A Dictionary of Dental Terms (tm)
Copyright © 1999 Rich Masel
Table Of Contents
Definitions Of General Dental Terms
Names Of Individual Teeth
Parts Of A Tooth And Your Mouth
Other Dental Terms
Definitions Of Orthodontic Terms
Parts Of Your Braces
The Orthodontist''s Tools
Orthodontic Procedures
Other Dental and Orthodontic Gadgets and Materials
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Definitions Of General Dental Terms
Names Of Individual teeth
Palmer''s Notation
Palmer''s notation is a widely used method to designate individual teeth. In
Palmer''s notation, your mouth is divided into four parts called quadrants,
that is the upper left quadrant, the upper right quadrant, the lower left
quadrant, and the lower right quadrant as illustrated in the figure on the
right. Then each individual tooth in the quadrant is given a name. For
example the two upper and two lower teeth at the center of your mouth are
called central''s. One then combines the names of the quadrant and the tooth
to come up with a Palmer''s notation. For example, the central on the upper
right side of your mouth is called an upper right central.
The remaining teeth are designated as follows:
Central
The two upper and two lower teeth in the very center of your mouth.
Lateral
The teeth just adjacent to the centrals.
Cuspid
The pointy teeth just behind the laterals. These teeth have one cuspal
(or point). Cuspids are also called canines.
First Bicuspid
The teeth just behind the cuspids. These teeth have two cuspals (or
points)
Second Bicuspid
The teeth just behind the first bicuspids. These teeth also have two
cuspals (or points)
First Molar
The teeth just behind the second bicuspids. These teeth have a level
surface with four cuspals.
Second Molar
The teeth just behind the first. These teeth also have a level surface
with four cuspals.
Third Molar
The teeth just behind the second molars. These teeth also have a level
surface with four cuspals.
Other names for teeth:
Incisor
Another name for the centrals and laterals
Canine
Another name for the cuspids
6 year molar
Another name for your first molar
12 year molar
Another name for your second molar
Wisdom Tooth
Another name for the third molar
Anterior Teeth
Your centrals, laterals, and cuspids. These are the teeth in the front
of your mouth
Posterior Teeth
Your bicuspids and molars. These are the teeth in the back of your
mouth.
Deciduous Teeth
Your primary, or "baby teeth"
Primary teeth
The first set of teeth which come in. Primary teeth are also called
"baby teeth" or deciduous teeth.
Secondary Teeth
Your permenant teeth, i.e. the second group of teeth to come in.
Quadrants
The four parts of your mouth, that is the upper left, the upper right,
the lower left, and the lower right.
Numerical notation for teeth
The numerical notation for teeth is an alternate to Palmer''s notation. In
this notation, the centrals are designated as 1''s, the laterals as 2''s, the
cuspids as 3''s, the first bicuspids as 4''s, the seond bicuspid''s as 5''s,
etc.
Universal numerical notation for teeth
The universal numerical notation is an alternative numerical notation for
teeth. In this notation, your upper right third molar is designated as
tooth#1, and then you number each tooth sequentially moving right to left
and down across your mouth.
Parts Of A Tooth And Your Mouth
Alvelous
A opening in your jaw-bone in which a tooth is attached.
Apex
The very bottom of the root of your tooth
Buccal
The tooth surface which is next to your cheeks. Usually only posterior teeth
touch your cheeks, so people usually use the term "buccal" only when talking
about your back teeth.
Cementum
A bony substance covering the root of a tooth.
Crown
The part of your tooth above your gum.
Cuspal
The chewing or tearing points of the cuspids, bicuspids, and molars.
Dentin
The calcium part of a tooth below the enamel containing the pulp chamber and
root canals.
Enamel
A hard ceramic which covers the exposed part of your teeth.
Frenum
Small pieces of pink colored skin that attach your lips, cheeks and tongue
to your mouth. Examples include the piece of skin under your tounge which
sticks out when you pick up your tongue, and the piece of skin which sticks
out when you pull out your lips.
Gingave
Another name for your gums
Gums
The pink areas around your teeth
Pulp
The soft inner structure of a tooth, consisting of nerve and blood vessels
Pulp Chamber
The very inner part of your tooth containing nerve cells and blood vessels.
