A complete glossary of common dental terms
Overview
Communication is critical at your dental visits and understanding all of the words being used is an important first step. If you’re new to dental care, this guide to dental terminology for beginners breaks down common dental words and phrases in simple, easy-to-understand language. By learning basic dental terminology, you can better understand diagnoses, treatment options and the conversations you’ll have with your Aspen Dental care team.
Dental terminology A-Z
Abrasion - Tooth enamel wear caused by forces other than chewing, such as improper, aggressive brushing or holding objects between the teeth. It commonly appears as shiny, V-shaped notches near the gum line.
Abscess – An abscess is a pocket of infection caused by bacteria in the tooth’s pulp or surrounding gum tissue, often caused by deep decay, injury or gum disease and results in pain and swelling.
Abutment – A connector piece that links a dental implant to the final restoration like a crown, bridge or other prosthetic.
Alveolar bone – A specialized part of the jawbone that forms tooth sockets, supporting and holding teeth in place.
Amalgam filling – An amalgam filling is a durable, silver-colored filling material made from a mix of metals.
Anesthesia – Medication that induces a temporary, controlled loss of sensation or awareness, preventing pain during medical procedures.
Apicoectomy – Apicoectomy is a dental procedure to save a tooth when a traditional root canal fails. It involves the surgical removal of the tip of a tooth’s infected root, surrounding tissue and sealing the end with a filling to treat infection and prevent reinfection.
Arch – The upper row (maxillary) or lower row (mandibular) of teeth. It can also refer to the dental restoration replacing missing teeth (e.g., dentures or fixed full arch implants).
Basic cleaning – A routine preventive dental cleaning for patients with healthy gum tissue and minimal plaque buildup. It is not intended for patients with active or past gum disease and does not typically include an exam, X-rays or fluoride treatment.
Bicuspid - A premolar tooth; a tooth with two cusps.
Bilateral - Occurring on, or pertaining to, both right and left sides.
Biopsy - Process of removing tissue for histologic evaluation.
Bitewing X-ray – An X-ray shows the upper and lower back teeth and the bone supporting them, primarily used to detect cavities between teeth, check the fit of fillings/crowns and monitor gum disease.
Bonding – Bonding is a cosmetic procedure using a composite resin that is applied to a tooth to fix chips, gaps, stains or misshapen teeth by applying the material directly on the tooth for a natural look.
Braces – Orthodontic devices used to straighten teeth and correct bite problems.
Bridge – A bridge is a fixed dental prosthetic that restores gaps caused from one or more missing teeth by "bridging" the space with artificial teeth anchored to adjacent nearby teeth on either side for support.
Bruxism – Bruxism is involuntary grinding or clenching teeth, often during sleep.
Calculus (tartar) – Calculus also known as tartar is hardened plaque that forms on teeth and must be removed by your dentist.
Caries - Commonly used term for tooth decay.
Canker sore – A canker sore is a painful sore that forms inside the mouth that appears white or yellow center with a red border, but is not contagious.
Cavity – Tooth decay caused by bacteria damaging tooth enamel.
Cementum – A calcified layer covering the tooth root that helps anchor it to the jawbone.
Composite - A dental restorative material made up of disparate or separate parts (e.g., resin and quartz particles), often used to repair decayed, chipped or cracked teeth, blending in naturally.
Crown – A crown is a custom cap that covers and restores a damaged tooth to restore strength and appearance.
Cusp - The pointed or rounded portion of the tooth on the premolars and molars.
Decay – Damage to tooth enamel caused by bacteria, forming sticky plaque that erodes the tooth, leading to cavities, pain and infection.
Dental exam – A dental exam is a professional, comprehensive evaluation of teeth, gums and your overall oral health to check for issues like decay, gum disease and oral cancer.
Dental implant – A dental implant is a titanium post surgically placed in the jawbone to replace a missing tooth, providing a stable base for replacement teeth like crowns, bridges or other prosthetics, while helping to prevent further bone loss.
Dental prophylaxis - Scaling and polishing procedure performed to remove coronal plaque, calculus and stains.
Dental prosthesis - An artificial, custom-made device that replaces one or more missing teeth to restore function and appearance.
DDS - Doctor of Dental Surgery
DMD - Doctor of Dental Medicine
Dentin - The part of the tooth that is beneath the enamel and cementum.
Dentures – Dentures are removable appliances that replace either all or some teeth and surrounding gum tissue, improving your ability to eat, speak and your facial appearance.
Dry socket – Dry socket is a painful complication that can occur after a tooth extraction when the protective blood clot dislodges or doesn't form and leaves the underlying bone and nerves exposed.
Enamel – The hard outer layer of a tooth that protects against decay, acids and temperature sensitivity.
Erosion - Erosion is the wearing down of tooth structure, caused by chemicals (acids).
