Services

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A

Abrasion: Loss of tooth structure caused by a hard toothbrush, poor brushing technique or bruxism (grinding or clenching the teeth).

Abscess: An infection of a tooth, soft tissue or bone.

Abutment: A tooth or teeth that supports a fixed or removable bridge.

Adhesive Dentistry: Contemporary term for dental restorations that involve "bonding" of composite resin or porcelain fillings to natural teeth.

Air Abrasion: Removal of tooth structure by blasting a tooth with air and abrasive, a relatively new technology that may avoid the need for anesthetic.

Allergy: Unfavorable systemic response to a foreign substance or drug.

Alveolar Bone: The jaw bone that anchors the roots of teeth.

Amalgam: A most common filling material, also known as silver fillings, containing mercury (approximately 50%), silver, tin, copper and zinc.

Analgesia: A state of pain relief or an agent that lessens pain.

Anesthesia: Partial or complete elimination of pain sensation. Numbing a tooth is an example of local anesthesia; general anesthesia produces partial or complete unconsciousness.

Anterior Teeth: The six upper or six lower front teeth.

Antibiotic: A drug that stops or slows the growth of bacteria.

ANUG: An acronym for Acute Necrotizing Ulcerative Gingivitis, commonly known as trench mouth or Vincent's disease, which can be aggravated by stress and/or smoking.

Apex: The tip of the root of a tooth.

Apicoectomy: Surgical removal of the root tip to treat a dead tooth.

Arch: Describes the alignment of the upper or lower teeth.

Attrition: Loss of structure due to natural wear.