Dental Dictionary
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Lingual
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The side of the tooth towards the tongue.
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Mesial
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The side of the tooth towards the middle of the jaw.
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Molar
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The last three upper and lower teeth on both sides of the mouth.
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Mouthguard
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A device to be worn in the mouth. Depending on the design of it, it prevents injury to teeth and/or jaw during teeth grinding or sport events.
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Nightguard
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A mouthguard which is worn at night time.
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Occlusal
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The biting surface of the back teeth.
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Occlusion
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The way how the upper and lower teeth close together.
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Onlay
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A restoration covers the entire biting surface of a tooth.
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Open bite
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The situation where the upper teeth not able to contact the opposing lower teeth.
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Orthodontics
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A special field in dentistry which involves diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of bite abnormalities or facial irregularities.
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Over bite
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The overlap of upper teeth and lower teeth when they close together.
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Overhang
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The portion of filling material that hangs beyond the border of the cavity.
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Palate
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The roof of the mouth.
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Panoramic Radiograph
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An x-ray film used to obtain the wide view of upper and lower jaw and their associated structures.
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Perforation
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An opening on a tooth or other oral structure.
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Periapical
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The surrounding of the bottom of the root of a tooth.
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Periodontics
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A specialty of dentistry involves diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of gum (periodontal) disease.
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Permanent teeth
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Adult's teeth. The first permanent tooth usually comes in around 6 years old.
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Pin
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A piece of "nail-like" metal. It usually is used for better retention of a filling.
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Polish
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A process to make the tooth or filling or other denture smooth and glossy.
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Pontic
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The false tooth in a bridge or denture to replace the missing tooth.
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Post
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A big pin which can be made with different materials such as metal or carbon. Its function usually is to support a big buildup on a tooth.
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Posterior
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Located at the back.
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Pre-authorization
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An approval from the particular authority (usually insurance company in dentistry) before any action (treatment) is carried out.
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Pre-medication
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Medication needing to be taken before treatment.
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Premolar
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The two teeth located in front of the molar.
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Prescription
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A written statement (from a doctor to a pharmacist) regarding the type, the amount and direction of the use of a medication for a patient. In dentistry, a prescription can also be a written statement for preparation of an appliance from a dentist to a lab technician.
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Primary teeth
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Baby teeth.
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Prophylaxis/prophy
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The procedure of teeth polishing. It also means the prevention of diseases.
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Prosthesis
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An artificial part to replace missing teeth and their associated structures.
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Prosthodontics
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A specialty of dentistry involving diagnosis, treatment planning, and fabrication of artificial parts to replace missing teeth and their associated structures.
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Pulp
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The innermost part of a tooth. It contains nerves and blood vessels inside a tooth.
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Pulpectomy
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The removal of the whole pulp inside a tooth.
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Pulpotomy
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The removal of the top part of the pulp inside a tooth.
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Q
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Radiograph
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An x-ray picture.
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Recall
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The regular checkup and teeth cleaning appointment.
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Recementation
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The process of "gluing" the appliance/prosthesis back on the associated area.
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Restoration
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An item a dentist uses to restore the normal function of a tooth or an area in the mouth. It can be a filling, a crown, a bridge, etc.
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Retainer
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A device used for maintaining the position of teeth in the jaw in orthodontic treatment.
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Retreatment
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The process of repeating the root canal treatment.
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Root
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The bottom part of tooth. It anchors the tooth to its supporting units.
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Root canal
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The canal that runs inside the root of the tooth. It contains the nerves and blood vessels inside the tooth.
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Root canal treatment
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A treatment for the root canal inside the tooth.
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Root planing
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The action of cleaning the root area of teeth.
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Rubber dam
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A rubber sheet that fits around teeth. It isolates the treatment area from the rest of the oral cavity.
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Scaling
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The action of cleaning teeth below the gumline.
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Sealant
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A thin layer of plastic-like material covering the grooves and pits on a tooth to prevent cavity.
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Sedation
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The use of medication to calm a patient.
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Space Maintainer
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An appliance to maintain the space between teeth.
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Splint
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An appliance or a material to prevent movement of a mobile part.
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Tempromandibular Joint (TMJ)
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The joint that links the two parts of the jaw.
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Torus
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An outgrowth of bone. It usually develops on the roof of the mouth or around the premolar area on the lower jaw.
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U
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Veneer
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A layer of tooth-colored material (can be porcelain, composite, or ceramics) that attaches to the front of the tooth. It is usually used to improve the appearance of the tooth.
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Wisdom tooth
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The eighth (also the last) tooth from the middle of the jaw.
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Xerostomia
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Dry mouth
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Y
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Z
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Abscess
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A collection of pus. Usually forms because of infection.
