Welcome to the web site glossary. Start by clicking on a letter below.
| Palate |
The hard and soft tissues forming the roof of the mouth that separates the oral and nasal cavities. |
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| Panorex |
An extraoral full-mouth X-ray that records the teeth and the upper and lower jaws on one film. |
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| Partial denture |
A removable appliance used to replace one or more lost teeth. |
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| Pedodontist (Pediatric Dentist) |
| A dental specialist whose practice is limited to treatment of children from birth through adolescence; formerly known as a pedodontist. |
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| Periapical |
The area that surrounds the root tip of a tooth. |
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| Pericoronitis |
An inflammation of the gum tissue around the crown of a tooth, usually the third molar. |
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| Periodontal |
Relating to the tissue and bone that supports the tooth (from peri, meaning "around," and odont, "tooth"). |
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| Periodontal abscess |
An infection in the gum pocket that can destroy hard and soft tissues. |
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| Periodontal disease |
The inflammation and infection of gums, ligaments, bone, and other tissues surrounding the teeth. Gingivitis and periodontitis are the two main forms of periodontal disease. Also called gum disease or pyorrhea.
Also see our patient education guide. |
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| Periodontal pocket |
An abnormal deepening of the gingival crevice. It is caused when disease and infection destroy the ligament that attaches the gum to the tooth and the underlying bone. |
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| Periodontics |
The dental speciality that deals with and treats the gum tissue and bone that supports the teeth. |
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| Periodontist |
A dental specialist whose practice is limited to the treatment of diseases of the supporting and surrounding tissues of the teeth. |
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| Periodontitis |
Inflammation and loss of the connective tissue of the supporting or surrounding structure of teeth with loss of attachment. |
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| Periodontitis |
Inflammation of the supporting structures of the tooth, including the gum, the periodontal ligament, and the jawbone. |
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| PFM (Porcelain Fused to Metal) |
A type of crown or bridge abutment made of a metal substructure or coping (usually a gold alloy) with porcelain layered on the outer surface for esthetics. |
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| Plaque |
A soft sticky substance that accumulates on teeth composed largely of bacteria and bacterial derivatives. |
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| Pontic |
An artificial tooth used in a bridge to replace a missing tooth. |
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| Post |
An elongated projection fitted and cemented within the prepared root canal, serving to strengthen and retain restorative material and/or a crown restoration. |
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| Posterior |
Refers to teeth and tissues towards the back of the mouth (distal to the canines): maxillary and mandibular premolars and molars. |
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| Premolar |
Another name for bicuspid. |
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| Primary teeth |
The first set of teeth that humans get, lasting until the permanent teeth come in. Also referred to as deciduous teeth or baby teeth. |
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| Prophylaxis |
Scaling and polishing procedure performed to remove coronal plaque, calculus and stains. |
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| Prosthodontist |
A dental specialist whose practice is limited to the restoration of the natural teeth and/or the replacement of missing teeth with artificial substitutes. |
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| Pulp |
Connective tissue that contains blood vessels and nerve tissue which occupies the pulp cavity or inner potion of a tooth. |
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