If you've already scheduled an appointment with your dentist, a dental glossary will help you know your frenum from your gingiva. This glossary will help you understand what your dentist is saying during your appointment so that it is easier for you to understand problems you are experiencing and the available treatment options:
Apicoectomy: This is the surgical removal of a root tip in order to treat a dead tooth
Abrasion: This is damage to your tooth due to brushing too hard or grinding your teeth.
Bitewing: X-ray of your mouth to help detect tooth decay
Bleaching: A whitening technique that helps lighten the color of stained teeth through laser or chemical treatments
Bonding: A filling material that's applied to teeth to change their shape or color
Bruxism: The involuntary habit of clenching or grinding your teeth
Calculus: A hard mineral deposit coated with plaque that builds up on your teeth and causes inflammation of your gums. Also known as tartar
Crown: This is an artificial cover that strengthens and protects severely damaged or decayed teeth
Curretage: Removal of diseased tissues from periodontal pockets
Dentin: The inner layer of your tooth's structure immediately under the surface enamel
Extraction: The process of removing all or part of the tooth
Filling: This is a material used to restore the structure of your damaged tooth. Filling is usually made of metal, porcelain, or plastic
Frenum: A piece of skin that connects your lower jaw to your lower lip. It is also the name of the skin that connects your tongue to your gums
Gingiva: Also called gums. These are soft tissues that hold your teeth and protect them from infections
Gingivitis: Early stages of gum disease. Gingivitis is characterized by inflamed gums that bleed easily. It is caused by buildup of plaque
Gingivectomy: Surgical removal of gum tissues
Malocclusion: This is a condition in which the top and bottom teeth are not lined up well. Malocclusion makes it harder to bite or chew properly
Maxilla: Upper jaw
Mandible: Lower jaw
Nightguard: This is a removable acrylic appliance that you wear at night to reduce the effects of grinding your teeth
Periodontitis: This is a severe inflammation of the gums due to chronic gingivitis. This gum disease can cause your teeth to loosen and fall out
Plaque: A sticky substance that coats your teeth and harbors growth of bacteria. The easiest way to prevent plaque buildup is to brush and floss your teeth
Pulp: Soft tissues inside your teeth where the nerves and blood vessels are
Retainer: An appliance that's placed in your mouth to help maintain the position of your teeth following orthodontic treatment
Root canal: This is a procedure that removes all the pulp and soft tissues from a severely infected tooth and fills the space with a permanent filling.
Scaling: This is a procedure that removes hardened plaque from your teeth
Temporomandibular Joint: This is a joint that connects your lower jaw to your skull
Temporomandibular Joint Disease: Clicking or pain due to problems associated with the temporomandibular joint and surrounding muscles
Xerostomia: Dry mouth or decrease in saliva production. This condition can cause bad breath and an increase in cavities gum infections
Call (301) 485-7492 to schedule an appointment with Gateway Dental Dr. William Swann DDS in our Bowie dental office.
It is hard to miss the sound of someone snoring next to you, and, surprisingly, it may be caused by a person's oral health. Snoring is bothersome and has adverse effects on relationships. What happens is that during sleep, the muscles in the mouth, tongue and throat collapse, causing partial obstruction of the airway. As…
As your Bowie dentist, I answer a large number of questions during regular dental checkups and exams. I am happy to answer any questions a patient has since the answers can help fuel the patient's interest in oral health. The more you know about your teeth and gums, the easier it will be to keep…
As a Bowie dentist, we answer a lot of questions about how to keep teeth healthy. Patients ask about risk factors and what they need to avoid in order to prevent teeth infection. One of the common risk factors is acid reflux. Many patients are unaware that acid reflux can directly impact the health of…
Some dental issues start early on, meaning your child might need a dental checkup at an early age. Even if the child is relatively young, there could be tooth decay or white spots. It means you should think about making your child’s dental appointment as soon as possible. Keep reading to learn more.If there are…
Learning more about your options for getting new dentures is necessary, as you need to make a choice that works for you. This requires thinking about your current lifestyle and how denture care will fit in. Denture care is very important, as when you take proper care of your dentures, they can last many years.Finding…
Invisalign® clear aligners are popular for a number of reasons—one being their incredible versatility. For example, they can be removed for a couple of hours daily, allowing patients to drink coffee without worrying about staining the aligners. Read on to learn more important guidelines for using this clear aligner system for straightening teeth.The short answer…