Patient Resources
Dental Dictionary
Plain-language definitions for the terms you might hear at an appointment — so nothing your dentist says feels confusing.
A
- Abutment
- A tooth or implant that supports a fixed bridge or removable partial denture.
- Amalgam
- A silver-colored filling material made from a mixture of mercury, silver, tin, and copper. Largely replaced by tooth-colored composite today.
- Anesthetic
- A medication used to numb a specific area of the mouth (local) or to relax the body more broadly (sedation).
B
- Bicuspid
- Also called a premolar. The teeth between your canines and molars that help tear and grind food.
- Bonding
- A cosmetic procedure that uses tooth-colored composite resin to repair chips, gaps, or discoloration.
- Bridge
- A fixed dental restoration that fills the gap left by one or more missing teeth, anchored to adjacent teeth or implants.
- Bruxism
- The habit of grinding or clenching your teeth, often during sleep. Can lead to wear, jaw pain, and headaches.
C
- Calculus
- Hardened plaque (tartar) that has bonded to the tooth surface. Can only be removed by a professional cleaning.
- Caries
- The clinical term for tooth decay or cavities.
- Cementum
- The hard tissue covering the root of a tooth, below the gum line.
- Composite
- A tooth-colored filling material made from a blend of resin and ceramic that bonds directly to the tooth.
- Crown
- A custom cap that fully covers a damaged tooth to restore its size, shape, and strength.
- Cuspid
- Also called a canine. The pointed teeth on either side of the front teeth.
D
- Dental Implant
- A titanium post placed in the jawbone that serves as a foundation for a replacement tooth or bridge.
- Dentin
- The hard tissue beneath enamel that forms the bulk of the tooth.
- Dentures
- A removable replacement for missing teeth and surrounding tissue. Full dentures replace all teeth; partials replace some.
E
- Endodontics
- The branch of dentistry that treats the inside of the tooth, including root canal therapy.
- Enamel
- The hard, mineralized outer layer of a tooth. The hardest substance in the human body.
- Extraction
- The removal of a tooth from the mouth.
F
- Fluoride
- A naturally occurring mineral that strengthens tooth enamel and helps prevent decay.
G
- Gingiva
- The gum tissue surrounding the teeth.
- Gingivitis
- Inflammation of the gums, often the earliest stage of gum disease. Reversible with good oral hygiene.
H
- Halitosis
- Persistent bad breath. Often related to oral hygiene, diet, or underlying health conditions.
I
- Inlay
- A custom restoration made outside the mouth and bonded into a cavity, fitting between the cusps of a tooth.
- Invisalign
- A clear-aligner orthodontic system that straightens teeth without traditional metal braces.
M
- Malocclusion
- A bite that doesn't align properly — overbite, underbite, or crossbite.
- Molar
- The large flat teeth at the back of the mouth used for grinding food.
O
- Occlusion
- How your upper and lower teeth come together when you bite.
- Onlay
- A restoration similar to an inlay but covering one or more cusps of a tooth.
- Orthodontics
- The branch of dentistry that corrects misaligned teeth and jaws.
P
- Periodontal
- Related to the tissues around the teeth — gums, ligaments, and bone.
- Plaque
- A soft, sticky film of bacteria that constantly forms on teeth. Removed by daily brushing and flossing.
- Prophylaxis
- A professional cleaning to remove plaque, tartar, and surface stains.
- Pulp
- The soft tissue inside the tooth containing nerves and blood vessels.
R
- Restoration
- Any treatment that restores a tooth to its proper form and function — fillings, crowns, bridges, implants.
- Root Canal
- A procedure that removes infected pulp from inside a tooth, then seals it to save the natural tooth.
S
- Sealant
- A thin protective coating applied to the chewing surfaces of back teeth to prevent decay.
- Sedation Dentistry
- The use of medication to help patients relax during dental procedures.
T
- Tartar
- Hardened plaque. Same as calculus.
V
- Veneer
- A thin porcelain shell custom-made to cover the front of a tooth and improve its appearance.
W
- Whitening
- A cosmetic process that lightens the color of teeth, performed in-office or with take-home trays.
- Wisdom Tooth
- The third molar — the last teeth to come in, usually in late teens or early twenties.