A-F
- A
- Amalgam - Material made from mercury and other alloy mixtures used to restore a drilled portion of a tooth.
- Anesthesia - Medications used to relieve pain.
- Anterior teeth - Front teeth. Also called incisors and cuspids.
- Arch - The upper or lower jaw.
- B
- Baby bottle tooth decay - Caused by sugary substances in breast milk and some juices, which combine with saliva to form pools inside the baby’s mouth.
- Bicuspids -Back teeth used for chewing.
- Bitewings - X-rays that help a dentist diagnose cavities.
- Bonding - Application of tooth-colored resin materials to the surface of the teeth.
- Bridge - A fixed or removable appliance that replaces lost teeth.
- Bruxism - Teeth grinding.
- C
- Calculus - A sticky substance (also called tartar) that has hardened.
- Canal - The narrow chamber inside the tooth’s root.
- Canines - Also called cuspids.
- Canker sore - One that occurs on the delicate tissues inside your mouth. A canker sore is usually light-colored at its base and can have a red exterior border.
- Caries - Another term for decay, which causes cavities.
- Cold sore - Usually occurs on the outside of the mouth, usually on or near the nose or lips. A cold sore is contagious because it is caused by the herpes simplex virus, and it is usually painful and filled with fluid.
- Composite filling - Tooth colored restorations, also known as resin fillings.
- Composite resin - A tooth-colored resin combined with silica or porcelain and used as a restoration material.
- Contouring - The process of reshaping teeth.
- Crown - An artificial cover that is placed on the top of a tooth following restoration.
- Cusps - The pointed parts on top of the back teeth’s chewing surface.
- Cuspids - Front teeth that typically have a protruding edge.
- D
- Dentin - The tooth layer underneath the enamel.
- Denture - A removable set of teeth.
- E
- Endodontics - A form of dentistry that addresses problems affecting the tooth’s root or nerve.
- F
- Fluoride - A naturally occurring substance added to water, toothpastes and some rinses and used for strengthening the tooth’s enamel.
- Fluorosis - A harmless over-exposure to fluoride and resulting sometimes in tooth discoloration.