| A | B |
|---|
| amylase | enzyme found in saliva that is a function of the digestive process and serves as a source for minerals (fluorides, calcium, and phosphate) needed in the remineralization of tooth and structure |
| apical foramen | small opening at the apex of the root where blood vessels and nerves enter |
| buccal (B) | refers to the surface of teeth that faces the tongue, or the inside of the mouth |
| buccal vestibule | junction of the mucous membrane of the cheek and the gingiva |
| bucco-occlusal | refers to the broad, flat chewing surface of the posterior teeth (premolars and molars) |
| cast crown restoration | when a large amount of tooth structure is removed |
| cementum | thin, hard covering of the root surface of a tooth |
| commissures | corners of the mouth where the upper and lower lips meet |
| cranium | the eight bones that form a protective structure for the brain and the face |
| dental auxiliaries | any person, other than the dentist,who provides a service in a dental practice |
| dental hygienist | provides oral hygiene instruction and oral prophylaxis to dental patients |
| dentin | bulk of a tooth consisting of living cellular substance that is similar in structure to bone and softer than the hard outer shell of the crown (enamel) and the covering of the root surface (cementum) |
| diastema | gap created between the two front teeth when the maxillary labial frenum is too thick or wide |
| distal (D) | proximal surface that faces away from the midline |
| distoincisal (DI) | relating to the line (dihedral) angle fromed the the junction of the distal and incisal walls of a class V cavity in an anterior tooth or formed by the distal and incisal surfaces of a tooth |
| distolingual (DL) | pertaining to or formed by the distal and lingual surfaces of a tooth, or the distal and lingual walls of a tooth cavity preparation |
| disto-occlusal | pertaining to or formed by the distal and occlusal surfaces of a tooth, or the distal and occlusal walls of a tooth cavity preparation |
| enamel | hard, mineralized substance that covers the anatomical crown of a tooth. It is 99% inorganic matter and cannot regenerate |
| endodontic treatment | or root canal therapy; is a sequence of treatment for the infected pulp of a tooth which results in the elimination of infection and the protection of the decontaminated tooth from future microbial invasion |
| endodontics | root canal procedures performed to replace the pulp |
| facial (F) | interchangeable term used to describe the buccal and labial surfaces |
| frenum | a strip of tissue that connects two structures |
| gingivae | pleural for gingiva; is the term that refers to the masticatory mucosa and the tissue that surrounds the teeth |
| incisal (I) | refers to the sharp cutting edges of the anterior teeth ( incisors and cuspids) |
| interproximal | is the space created by two proximal surfaces |
| labial | refers to the surfaces of anterior teeth that face or touch the lips |
| lingual frenum | a membranous fold of skin or mucous membrane that supports or restricits the movement of a part or organ, such as the small band of tissue that connects the side of the tongue to the floor of the mouth. |
| lingual (L) | refers to the surfaces of teeth that face the tongue, or the inside of the mouth |
| linguo-occlusal | relating to the line of junction of the lingual and the occlusal surfaces of a tooth |
| mandibular arch | lower teeth of jaw |
| mesial (M) | refers to the proximal surface ( of a tooth) that is facing toward the midline ( a vertical line that divides the face into two sections, running between the eyes, down the center of the nose, and between the right and left centrals). |
| mesio-incisal (MI) | relating to the mesial and the incisal surfaces of a tooth, noting the angle formed by their junction |
| mesio-occlusal (MO) | pertaining to or formed by the mesial and the occlusal surfaces of a tooth, or the mesial and occlusal walls of a tooth cavity |
| mesio-occlusodistal (MOD) | the surface of teeth that normally lie adjacent to another tooth |
| mesio-occlusodistobuccolingual (MODBL) | the side of a tooth (or direction towards) the oral cavity |
| occlusal (O) | refers to the broad, flat chewing surface of the posterior teeth (premolars and molars) |
| oral cavity | anatomic area in which dentistry is performed |
| oral mucosa | tissue that lines the oral cavity |
| Palmer System | (Symbolic Numbering System), each tooth in a quadrant is assigned a number, and the quadrants are differentiated by a symbol |
| pediatric dentistry | area of dentistry in which dentists (pedodontists) treat patients from newborn to about the age of 15 years in all phases of dentistry |
| periodontics | area of dentistry in which dentists (periodontists) treat patients who have diseases of the soft tissue surrounding the teeth (periodontal disease |
| pontic | artificial replacement of a missing tooth or teeth |
| prosthodontics | area of dentistry for which dentists receive advanced training in performing procedures that replace lost and damaged teeth and tooth structures with partial dentures ( fixed and removable), full dentures , or crown over implants |
| proximal | surfaces that are adjacent or next to another surface of a tooth |
| pulp cavity | the central cavity of a tooth containing the pulp ( including the root canal) |
| pulp chamber | center of the crown |
| rugae | ridges located within the hard palate |
| surgical extraction | surgical procedures that include the cutting of tissue and the removal of bone to facilitate removal of a tooth |
| Universal Numbering System | tooth numbering system developed in the United States to ensure consistency in identifying individual teeth |
| uvula | a projection of tissue located on the posterior of the soft palate that hangs down into the center of the throat |
| pulp tissue | located within the pulp chamber, is composed of connective tissue, blood vessels, and nerves |
