A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

V

W

X

Y

Z

A

abscess: Acute or chronic, localized inflammation, with a collection of pus, associated with tissue destruction and, frequently, swelling, usually secondary to infection.

periapical abscess: Acute or chronic inflammation and pus formation at the end of a tooth root in the alveolar bone, secondary to infection;

periradicular abscess: Acute or chronic inflammation around a tooth root in the alveolar bone, secondary to infection;

periodontal abscess: Abscess of the gingival or periodontal tissue secondary to periodontal infection, as contrasted to periapical abscess or periradicular abscess.

abutment: A tooth or implant used to support a prosthesis.

abutment crown: See crown.

acid etching: Use of an acidic chemical substance to prepare the tooth enamel and or dentin surface to provide retention for bonding.

adhesive: Any substance that joins or creates close adherence of town or more surfaces.

allogenic: See graft.

alloplastic: Refers to synthetic material often used for tissue augmentation.

alveolar: Referring to the bone to which a tooth is attached.

alveoloplasty: Surgical procedure for recontouring alveolar structures, usually in preparation for a prosthesis.

amalgam: An alloy used in direct dental restorations.

analgesia: Loss of pain sensations without loss of consciousness.

anesthesia:

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 sedative and/or analgesic agent(s) and appropriate monitoring.

local anesthesia: The loss of pain sensation over a specific area or the anatomy without loss 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; See local anesthesia.

anterior: Refers to the teeth and tissues located towards the front of the mouth; maxillary and mandibular incisors and canines.

apicoectomy: Amputation of the apex of a tooth.

apex: The tip or end of the root end of the tooth.

arch, dental: The curved composite structure of the natural dentition and the residual ridge, or the remains thereof, after the loss of some or all of the natural teeth.

artificial crown: See crown.

autogenous: See graft.

avulsion: Separation of tooth from its socket due to trauma (evulsion)

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B

benign: The mild character of an illness or the non-malignant character of a neoplasm.

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 radiograph: Interproximal view radiograph of the coronal portion of the tooth.

bonding: Process by which two or more components are made integral by mechanical and/or chemical adhesion at their interface.

bridge: See fixed partial denture and/or removable partial denture.

bruxism: The parafunctional grinding of the teeth.

buccal: Pertaining to or around the cheek (as in the buccal surface of a posterior tooth).

by report: A narrative description used to report a service that does not have a procedure code or is specified in a code as "by report"; may be requested by a third-party payer to provide additional information for claims processing.

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C

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

cantilever extension: Part of a fixed prosthesis that is supported at only one end.

caries: commonly used term for tooth decay.

cast: See diagnostic cast or study model.

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

cement base: Material used under a filling to replace lost tooth structure.

cementum: Hard connective tissue covering the tooth root.

cephalometric radiograph: A radiographic head film utilized in the scientific study of the measurements of the head with relation to specific reference points.

cleft palate: Congenital deformity resulting in lack of fusion of the soft and/or hard palate, either partial or complete.

clenching: The clamping and pressing of the jaws and teeth together in centric occlusion, frequently associated with psychological stress or physical effort.

clinical crown: See crown.

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

compound fracture: Break in bone which is exposed to external contamination.

comprehensive oral evaluation: See evaluation.

coping: A thin covering of the coronal portion of the tooth usually without anatomic conformity. It can be used as a definitive restoration or as part of a transfer procedure.

coronal: Refers to the clinical crown of a tooth.

crown:

abutment crown: Artificial crown serving for the retention or support of a dental prosthesis;

anatomical crown: That portion of tooth normally covered by, and including, enamel;

artificial crown: Restoration covering or replacing the major part, or the whole of the clinical crown of a tooth;

clinical crown: That portion of a tooth not covered by supporting tissues.

crown lengthening: A surgical procedure exposing more tooth for restorative purposes by apically positioning the gingival margin and/or removing supporting bone.

curettage: Scraping and cleaning the walls of a cavity or gingival pocket.

cusp: Pointed or rounded eminence on or near the masticating surface of a tooth.

