At Cornerstone Dentistry, we understand that dental jargon can be confusing, leaving patients feeling overwhelmed and uncertain about their oral health. That’s why we’ve created a comprehensive dental glossary tailored just for you. Our commitment to patient care goes beyond your dental chair experience; we want you to be well-informed and empowered when it comes to your oral health. 

With our user-friendly glossary, you can easily access explanations of dental terms, procedures, and treatments, helping you make informed decisions about your dental care. Take charge of your oral health with Cornerstone Dentistry’s Dental Glossary. Explore it today!

  1. Abscess: A pocket of pus that forms due to bacterial infection.
  2. Amalgam: A blend of mercury with silver, tin, and other metals used for dental fillings.
  3. Antibiotic Prophylaxis: The use of antibiotics to prevent infections.
  4. Apex: The apex refers to the anatomical structure located at the terminal end of the root of a tooth.
  5. Apicoectomy: Surgical removal of the apex of a tooth.
  6. Asepsis: Absence of bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms.
  7. Attrition: Wearing of teeth due to activities like chewing.
  8. Avulsion: complete displacement of a tooth from socket.
  9. Abfraction: Loss of tooth structure from flexural forces.
  10. Alveolar: Relating to the alveolus, the socket of the teeth.
  11. Anesthesia: Medications used to numb a region or to create unconsciousness.
  12. Analgesia: Absence of pain or the relief of pain.
  13. Abrasion: Wear on the tooth caused by a mechanical action (such as brushing).
  14. Adhesion: Sticking or bonding of a material to a tooth.
  15. Arch: Upper or lower jaw.
  1. Bicuspid: A tooth with two cusps, typically for crushing or grinding food.
  2. Biopsy: removal of a small amount of tissue as part of oral examination.
  3. Bleaching: A cosmetic dental procedure to lighten the teeth.
  4. Bonding: Application of a tooth-colored resin to repair and/or change a tooth’s color or shape.
  5. Braces: Devices used in orthodontics to straighten teeth.
  6. Bruxism: Involuntary grinding or clenching of teeth.
  7. Bridge: A fixed dental restoration used to replace one or more missing teeth.
  8. Bitewing: A type of X-ray showing upper and lower teeth in one view.
  9. Bite: The position of the upper and lower teeth when they are brought together.
  10. Buccal: Related to the cheek side of the back teeth.
  11. Bone Graft: Procedure to replace damaged or lost bone around the teeth.
  12. Bone Resorption: Loss of bone around the teeth.
  13. Bifurcation: Area where the roots of a tooth divide.
  14. Base: Material placed under a dental restoration to insulate the pulp (nerve).
  15. Bur: A tool used to cut tooth structure.
  1. Canal: The interior passage within a tooth’s root containing nerves and blood vessels.
  2. Cap: Another term for a dental crown.
  3. Caries: The scientific term for tooth decay or cavities.
  4. Cavity: A hole in the tooth caused by decay.
  5. Cementum: A calcified tissue covering the tooth’s root that helps anchor it within the jaw.
  6. Crown: A cover for a tooth that restores its normal shape and size.
  7. Composite: Tooth-colored filling material.
  8. Cusp: Pointed or rounded mounds on the chewing surface of the teeth.
  9. Calculus: Hardened plaque that is difficult to remove.
  10. Canker Sore: A small, painful sore that appears inside the mouth.
  11. Ceramic Braces: Transparent braces that are less visible to others.
  12. Cleft Palate: A congenital deformity of the roof of the mouth.
  13. Cosmetic Dentistry: Dental work that improves the appearance of teeth, gums, and/or bite.
  14. Cold Sore: Small blisters that develop on the lips or around the mouth.
  15. Curettage: Removal of tissue from a periodontal pocket.
  1. Dentin: The hard, dense tissue forming the bulk of a tooth beneath the enamel.
  2. Dentition: The arrangement or condition of the teeth.
  3. Dental Implants: Titanium replacements for missing tooth roots.
  4. Denture: A removable replacement for missing teeth and surrounding tissues.
  5. Decay: Tooth decay refers to the degradation of dental structure resulting from the presence of bacterial toxins.
  6. Dental Prophylaxis: A procedure to clean the teeth and gums.
  7. Diastema: A gap between two adjacent teeth.
  8. Dental Floss: A slender string composed of fine filaments that is employed for the purpose of eliminating food particles and dental plaque located in the interdental spaces.
  9. Dry Socket: Occur following a tooth extraction.
  10. Deciduous Teeth: Also known as baby or primary teeth.
  11. Dental Sealant: A dental sealant refers to a slender layer of plastic that is applied onto the occlusal surfaces of teeth.