Endodontics – Endodontics is a dental specialty with advanced education focused on the tooth's inner parts—the pulp, nerves and tissues. Most well-known for root canal treatments and other complex procedures like tooth abscesses and trauma to relieve pain and preserve natural teeth.
Excision - The surgical removal of tissue or bone, often required to access a tooth.
Extraction – The removal of a tooth or portions of a tooth from its socket in the jawbone.
Eruption – The natural process where developing teeth move from their formation site in the jawbone up through the gums to become visible and functional in the mouth.
Filling – A filling is material used to repair teeth damaged by decay, trauma or wear, most commonly referred to as a cavity.
Flossing – Flossing is cleaning between teeth using dental floss.
Fluoride – A mineral that strengthens enamel and helps prevent cavities.
Frenectomy – A minor surgical procedure to remove or adjust a lip or tongue tie.
Gingiva - The tissue of the upper and lower jaws that surrounds the base of the teeth. More commonly known as gums.
Gingivitis – Gingivitis is early, mild stage gum disease causing redness and bleeding of the gums caused primarily by plaque buildup from bacteria, food and mucus.
Gum disease (periodontitis) – Gum disease is an infection or inflammation of the tissues and bone that support the teeth. The early stage is gingivitis; the advanced stage is periodontitis, which can result in bone and attachment loss.
Gum graft – A procedure to treat receding gums by transplanting tissue from your palate, donor source or nearby gums.
Halitosis – Chronic bad breath.
Hygienist – A dental professional who cleans teeth and educates patients on oral care and screens for oral diseases like gum disease and oral cancer.
Immediate denture – Immediate denture, also called temporary or same-day dentures, are removable dentures placed in your mouth right after natural teeth are extracted.
Impacted tooth – A tooth that cannot fully emerge through the gums due to blockage.
Implant dentures – Dentures secured with dental implants (titanium posts) in the jawbone to securely anchor full or partial dentures.
Inlay/Onlay – Custom restorations used for large cavities to help fill inside the tooth.
Interproximal - Between the teeth.
Intraoral - Inside the mouth.
Jawbone – Bone structure that supports teeth.
Jaw pain – Discomfort or soreness in your jawbone, joints or surrounding muscles related to TMJ disorders, teeth grinding. stress, injury or other dental issues.
Keratinized tissue – Firm gum tissue that surrounds and protects teeth and implants.
Labial – Tooth surface closest to the lips.
Laser dentistry – Uses lasers as precise tools for dental procedures.
Lesion - Any area of abnormal tissue change or damage in or around the mouth, including the teeth, gums, tongue or cheeks, appearing as spots, sores, lumps or structural loss (like holes or indentations) that can signal infections, trauma or even pre-cancerous conditions, requiring diagnosis to determine if it's benign or serious.
Lingual - Pertaining tongue; surface of the tooth directed toward the tongue; opposite of facial.
Local anesthesia – Numbing medication applied to a specific area of the mouth.
Loose tooth – A loose tooth is a tooth that moves due to injury or gum disease. In children, a loose tooth is a normal part of losing baby teeth to make way for adult teeth.
Malignant - Cancerous conditions or growths in the mouth, jaw or related tissues, characterized by abnormal cells that can invade surrounding areas and spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body.
Malocclusion – Improper alignment of teeth or jaws, where the upper and lower teeth don't fit together correctly when the mouth closes.
Maxilla - The upper jaw. Mouthguard – A mouthguard is a removable protective device worn to protect teeth from injury from sports impacts and teeth grinding. It can be worn at night or during the day.
Molar – Large back teeth used for chewing.
Night guard – A removable dental appliance worn at night to protect teeth from damage caused by grinding and clenching.
Nitrous oxide – A mild inhaled sedative, commonly referred to as “laughing gas” used to help patients relax.
Occlusion – How teeth fit together when biting.
Oral cancer screening – A routine visual and physical exam by doctor to check the mouth, lips, tongue, throat and neck for any signs of cancerous or precancerous changes.
Oral and maxillofacial surgeon - A dental specialist who treats complex issues of the mouth, jaw, face and neck, bridging dentistry and medicine through advanced surgical training after dental school, handling everything from wisdom teeth removal and dental implants to correcting misaligned jaws, facial trauma and tumors.
Orthodontics – Orthodontics is a dental specialty focused on treating teeth and jaw alignment by straightening teeth through orthodontic treatments such as braces, clear aligners and retainers.
Orthodontist - An orthodontist is a dental specialist whose practice is focused on treating malocclusion and alignment of the teeth and their surrounding structures.
Overdenture - An overdenture, also known as an implant denture or snap-on denture, is a removable dental prosthesis that snaps onto and rests on dental implants and, in some cases, tooth roots and natural teeth to improve function and preserve bone.
Palate - The hard and soft tissues forming the roof of the mouth that separates the oral and nasal cavities.
