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Glossary of Terms |
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| Dental Terms I -P |
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| Immediate denture |
A technique where teeth are extracted and a denture immediately fitted in the mouth. |
| Implant |
A false root usually made of titanium which is inserted into the
jawbone, where it integrates with the bone and can be used to carry a
crown or bridgework. |
| Inferior Dental Canal |
This is a canal in the lower jaw (mandible) in which the inferior dental nerve runs and supplies the lower teeth and lip. |
Incisal |
| Biting edge of an anterior tooth. |
Inlay/onlay |
A gold filling. |
| Intra oral |
| Small radiograph of the teeth. |
| Integrated (osseo integration) |
This refers to the bonding of an implant to the jaw bone. |
| Kalsogen (Kalzinol) |
Temporary filling material. |
| Lateral perio abscess |
An abscess on the side of the root of a tooth. |
| Ledermix |
Used as a sedative dressing. |
| Legend |
| Material used for cementation or filling purposes. |
Lingual |
Towards the tongue. |
| Mandibular nerve |
| The nerve that supplies the lower teeth. |
| Maryland adhesive bridge |
This is where a false tooth is attached to adjacent teeth by means of “wings” that are glued to the adjacent teeth. |
| Mesial |
| Towards the front part of the mouth (or filling). |
| Metronidazole |
| Antibiotic commonly used to treat dental infection. |
| MO |
| A filling that goes across the top and front of a tooth. |
| MOD |
| A filling that goes across the top of a tooth and includes both the
front and back part, (mesial and distal). |
| Mouth guard |
| Plastic appliance that fits over the biting surface of the teeth and protects them against trauma. |
| Occlusion |
| The way the upper and lower teeth bite together. |
| Occlusal |
The top surface of the teeth. |
| OPG/OPT |
| Scan radiograph showing upper and lower teeth and jawbone. |
| Oro antral fistula |
Communication between the mouth and the maxillary sinus. |
| Onlay |
Filling or cast filling used to cover the surface of a tooth. |
| Orthodontic brace |
An appliance that is used to correct misaligned teeth. |
| Overdenture |
Fits over a root or retainer left in the jawbone. Used to assist in support and proprio reception. |
PA |
| Small radiograph showing the details around the root area. |
Palatal |
| Towards the centre line of the mouth. |
Parapost |
| Preformed steel post used to support a crown in a root filled tooth. |
Panavia |
| A dental cement. |
Partial dentures |
| Dentures replacing some missing teeth as opposed to a full denture. |
PBC |
| Porcelain covered over a gold full crown. |
Periodontal ligament |
| The connecting ligament between a tooth and the bony socket. |
Periapical |
| Area around the apex of a tooth-small radiograph showing details of the root and tooth apex. |
Pericoronitis |
| Infection around a partially erupted tooth. |
PGT |
| Prolonged gum treatment. Consists of more than one visit for scaling and polishing. |
PJC |
| Porcelain Jacket crown. |
Pin |
| Small pin placed in a tooth to support a filling. |
Pocket depth |
The space between the gum margin and the bone in a vertical direction. The greater the depth of a pocket the greater is the loss of supporting bone around the tooth. The measurement of a pocket in mm is used to gauge the degree of bone loss. |
Pocket charting |
| A guide to the health of the teeth and gums by measurement of bone support around teeth. |
Poly F |
| Permanent cement for crowns and bridges. |
Post (crown) |
| Placed in a tooth root, and used to support a crown. |
Pontic |
| Crown replacing a missing tooth attached to an abutment tooth, (part of a bridge). |
Post Crown |
A crown that is supported by means of a post placed into the root canal of a tooth, and to which a crown can be attached. |
Precision attachment |
An attachment that is used to ensure a precision fit between say a tooth crown/implant etc and a denture. |
Pulp (nerve) |
| The chamber inside a tooth consisting of a collection of blood vessels and nerve tissue. |
Pulpotomy |
| Partial nerve removal. Procedure mainly used in deciduous teeth. |
Pulpitis |
| Inflammation of the pulp (nerve), a possible sign of infection. |
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