Pulp canal
Another name for the pulp chamber
Root
The part of your tooth in your gums
Other dental terms
Abutment
The teeth on either side of a missing tooth.
Amalgam
A silver/mercury mixture which is used for fillings.
Anatomy
1)The arangement of the bones in your skeleton 2) The study of the
arrangement of the bones in your skeleton.
Antiseptic
A chemical agent which can be applied to living tissues to destroy germs.
Anesthetic
A drug which a doctor or dentist uses to put you, your mouth, or some other
part of your body asleep so you do not feel any pain during dental or
medical procedures.
Anterior
An adjective used to describe things pertaining to your your Centrals,
laterals and cuspids (your front teeth).
Arch
Collectively, either the teeth or the basal bone of either jaw.
Articulator
A special holder for models of your teeth. The articulator holds the models
in the same alignment as your jaw so the orthodontist can look carefully at
your bite.
Asepsis
The avoidance of potentially pathogenic microorganism. In practice,it refers
to those techniques which aims to exclude all microorganisms.
Aspirator
A tube like a straw which the dentist puts in your mouth to suck up all the
saliva.
Aspiration
Removal of fluids from your mouth with an aspirator.
Bruxism
Clenching or grinding of your teeth especially at night.
Calculus
A hard deposit that forms when you do not brush your teeth so the plaque
hardens. Calculus is also known as tartar.
Caries
Another name for a cavities (tooth decay)
Cavity
A small hole in one of your teeth caused by tooth decay.
Cross contamination
Passing bacteria, viruses or AIDS indirectly from one patient to another
through the use of improper sterilization procedures, unclean instruments,
or "recycling" of orthodontic products.
Crown
1) An artifacial tooth, 2) an artificial replacement for the covering on a
tooth.
Curettage
A periodontal procedure where your gums are scraped to remove bacteria.
Decalcification
The loss of calcium from your teeth. This weakens your teeth and makes them
more succeptable to decay
Denture
A synthetic replacment for all of your teeth in either your upper or your
lower jaw.
Diagnosis
the process of identifying the nature of a disorder.
Direct contamination
Direct contact with impurities or germs. (for example by a Patient sneezing
on the assistant.)
Disinfection
A cleaning process which destroys of most microorganism, but not highly
resistant forms such as bacterial and mycotic spores or the AIDS virus.
Disinfectant
A chemical agent which is applied onto inanimate surfaces, for example
chairs, to destroy germs.
Disposable materials
materials intended for one use and discarded. (e.g.: Gloves, paper gowns,
cotton rolls, sponges, etc.)
Distal
Behind towards the back of the mouth. For example you might say that the
first bicuspid is distal to the cuspid.
Edentulous
Someone is said to be edentulous whene all of their teeth are missing from
either their upper or lower jaw.
Endodontist (Endo)
A dentist who specializes in root canals and the treatment of diseases or
injuries that affect the root tips or nerves in your teeth.
Erupt, Eruption
When a new tooth comes in, the tooth is said to erupt when the tooth breaks
through the surface of your gums, so you can see the tooth in your mouth.
Exfoliate
to fall out. (Your Deciduous teeth exfoliate and permanent teeth erupt into
the space.)
Extraoral
Outside of your mouth. For example, neck pads are sait to be extra oral
products since they go outside of your mouth.
Filtrum
the dimple or indentation under the nose directly above the upper lip.
Fluoride
A chemical solution or gel which you put on your teeth. The flouride hardens
your teeth and prevents tooth decay.
Gingival hypertrophy
The abnormal enlargement of the gingiva surrounding the teeth caused by poor
oral hygiene.
Gingivitis
The inflammation of your gums caused by improper brushing. The first sign of
periodontal (gum) disease.
Impacted tooth
An unerupted tooth that somehow has gotten stuck and cannot come in.
Implant
A replacement for one of your missing teeth. The implant is different than a
bridge in that the implant is permenantly attached into your jaw.
Incisal
The biting edge of your centrals and laterals.
Interproximal
the space between adjacent teeth
Intraoral
Inside your mouth. For example, orthodontic rubber bands are called
intraoral products since the rubber bands are designed ...
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