Abutment:   The natural teeth that holds a fixed or removable bridge in place. See "Crowns and Bridges." 

Air Abrasion:   A device that uses tiny particles of aluminum oxide blasted in a stream of air at the tooth to remove the decayed debris and ruined enamel of cavities. This procedure usually eliminates the need for anesthesia, though it is not usable for all procedures where a drill has normally been used. Search for a dentist that offers this treatment by checking “New Technology” in the Precise Search portion of Find a Dentist. 

Amalgam:   The most common filling material used for fillings, also referred to as mercury or silver, which are often contained in the mixture. Alternatives are composite resins, and gold or porcelain inlays. See "Restoring your teeth." 

Anesthesia:   Drugs and procedures that relieve the sensation of pain. Various types include general anesthesia, IV sedation, needle-less anesthesia and local anesthesia. 

Apicoectomy:   Surgery to the root section of the tooth through the side of the gums where the root is severed at the base of the tooth and the tooth is then filled. Usually done when a root canal has failed to eliminate pain or infection, and is generally performed by an endodontist. 

Apnea or Sleep Apnea:   A disorder which is potentially fatal in which a person who is asleep may stop breathing multiple times for more than 10 seconds. A general dentist or an oral and maxillofacial surgeon treats this disorder. 

Autoclave:   A device that has a chamber where instruments are placed and steam under pressure is injected in order to complete sterilization. OSHA (Occupational Safety & Health Administration) standards require all dental offices to have sterilization procedures for instruments that include the use of an autoclave. 

Bite:  The way the mouth closes, or the way in which the upper and lower teeth meet. Refer to dictionary entries for malocclusion, TMD, orthodontics. See "Replacing missing teeth" and "TMD." 

Bleaching:  A process of whitening teeth that uses special compounds usually containing hydrogen peroxide. Sometimes lasers are used in conjunction with these compounds. The over-the-counter whitening products are not the prescription strength that dentists use and are therefore less effective. See "Tooth whitening." 

Bonding:  The covering of a tooth surface with a composite resin to correct stained or damaged teeth. Done normally if there is enough healthy natural tooth material, otherwise porcelain veneers or crowns would be used. See "Bonding." 

Braces: Devices used by orthodontists to gradually reposition teeth. There are several varieties of braces, from invisible, i.e., placed on the interior of the teeth rather than the exterior, to plastic to metal appliances. See "Braces (Orthodontics)." 

Bridge:  Prosthetic (false) tooth or row of teeth that spans between two natural teeth to replace missing or lost teeth. An alternative to a bridge would be a dental implant. See "Replacing missing teeth." 

Bruxism:  Involuntary, “nervous” grinding of the teeth while the patient is asleep. Can eventually cause headaches, TMD, loss of tooth surface and cracking. Treatment includes a nightguard custom-made by a dentist from impressions made of the patient’s teeth. See "Common childhood problems." 

Calculus:  (Also called tartar.) Calcified plaque that forms from mineral salts in the saliva and deposits on the teeth. Removed in the course of a prophylaxis, or dental cleaning. Some toothpastes claim to reduce tartar accumulation, but only regular dental checkups and professional cleanings can prevent this accumulation from causing gum disease and tooth loss. See "Gum disease." 

Cap:  (Also called a crown.) A porcelain or gold cover for a decayed, damaged, brittle, or discolored tooth. See "Restoring your teeth" and "Crowns and bridges." 

Caries:  The medical term for dental cavities. 

Cavity:  A decay lesion or hole in a tooth, usually caused by a diet which includes sugar, which allows bacteria to grow and secrete acid onto the enamel of the tooth. See "Cavities" and "Nutrition." 

Cementum:  A thin layer of calcified tissue that has the hardness of bone and covers the root surface of the tooth, connecting the root to the bone of the jaw. See "What are teeth made of?" 

Composite Filling:  A tooth-colored filling composed of a polymer material that looks like a natural tooth. Used instead of metal amalgam. Alternatives are gold or porecelain inlays. See "Restoring your teeth." 

Crown:  A porcelain or gold cover for a decayed, damaged, brittle or discolored tooth. See "Restoring your teeth" and "Crowns and bridges." 

Cuspids:  The large single-cusped (pointed) teeth at the corners of the mouth, located between the incisors and bicuspids. Also known as canine teeth. 

Cusps:  The raised round parts on the chewing surface of the teeth. 

Deciduous Teeth:  (Also known as primary or baby teeth.) A child's first set of twenty teeth that are eventually replaced by permanent teeth. See "Emerging tooth order." 

Dental Floss:  A waxed or unwaxed piece of nylon string that is inserted between the teeth and moved in an up/down fashion for the removal of plaque or other food deposits. Essential care for healthy teeth and gums, at least once a day. See "Flossing your teeth." 

Dentin: The main portion of the tooth structure covered by enamel and surrounded by a layer of cementum along the root. See "What are teeth made of?" 

DentiPatch:   An adhesive strip applied by the dentist to the gum to prevent pain of the local anesthetic injection. A type of needleless anesthesia. 

Denture:  A removable set of artificial teeth. Dentures may be partial, that is, replacing only a section of teeth, or full, which would replace the entire upper or lower sections of teeth. Dentures are most often created by a prosthodontist. An alternative to dentures is dental implants. See "Replacing missing teeth." 

Diastema:  The space between teeth, most often referring to the top two center teeth. 

Digital Radiography:   The use of computer imaging rather than traditional x-ray film to create and store images of teeth. Search for a dentist that offers digital radiography by checking “New Technology” in the Precise Search portion of Find a Dentist.