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D

debridement: Removal of subgingival and/or supragingival plaque and calculus which obstructs the ability to perform an evaluation; removal of contused and devitalized tissue from a wound surface.

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

deciduous: Having the property of falling off or shedding; a name used for the primary teeth.

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

dentin: That part of the tooth that is beneath enamel and cementum.

dentition: The teeth in the dental arch; permanent dentition - refers to the permanent teeth in the dental arch; deciduous dentition - refers to the deciduous or primary teeth in the dental arch.

denture: An artificial substitute for natural teeth and adjacent tissues.

denture base: That part of a denture that makes contact with soft tissue and retains the artificial teeth.

detailed and extensive: See evaluation.

diagnostic cast: Plaster or stone model of teeth and adjoining tissues; also referred to as study model.

diastema: A space, such as one between two adjacent teeth in the same dental arch.

direct pulp cap: Procedure in which the exposed pulp is covered with a dressing or cement with the aim of maintaining pulp vitality.

direct restoration: A restoration fabricated inside the mouth

displaced tooth: A partial evulsion of a tooth-may be mesial, distal, facial, lingual or incisal.

distal: Toward the back of the dental arch (or away from the midline).

dry socket: Localized inflammation of the tooth socket following extraction due to infection or loss of blood clot; osteitis.

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E

edentulous: Without teeth.

enamel: Hard calcified tissue covering dentin of the crown of tooth.

endodontist: A dental specialist who limits his/her practice to treating disease and injuries of the pulp and associated periradicular conditions.

equilibration: Reshaping of the occlusal surfaces of teeth to create harmonious contact relationships between the upper and lower teeth; also known as occlusal adjustment.

evulsion: Complete separation of the tooth from its socket due to trauma (avulsion).

excision: Surgical removal of bone or tissue.

exostosis: Overgrowth of bone (see torus).

extraoral: Outside the oral cavity

extracoronal: Outside the crown of a tooth.

exudate: A material usually resulting from inflammation or necrosis that contains fluid, cells, and/or other debris.

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F

facial: The surface of a tooth directed toward the face (including the buccal and labial surfaces) and opposite the lingual surface. Facial surface equals buccal surface in the posterior or the labial in the anterior.

filling: A lay term used for the restoring of lost tooth structure by using materials such as metal, alloy, plastic or porcelain.

fixed partial denture: A fixed partial denture is a prosthetic replacement of one or more missing teeth cemented or attached to the abutment teeth or implant abutments adjacent to the space.

foramen: Natural opening into or through bone.

fracture: The breaking of a part, especially of a bony structure; breaking of a tooth.

frenum: Muscle fibers covered by a mucous membrane that attaches the cheek, lips and or tongue to associated dental mucosa.

furcation: The anatomic area of a multirooted tooth where the roots diverge.

G

general anesthesia: See anesthesia.

gingiva: Soft tissues overlying the crowns of unerupted teeth and encircling the necks of those that have erupted.

gingivitis: Inflammation of gingival tissue without loss of connective tissue.

gingivectomy: The excision or removal of gingiva.

gingivoplasty: Surgical procedure to reshape gingiva.

graft: A piece of tissue or alloplastic material placed in contact with tissue to repair a defect or supplement a deficiency;

allogenic graft: Having cell types that are antigenetically distinct from patient's cell type (usually freeze dried and/or irradiated);

autogenous graft: Taken from one part of a patient's body and transferred to another;

homologous graft: A graft transplanted from a donor of the same species.

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H

hemisection: Surgical separation of a multirooted tooth.

heterologous: Made up of tissue not normal to the part.

histopathology: The study of disease processes at the cellular level.

homologous: See graft.

