Dental Treatment Glossary of Terms
How Dentists Talk about Your Teeth
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Types of Teeth
Anterior - these are your front four teeth on the top and bottom of your mouth
Incisor - sometimes called your "eye" teeth - these are the pointed teeth on the outer corners of your mouth
Bicuspid - these teeth have two cusps (or tops) to them. There are two of them behind your incisors
Molar - these are your back teeth and have many cusps and are best suited to grinding your food
Directions
During an oral examination, your dentist might call out numbers and words of oral locations of note. Teeth are referred to by their number and which side is of interest.
Lingual - this means on the tongue side of the tooth
Distal - toward the back of the mouth
Mesial - toward the front of the mouth
Labial - on the cheek or lip side of the tooth
Maxillary - upper, meaning from the maxilla (your cheek bone)
Mandibular - lower, meaning from the mandible (your jaw bone)
What do the numbers mean?
Your teeth are numbered from 1-32 and include your wisdom teeth (third molars). Tooth 1 is your upper right back-most wisdom tooth. Your front teeth are teeth 8 & 9. Your lower teeth start counting from 17 starting with the bottom left and ending on the bottom right at 32.
What are the different types of dentists and specialists?
General Dentist
This is the type of dentist most people go to for their regular preventive and standard restorative work.
Pedodontist
A dentist who specializes in treating children
Periodontist
A dentist who specializes in gums and treatment of periodontal disease
Oral Surgeon
A dentist who specializes in more invasive procedures such as removing a tooth from below the gumline or removing wisdom teeth
Orthodontist
An orthodontist specializes in teeth alignment, most commonly braces
Endodontist
A dentist who specializes in performing root canals
What are the different types of cleanings my dentist might recommend?
Prophylaxis
This is a basic cleaning. The dentist will clean calculus on the visible surface of the teeth that your toothbrush is unable to remove. They also may polish the teeth at this time.
Periodontal Scaling and Root Planing -
Also known as a "deep cleaning," this procedure is recommended when gum pockets have become infected and are too deep to reach with normal brushing, flossing and cleanings. Left unattended, periodontal disease can develop leading to receding gums and tooth loss.
Periodontal Maintenance
This procedure removes bad bacteria and cleans below the gum line. It is not as serious of a procedure as the deep cleaning. This procedure may be recommended for mild periodontal cases or for recovering periodontal cases.
What are my choices if I need a filling?
The dentist will remove the decayed area of the tooth and fill it. Most people choose a white resin filling, however some still choose a metal amalgam filling. Your cost will vary based on the type of tooth (anterior, bicuspid or molar) and how many surfaces are affected.
What is a Crown?
When the tooth has broken, chipped or deteriorated to the point that a filling cannot satisfactorily restore the tooth to its original shape, your dentist may recommend a crown as the solution. This is a resin, porcelain or metal cap that is placed on top of the tooth.
What is a Root Canal?
When a tooth becomes infected, the decay can travel down the root of the tooth. If left alone, it can cause an abcess under the tooth and requiremore serious treatment. A root canal removes the decay and fills the root of the tooth so it will not be infected anymore. A final restoration is required to complete the procedure.
What is an Implant?
When a tooth is completely lost, an implant is a way to restore it. A metal screw is set into the bone and a fabricated tooth is placed on top in a shape to match the patient's former tooth. An implant is a good solution when the back-most tooth is lost and a bridge is not a good option.
What is a Bridge?
A bridge fills a space where one or more teeth are lost. The bridge is attached to crowns or implants on both sides of the space and the middle created tooth is matched to fit the patient's former tooth or teeth.
What are Dentures?
Dentures are described as "full" or "partial." A full denture replaces all teeth on the upper and/or lower part of the mouth. A partial denture replaces a section of teeth.