Oral Sedation:  Any substance taken orally (i.e., a pill or liquid) to reduce anxiety and relax the patient. Used in conjunction with some form of anesthesia during dental procedures. 

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon:  A specialist who deals with the diagnosis and surgical treatment of diseases, injuries, and deformities of the mouth and supporting structures. Often simply called an Oral Surgeon. 

Oral Surgery:  Surgery of the mouth including removal of teeth, particularly wisdom teeth. 

Orthodontics:  Dental specialty that treats misalignment and malocclusion of teeth. Treatment usually consists of braces or a retainer. A variety of procedures and braces are now available.

Orthodontist:  A dental specialist who corrects irregularities of the teeth primarily through the use of braces or a retainer. See "Braces (Orthodontics)." 

Palate:  The general term that refers to the roof of the mouth. 

Panorex:   A single full-mouth x-ray, created by an x-ray camera that moves around the entire face and provides a single sheet of film showing the entire mouth. 

Partial Denture:  A removable appliance (prosthesis) that replaces some of the teeth in either the upper or lower jaw, as opposed to a full denture, which replaces all the upper or lower teeth. Affixed to a natural tooth (abutment). An alternative to a partial denture is a dental implant. See "Replacing missing teeth." 

Pediatric Dentistry:  Dental specialty focusing on treatment of children’s teeth. See "A Parent's Guide." 

Pedodontist:  A dentist who specializes in the treatment of children’s teeth. The more common terminology is Pediatric Dentist. 

Periodontal Disease:  The general term for the inflammation or disease affecting the gums. See "Gum Disease." 

Periodontics:  The treatment of diseases of the gum or bone (supporting structure). See "Gum Disease." 

Periodontist:  A dentist who specializes in the treatment of gum disease. 

Plaque:  A sticky substance that forms on the surface of the teeth and harbors bacteria growth and acid formation beneath its surface, causing tooth decay. Plaque build-up can irritate the gums and cause periodontal disease. Treated by regular dental cleanings, or prophylaxis, performed by a dentist or dental hygienist. See "Gum Disease." 

Porcelain Veneers:  Plastic or porcelain facing which is bonded directly to a tooth to improve its appearance, producing a very natural appearance. See "Veneers." 

Prophy Jet:  Air polishing for stain removal.

Prophylaxis:  (Also called a “prophy” for short.) The professional cleaning and removal of plaque, stains, and calculus on the teeth, performed by a dentist or dental hygienist. Ideally performed at least every six months. See "Professional cleaning." 

Prosthodontics:  The replacement of missing or lost teeth with artificial teeth. Common procedures are crowns, bridges, dentures, and implants. See "Replacing missing teeth." 

Prosthodontist:   A dentist who specializes in restoring teeth and replacing missing teeth with crowns, bridges, dentures, and implants. 

Pulp Chamber:  The opening in the center of the crown of a tooth that contains the pulp (nerve tissue) and stretches to the tip of the root. See "What are teeth made of?" 

Quadrant:  One fourth of the mouth or half of the bottom or top section of the mouth. 

Retainer:  An appliance for maintaining the positions of the teeth and jaws immediately after the completion of orthodontic treatment. 

Root Canal:  A procedure used to save an abscessed tooth in which the pulp chamber is cleaned out, disinfected, and filled with a permanent filling. Generally performed by an Endodontist. See "Root canals (Endodontics)."

Root Planing:  Deep cleaning of the teeth to remove hardened plaque below the gum line. This periodontal procedure is usually performed one quadrant at a time, usually by a periodontist or periodontal assistant. See "Gum Disease." 

Root Resection:   The removal of the root of a tooth while retaining the crown. (See "What are teeth made of?") Usually performed by an Endodontist. 

Scaling:  A treatment for gum disease involving removal of hardened plaque (tartar or calculus) from teeth. Performed by a dental hygienist during a prophylaxis (dental cleaning), or in more extreme cases by a periodontist. See "Professional cleaning."

Sealant:  Plastic coating applied to grooves of the teeth to prevent decay, generally performed on children who are more prone to dental caries, or cavities. See "Sealants." 

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. 

Sterilization:  The process of eliminating bacteria and viruses from tools, surfaces and equipment. OSHA (Occupational Safety & Health Administration) has specific standards for sterilization in all dental offices. See autoclave and heat sterilization. 

Tartar:  Also called calculus. 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 can prevent this accumulation from causing gum disease and tooth loss. See "Gum Disease." 

TMD (Temporomandibular Disorders):  Problems associated with the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) which connects the lower jaw with the skull. Typically associated with pops and pain in the joint. See "TMD." 

Ultrasonic Cleaning:  Tooth cleaning (prophylaxis) that uses high frequency sound waves to gently remove deposits such as tartar and stains from the teeth. 

Veneers:  Plastic or porcelain facing which is bonded directly to a tooth to improve its appearance, producing a very natural appearance. See "Veneers." 

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

Wisdom Teeth:  The third set of molars, the last teeth to come in. For many people, wisdom teeth become impacted and must be removed by oral surgery. See "Wisdom teeth." 

X-ray:  Radiation used for diagnostic purposes to photograph the bone tissue of the tooth above and below the gum line. See also digital radiography and panorex