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 process of chewing food.
The upper jaw.
The three back teeth in each dental quadrant used for grinding food.
The meeting of thick, protective gingival tissue around the teeth and the mucous lining of the cheeks and lips.
A ‘bad bite’ or misalignment of the upper and lower teeth.
A program whereby patient-dentist assignment and dentist reimbursement is administered by a separate, external organization.
The lower jaw.
The interface between a restoration and tooth structure.
A bridge that is bonded to the back of the adjacent teeth and requires minimum tooth reduction.
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.