  12. Dental Fluorosis: Condition caused by excessive intake of fluorine compounds.
  13. Distal: The side of the tooth distant from the midline.
  14. Dental Plaque: is a viscid and malleable biofilm that accumulates on the tooth surface and harbors bacterial microorganisms.
  15. Direct Restoration: Filling a cavity with a solid material like amalgam or composite resin in one appointment.
  1. Endodontics: Is a specialized field within dentistry that focuses on the study and treatment of dental pulp and the tissues that encompass the root of a tooth.
  2. Enamel: Refers to the rigid external covering that covers the tooth.
  3. Extraction: Removal of a tooth.
  4. Emergency Dentistry: Dental care focused on relieving pain and managing acute oral issues.
  5. Eruption: When a new tooth emerges through the gums.
  6. Exfoliate: The natural process of losing baby teeth and the emergence of permanent teeth.
  7. Edentulous: Being without teeth.
  8. Eugenol: A compound often used in dental procedures for its antiseptic and pain-relieving properties.
  9. Endodontist: A specialist in the field of endodontics.
  10. Equilibration: Reshaping of the biting surfaces of the teeth to improve bite function.
  11. Esthetic Dentistry: Another term for cosmetic dentistry.
  12. Exostosis: Overgrowth of bone in the oral cavity.
  13. Epithelium: Refers to the specialized tissue that serves as a protective coating for the external surface of the body, as well as lining the various cavities and organs.
  14. Erosion: Wear of the tooth surface by acid, not involving bacteria.
  15. Elastics: Rubber bands used in orthodontic treatment to help align teeth.
  1. Filling: Employed to reinstate the natural function and shape of a decayed tooth.
  2. Fluoride: A naturally occurring mineral that plays a crucial role in preventing dental caries and has the potential to initiate remineralization in the incipient, imperceptible phases of tooth decay.
  3. Fluoride Treatment: Application of fluoride to the teeth to make them more resistant to decay.
  4. Frenectomy: Removal or altering of the frenum, a piece of soft tissue preventing normal movement in the mouth.
  5. Full Mouth Reconstruction: Extensive restoration of the mouth involving general or restorative dental procedures.
  6. Fixed Appliances: Orthodontic devices, like braces, that are securely attached to the teeth.
  7. Furcation: The area where the roots of a tooth split.
  8. Fistula: Is a pathological conduit via which purulent discharge is expelled from a site of infection, commonly known as a gum boil.
  9. Flossing: Cleaning between the teeth with dental floss.
  10. Facet: Flat or smooth side of a tooth.
  11. Fracture: Breakage of a tooth or restoration.
  1. Gingivitis: The earliest stage of gum disease, causing inflamed gums.
  2. Gum Graft: A type of dental surgery performed to correct the effects of gum recession.
  3. Gingivoplasty: Surgical reshaping and recontouring of the gums.
  4. Gingivectomy: Removal of gum tissue (periodontal surgery).
  5. Gum Boil: A localized discharge of pus from the gum, also known as a dental abscess.
  6. General Dentistry: Comprehensive oral health care provided by a general dentist.
  7. Gingival Pocket: A deepening of the crevice between the tooth and gum.
  8. Gingival Recession: When the gums move away from a tooth, exposing the root.
  9. Gumline: The gumline refers to the area where the tooth and the surrounding gums come into contact.
  10. Guard: A device used to protect teeth from injury.
  11. Gum Disease: An infection in the gums, impairing the framework supporting the teeth.
  1. Halitosis: Clinical term for bad breath.
  2. Hygienist: A hygienist is an oral healthcare practitioner who holds a license and is registered with a dental association or regulatory authority in their place of practice.
  3. Hypoplasia: Hypoplasia refers to the condition characterized by the inadequate or incomplete development of a certain tissue or organ.
  4. Hemisection: Surgical removal of one half of a tooth.
  5. Hypocalcification: Inadequate calcification or hardening of the teeth.
  6. Hyperemia: An increase in blood supply, often referring to the pulp within a tooth.
  7. Hybrid Denture: A type of denture supported by and anchored to dental implants.
  8. Hypercementosis: An excessive formation of cellular cementum on the roots of a tooth.
  9. Hypersensitivity: Abnormal responsiveness of the teeth to stimuli, such as temperature changes.
  10. Hard Palate: The anterior portion of the palate, comprising bone and covered by mucosa.
  11. High-Speed Drill: A tool used in dentistry for removing tooth structure.