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I

immediate denture: Prosthesis constructed for placement immediately after removal of remaining natural teeth.

impacted tooth: An unerupted or partially erupted tooth that is positioned against another tooth, bone, or soft tissue so that complete eruption is unlikely.

implant: Material inserted or grafted into tissue; dental implant - device specially designed to be placed surgically within or on the mandibular or maxillary bone as a means of providing for dental replacement; endosteal (endosseous); eposteal (subperiosteal); transosteal (transosseous)

implantation, tooth: Placement of an artificial or natural tooth into an alveolus.

incisal: Pertaining to the biting edges of the incisor and cuspid teeth.

incisal angle: One of the angles formed by the junction of the incisal and the mesial or distal surfaces of an anterior tooth; called the mesioincisal and distoincisal angle respectfully.

indirect pulp cap: Procedure in which the nearly exposed pulp is covered with a protective dressing to protect the pulp from additional injury and to promote healing and repair via formation of secondary dentin.

indirect restoration: A restoration fabricated outside the mouth.

inlay: An indirect intracoronal restoration; a dental restoration made outside of the oral cavity to correspond to the form of the prepared cavity, which is then luted into the tooth.

interproximal: Between the adjoining surfaces of adjacent teeth in the same arch.

intracoronal: Referring to "within" the crown of a tooth.

Intraoral: Inside the mouth.

intravenous: Conscious sedation see anesthesia.

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J

jaw: A common name for either the maxilla or the mandible.

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K

keratinized gingiva: The oral surface of the gingiva extending from the mucogingival junction to the gingival margin. In gingival health, the coronal portion of the sulcular epithelium may also be keratinized.

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L

labial: Pertaining to or around the lip.

lesion: An injury or wound; area of diseased tissue.

limited oral evaluation: See evaluation.

line angle: An angle formed by the junction of two planes; used to designate the junction of two surfaces of a tooth, or of two walls of a tooth cavity preparation.

lingual: Pertaining to or around the tongue; surface of the tooth directed toward the tongue; opposite of facial..

local anesthesia: See anesthesia.

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M

maintenance, periodontal: Therapy for preserving the state of health of the periodontium.

malignant: Having the properties of dysplasia, invasion, and metastasis.

malocclusion: Improper alignment of biting or chewing surfaces of upper and lower teeth.

maryland bridge: Fixed partial denture featuring conservative retainers which are resin bonded to abutments; see code D6545.

maxilla: The upper jaw.

mesial: Toward the midline of the dental arch; opposite of distal.

molar: Teeth posterior to the premolars (bicuspids) on either side of the jaw; grinding teeth, having large crowns and broad chewing surfaces.

mucous membrane: Lining of the oral cavity as well as other canals and cavities of the body; also called "mucosa."

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N

non-autogenous: A graft from donor other than patient.

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O

obturator: A disc or plate which closes an opening; a prosthesis that closes an opening in the palate.

occlusal: Pertaining to the biting surfaces of the premolar and molar teeth or contacting surfaces of opposing teeth or opposing occlusion rims.

occlusal radiograph: An intraoral radiograph made with the film being held between the occluded teeth.

occlusion: Any contact between biting or chewing surfaces of maxillary (upper) and mandibular (lower) teeth.

odontogenic cyst: See cyst.

odontoplasty: Adjustment of tooth length, size, and/or shape; includes removal of enamel projections.

onlay: An indirect restoration made outside the oral cavity that overlays a cusp or cusps of the tooth, which is then luted to the tooth.

operculectomy: Removal of the operculum.

operculum: The flap of tissue over an unerupted or partially erupted tooth.

oral: Pertaining to the mouth.

oral and maxillofacial surgeon: A dental specialist whose practice is limited to the diagnosis, surgical and adjunctive treatment of diseases, injuries, deformities, defects and esthetic aspects of the oral and maxillofacial regions.

oral pathology: The specialty of dentistry and pathology concerned with recognition, diagnosis, investigation and management of diseases of the oral cavity, jaws, and adjacent structures.

orthodontist: A dental specialist whose practice is limited to the interception and treatment of malocclusion of the teeth and their surrounding structures.

orthognathic: Functional relationship of maxilla and mandible.

osteoplasty: Surgical procedure that modifies the configuration of bone.

osteotomy: Surgical cutting of bone.

overdenture: A removable prosthetic device that overlies and may be supported by retained tooth roots or implants.