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Abutment
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A tooth or tooth structure which is responsible for the anchorage of a bridge or a denture.
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Amalgam
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A silver filling material.
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Anesthetic
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An agent that causes temporary loss of sensation/feeling.
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Anterior
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The front position.
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Apex
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The end of the root.
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Asepsis
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No micro-organism.
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Attrition
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Wear of teeth due to activities such as chewing.
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Avulsed
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An injury that causes a tooth to be completely knocked out of the mouth.
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Bitewing
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A kind of dental x-ray which is taken with the teeth bite together. The main function of this kind of x-ray is to detect cavities in between teeth and height of bone support.
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Bleaching
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Whitening of teeth.
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Bridge
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A prosthesis which is fixed inside the mouth to replace missing teeth.
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Bruxism
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Teeth grinding.
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Canine
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The third tooth from the middle of the jaw. There are four of them. They are the longest teeth in humans.
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Canker sore
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An ulceration with yellow base and red border in mouth. It can be caused by trauma or herpes simplex virus.
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Caries
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Tooth decay.
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Cavity
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A hole on the tooth.
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Cast
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A model of teeth.
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Cementation
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The process of "gluing" the appliance/prosthesis on the associated area.
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Chlorhexidine
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An anti-microbial agent. It is available in many forms such as gels and rinses. It is an effective agent in controlling gum diseases.
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Clasp
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A metal arm extended from a removable partial denture. It helps to hold onto natural tooth structure and thus provide anchorage for the denture.
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Cold sore
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An ulcer or blister on lip. A form of herpes simplex.
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Composite
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White filling.
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Cross-bite
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An abnormal bite relationship of upper and lower jaw. The lower teeth/tooth align toward the check/ lip side more than the upper teeth/tooth.
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Crown (porcelain/plastic/metal)
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A crown is almost like a "cap" on a tooth. It covers the tooth partially or totally above the gum to restore its function and outlook.
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Decay
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A soft substance caused by the bacterial demineralization of enamel and dentin. An infection within a tooth. Must be treated.
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Dentistry
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A branch of medicine that involves diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of any disease concerning teeth, oral cavity, and associated structures.
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Dentition
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The position, type, and number of teeth in upper and lower jaw.
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Denture
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(Immediate/complete/partial) (overdenture, temporary)
An artificial object to replace missing teeth and their neighboring structures. There are many different types of denture to satisfy different treatment requirements and patient preferences. -
Denturist
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The person who specializes in fabricating dentures. A Denturist is not responsible for making any type of diagnosis or carrying out any other treatment (e.g. removing teeth).
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Desensitization
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A procedure to reduce the sensitivity of teeth.
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Diagnosis
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The process of identifying dental disease.
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Diastema
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The space between two adjacent teeth.
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Distal
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A direction indication in the mouth. It indicates the direction away from the middle of the jaw.
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Edentulous
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No teeth.
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Endodontics
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A department of dentistry involving diagnosis, prevention and treatment of dental pulp (where the nerves and blood vessels are inside the tooth).
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Eruption
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The process of the tooth appearing in the mouth.
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Excision
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The action of cutting something off.
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Extruded
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When a tooth may be pushed partially out of the socket.
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Filling
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A restoration placed on a tooth to restore its function and appearance.
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Flipper
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A temporary denture to replace missing teeth during the waiting period for long term treatment.
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Floss
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A thread/tape that goes in between teeth for cleaning.
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Fluoride
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A compound of fluorine (an element) which be put in different forms such as water, gels, and rinses to strengthen teeth.
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Fluoride Treatment
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Teeth treatment with fluoride agents like gel or rinse. It helps to prevent tooth decay.
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Fracture
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When a cusp of a tooth becomes weakened, a fracture may result. It is possible for the crack to extend further into the root and damage to the pulp is commonplace.
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Framework
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A metal skeleton of a removable partial denture to support the false teeth and the plastic attachments.
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Gingivitis
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The mildest form of gum disease: inflammation of gum. The earliest sign is bleeding gum.
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Hemorrhage
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Bleeding
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Hemostasis
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Stop bleeding.
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Impaction
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A condition where a tooth is not able to come in normally or is stuck underneath another tooth or bone.
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Implant
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A device (usually "screw-like") put in the jaw bone to support a false tooth, a denture or a bridge.
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Impression
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A mold taken by some jelly-like material loaded on a tray.
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Incisal
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The cutting edge of front teeth.
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Incisor
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The four upper and lower front teeth.
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Inlay
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A restoration (usually gold, composite or ceramics) fabricated in the lab that cements on a tooth like a missing puzzle piece. It helps to restore the normal function and outlook of the tooth.
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Interproximal
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The space between two adjacent teeth.
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J
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K