We’ve put together this handy reference guide of terms you might hear when speaking with your dentist or support staff.
Please don’t hesitate to ask your dental care provider for clarification. We’re here to help make your experience as pleasant as possible!
The distance between the upper and lower teeth with the lower jaw in rest position.
The removal or reshaping of thin muscle tissue that attaches the upper or lower lips to the gum, or the tongue to the floor of the mouth.
A removable dental prosthesis (appliance) that replaces all upper or lower teeth.
Extensive restorations of natural teeth with crowns and/or fixed bridges to manage bite problems.
Tooth colored overlay on the visible portion of a crown that is made of acrylic, composite or porcelain.
Fellowship Academy of General Dentistry.
Restoration of lost tooth structure with metal, porcelain or resin materials. We are proud that we use only the latest technologies for fillings. Your smile will remain unflawed if you should need a filling. Let us take care of your cavities with our expert filling processes.
The channel that emanates pus from an infection site, which is a gum boil.
The lifting of gum tissue to expose and clean underlying tooth and bone structures.
An instrument used for removal of teeth.
A straight, healthy smile is more than just your best feature—it may also be your most important. Proper alignment, or occlusion, of your teeth and jaws is critical to the long-term functioning of your teeth, jaws, and mouth, as well as to your overall health. Misaligned teeth and jaws can lead to problems like uneven…
Read MoreIn a study published in the online Journal of Clinical Periodontology, researchers found that COVID patients with gum disease were more likely to suffer serious medical complications, including being: 3.5 times more likely to be admitted to intensive care 4.5 times more likely to need a ventilator Nearly nine times more likely to die compared…
Read MoreIs smoking marijuana ruining your smile? Now that marijuana is legal in many states for recreational or medicinal purposes (or both) we will soon be able to conduct more comprehensive studies on the true oral health effects of cannabis use. What we understand so far about the oral health effects of smoking cannabis is based…
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Orthodontics may be provided by general dentists.