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palate: The hard and soft tissues forming the roof of the mouth that separates the oral and nasal cavities.

palliative: Action that relieves pain but is not curative.

panoramic radiograph: An extraoral radiograph on which the maxilla and mandible are depicted on a single film.

parafunctional: Other than normal function or use

partial denture: Usually refers to a prosthetic device that replaces missing teeth; (see fixed partial denture or removable partial denture).

patient: An individual who has established a professional relationship with a dentist for the delivery of dental health care. For matters relating to communication of information and consent this term includes the patient's parent, caretaker, guardian, or other individual as appropriate under state law and the circumstances of the case.

pediatric dentist; A dental specialist whose practice is limited to treatment of children from birth through adolescence; formerly known as a pedodontist.

pedodontist: See pediatric dentist.

periapical: The area surrounding the end of the tooth root.

periapical abscess: See abscess.

periapical cyst: See cyst.

periapical radiograph: A radiograph made by the intraoral placement of film for disclosing the apices of the teeth.

pericoronal: Around the crown of a tooth.

periodic oral evaluation: See evaluation.

periodontal: Pertaining to the supporting and surrounding tissues of the teeth.

periodontal abscess: See abscess.

periodontal disease: Inflammatory process of the gingival tissues and/or periodontal membrane of the teeth, resulting in an abnormally deep gingival sulcus, possibly producingperiodontal pockets and loss of supporting alveolar bone.

periodontal pocket: Pathologically deepened gingival sulcus; a feature of periodontal disease.

periodontist: A dental specialist whose practice is limited to the treatment of diseases of the supporting and surrounding tissues of the teeth.

periodontitis: Inflammation and loss of the connective tissue of the supporting or surrounding structure of teeth with loss of attachment.

periradicular: Surrounding a portion of the root of the tooth.

plaque: A soft sticky substance that accumulates on teeth composed largely of bacteria and bacterial derivatives.

pontic: The term used for an artificial tooth on a fixed partial denture (bridge).

post: An elongated projection fitted and cemented within the prepared root canal, serving to strengthen and retain restorative material and/or a crown restoration.

posterior: Refers to teeth and tissues towards the back of the mouth (distal to the canines) - maxillary and mandibular premolars and molars.

premedication: The use of medications prior to dental procedures.

premolar: See bicuspid.

primary dentition: The first set of teeth; see deciduous

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

prosthodontist: A dental specialist whose practice is limited to the restoration of the natural teeth and/or the replacement of missing teeth with artificial substitutes.

provisional: Formed or preformed for temporary purposes or used over a limited period; a temporary or interim solution; usually refers to a prosthesis or individual tooth restoration.pulp-connective tissue that contains blood vessels and nerve tissue which occupies the pulp cavity of a tooth.

pulp cavity: The space within a tooth which contains the pulp.

pulpectomy: Complete removal of vital and non vital pulp tissue from the root canal space.

pulpitis: Inflammation of the dental pulp.

pulpotomy: Surgical removal of a portion of the pulp with the aim of maintaining the vitality of the remaining portion by means of an adequate dressing; pulp amputation.

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Q

quadrant: One of the four equal sections into which the dental arches can be divided; begins at the midline of the arch and extends distally to the last tooth.

