
| Space Maintainer | fixed appliance used to save the space for a permanent tooth when a primary tooth has been removed |
| Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) | the prominent moveable joint on your jaw, |
| Tooth Surface | needed to determine which part of the tooth is being filled, there are 5 and they are denoted by letters |
| Treatment in Progress | services started prior to a member being eligible on the plan, such as braces placed before coverage started |
