brand logo
Schedule

Dental terminology & definitions

Here is a comprehensive list of common dental terminology and terms you may hear or read as you learn more about oral health.

Tooth wear caused by forces other than chewing such as holding objects between the teeth or improper brushing.

A tooth (or implant) that supports a dental prosthesis.

General Anesthesia: A controlled state of unconsciousness, accompanied by a partial or complete loss of protective reflexes, including loss of ability to independently maintain airway and respond purposefully to physical stimulation or verbal command, produced by a pharmacologic or non-pharmacologic method or combination thereof.

Intravenous Sedation/Analgesia:  A medically controlled state of depressed consciousness while maintaining the patient's airway, protective reflexes and the ability to respond to stimulation or verbal commands. It includes intravenous administration of a sedative and/or analgesic agent(s) and appropriate monitoring.

Local Anesthesia:  The loss of pain sensation over a specific area of the anatomy without loss of consciousness.

Non-Intravenous Conscious Sedation:  A medically controlled state of depressed consciousness while maintaining the patient's airway, protective reflexes and the ability to respond to stimulation or verbal commands. It includes administration of sedative and/or analgesic agent(s) by a route other than IV (PO, PR, Intranasal, IM), and appropriate monitoring.

Regional Anesthesia:  A term used for local anesthesia.

Removal of the tip of a tooth root.

Term used to refer to an upper or lower denture.

Dentures

Basic or routine cleaning for a normal amount of plaque build-up.  Preventive treatment for patients with healthy gum tissue, not intended for patients with past history of or current gum disease.  Price does not include a periodic examination, X-rays or fluoride treatment.

Checkups

A premolar tooth; a tooth with two cusps.

Occurring on, or pertaining to, both right and left sides.

Process of removing tissue for histologic evaluation.

A cosmetic dental procedure that whitens the teeth using a bleaching solution.

Teeth Whitening...More

A composite resin applied to a tooth to change its shape and/or color. Bonding also refers to how a filling, orthodontic appliance or some fixed partial dentures are attached to teeth.

Hard deposit of mineralized material adhering to crowns and/or roots of teeth.

Commonly used term for tooth decay.

Decay in tooth caused by caries; also referred to as carious lesion.

Cavities

Hard connective tissue covering the tooth root.

A dental restorative material made up of disparate or separate parts (e.g., resin and quartz particles).

Crown - Simple crown procedure utilizing a porcelain crown fused to non-precious metal and not involving complicated prep.

Anatomical Crown -  That portion of tooth normally covered by, and including, enamel.

Abutment Crown -  Artificial crown serving for the retention or support of a dental prosthesis.

Artificial Crown - Restoration covering or replacing the major part, or the whole, of the clinical crown of a tooth.

Dental Crown

The pointed portion of the tooth.

The lay term for carious lesions in a tooth; decomposition of tooth structure.

Tooth decay

Scaling and polishing procedure performed to remove coronal plaque, calculus, and stains.

Ready to get started?

Take the first step toward a smile you’ll love at an Aspen Dental office near you.

Schedule appointment