Partial denture – A partial denture is a removable denture used to replace multiple teeth and restore function and appearance.
Periodontal disease – Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, a bacterial infection that inflames gums and its surrounding bone.
Periodontitis - Periodontitis is a severe gum infection that causes inflammation and significant damage to gum tissue and the bone supporting your teeth.
Plaque – Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that can build up on teeth. Without daily brushing and flossing, which helps remove plaque, the bacteria will harden and turn into tartar.
Prophylaxis – Prophylaxis is the clinical term for preventive care—the most common is a routine teeth cleaning—but it also applies to other preventive measures such as oral cancer screenings.
Pulp - Pulp is the inner-most layer of your tooth and connective tissue containing blood vessels and nerve tissue. Dental pulp is what helps keep your tooth healthy and alive.
Quadrant – A quadrant is one of the four sections into which the mouth is divided: upper right, upper left, lower right and lower left.
Quick release anesthetic – A fast-acting medication to localize numbness for teeth and the surrounding area during a dental procedure. This has a relatively brief duration of action and is commonly used for shorter dental procedures.
Radiograph - A radiograph, also known as an X-ray, is an image produced by projecting radiation used to detect dental issues such as cavities, bone loss and impacted teeth.
Reline - A denture reline resurfaces the side of the denture that is in contact with the soft tissues of the mouth for a snug, comfortable fit. Over time, everyday wear and natural changes in your gums or jawbone can loosen your denture or cause soreness.
Removable partial denture (removable bridge) - A prosthetic replacement of one or more missing teeth that can be removed by the patient.
Retainer – A retainer is used to maintain and retain teeth alignment after having braces. The retainer is custom-made, typically clear, plastic or wire.
Receding gums – Receding gums are gum tissue that pulls away from your teeth and exposes the roots underneath. Often occurs from gum disease, harsh brushing and teeth grinding.
Root canal – A dental treatment used to save damaged teeth by removing infected pulp from inside a tooth.
Scaling and root planing – Scaling and root planing, also known as dental deep cleaning is often used to treat gum disease by removes plaque and tartar below the gumline and smooths the roots to help gums heal.
Sealant – A protective coating that is applied to teeth, often back teeth like molars, to prevent decay and cavities.
Sedation dentistry – Sedation dentistry is inclusive of various sedative types used in select dental procedures to help patients feel relaxed so the doctor can complete their work and minimize pain.
Sinus lift – A sinus lift is a bone grafting procedure when there isn't enough natural bone to place dental implants. The procedure lifts the sinus membrane to add a bone graft which creates space for dental implants. The recovery process is typically a few months to ensure full healing before the implants are placed.
Submandibular glands - Major salivary glands located beneath the lower jaw (mandible) that produce saliva and drain into the floor of the mouth.
Suture - A stitch used to close open wounds, specifically stitching gum tissue back together after an oral surgeries. Sutures help close the wound to avoid infections and promote healing.
TMJ/TMD – Disorders that affect the jaw joint and surrounding muscles, resulting in jaw pain, headaches, clicking and chewing.
Tartar – Tartar is hardened plaque on teeth that appears at or below the gum line.
Tooth sensitivity – The sensation of sensitivity when having hot, cold or sugary foods or beverages.
Underbite – An underbite is when your lower teeth extend beyond your upper teeth.
Ulcer – A small, painful open sore inside your mouth that forms on lips, cheek, gum, tongue and roof of your mouth.
Veneer – A thin shell made of porcelain or composite that is placed on teeth as a cosmetic enhancement to improve appearance and confidence by concealing chipped teeth, gaps, staining and misalignment. Learn more about dental veneers.
Vital pulp therapy – Vital pulp therapy is a procedure to preserve the living tooth pulp (nerves, blood vessels).
Wisdom teeth – Wisdom teeth, known clinically as third molars, are located at the very back of the mouth and are the last permanent teeth to appear around your teens. Since these teeth erupt much later than the rest, they often do not have enough room to come in properly causing impaction, pain, infection and other dental issues.
Wear – The gradual loss of tooth structure.
X-ray (dental) – A diagnostic imaging tool vital for the early detection of hidden issues, invisible to the naked eye, such as cavities, infections and bone loss. Learn more about dental X-rays at Aspen Dental.
Xerostomia – Xerostomia, also known as dry mouth, is the sensation you might feel when you do not have enough saliva.
Yellow teeth – Staining, aging, poor oral hygiene and even some medications can cause discoloration, resulting in yellow teeth. Aspen Dental offers multiple methods to treat yellow teeth including professional teeth whitening and veneers.
Zirconia crown – A strong, metal-free, tooth-colored cap that is used to restore damaged teeth.
Zygomatic implant – Zygomatic implants are anchored in the cheekbone instead of the jawbone. This type of implant is typically used for patients with severe bone loss in their upper jaw.