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R

radicular: Pertaining to the root.

rebase: Process of refitting a denture by replacing the base material.

regional block anesthesia: See anesthesia.

reline: Process of resurfacing the tissue side of a denture with new base material.

reimplantation, tooth: The return of a tooth to its alveolus.

removable partial denture: A removable partial denture (removable bridge) is a prosthetic replacement of one or more missing teeth that can be removed by the patient.

resin-based composite: See composite

retainer:

orthodontic retainer: Appliance to stabilize teeth following orthodontic treatment;

prosthodontic retainer: A part of a fixed partial denture that attaches a pontic to the abutment tooth, implant abutment, or implant.

retrograde filling; A method of sealing the root canal by preparing and filling it from the root apex.

root: The anatomic portion of the tooth that is covered by cementum and is located in the alveolus (socket) where it is attached by the periodontal apparatus; radicular portion of tooth;

residual root: Remaining root structure following the loss of the major portion (over 75%) of the crown.

root canal: The portion of the pulp cavity inside the root of a tooth; the chamber within the root of the tooth that contains the pulp.

root canal therapy: The treatment of disease and injuries of the pulp and associated periradicular conditions.

root planing: A procedure designed to remove microbial flora, bacterial toxins, calculus, and diseased cementum or dentin on the root surfaces and in the pocket.

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S

scaling: Removal of plaque, calculus, and stain from teeth.

sextant: One of the six relatively equal sections into which a dental arch can be divided, for example: tooth numbers 1-5; 6-11; 12-16; 17-21; 22-27; 28-32. Sometimes used for recording periodontal charting.

sialodochoplasty: Surgical procedure for the repair of a defect and/or restoration of portion of a salivary gland duct.

sialography: Inspection of the salivary ducts and glands by radiograph after the injection of a radiopaque medium.

sialolithotomy: surgical procedure by which a stone within a salivary gland or its duct is removed, either intraorally or extraorally

site: A term used to describe a single area, position, or locus. A single site is an area of communication that may involve adjacent teeth. All non-communicating areas are single sites.

splint: A device used to support, protect, or immobilize oral structures that have been loosened, replanted, fractured or traumatized. Also refers to devices used in the treatment of temporomandibular joint disorders.

stomatitis: Inflammation of the membranes of the mouth.

stress breaker: That part of a tooth-borne and/or tissue-borne prosthesis designed to relieve the abutment teeth and their sporting tissues from harmful stresses.

study model: Plaster or stone model of teeth and adjoining tissues; also referred to as diagnostic cast.

suture: Stitch used to repair incision or wound.

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temporary removable denture: An interim prosthesis designed for use over limited period of time.

temporomandibular (TMJ) - The connecting hinge mechanism between the base the skull (temporal bone) and the lower jaw (mandible).

temporomandibular joint disfunction: Abnormal functioning of temporomandibular joint; also refers to symptoms arising in other areas secondary to the disfunction

tissue conditioning: Material intended to be placed in contact with tissues, for a limited period, with the aim of assisting the return to a healthy condition.

transitional: Relating to a passage or change from one position, state, phase or concept to another.

torus: A bony elevation or protuberance of bone; see exostosis.

transplantation of tooth: Transfer of a tooth from one socket to another, either the same or a different person.

transseptal: Through or across a septum.

trismus: Restricted ability to open the mouth, usually due to inflammation or fibrosis of the muscles of mastication.

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unerupted: Tooth/teeth that have not penetrated into the oral cavity.

unilateral: One-sided; pertaining to or affecting but one side.

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veneer: In the construction of crowns or pontics, a layer of tooth-colored material, usually, but not limited to, composite, porcelain, ceramic or acrylic resin, attached to the surface by direct fusion, cementation, or mechanical retention; also refers to a restoration that is luted to the facial surface of a tooth.

vestibuloplasty: Any of a series of surgical procedures designed to increase relative alveolar ridge height.

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xerostomia: Decreased salivary secretion that produces a dry and sometimes burning sensation of the oral mucosa and/or cervical caries.

x-ray: Radiograph.

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yeast: A general term for a fungus occurring as a unicellular, nucleated organism that usually reproduces by budding, although some yeasts may reproduce by fission, many producing mycelia or pseudomycelia.

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zygomatic bone: Quadrangular bone on either side of face that forms the cheek prominence (see malar).

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