Dental Dictionary
A comprehensive glossary of dental terminology for professionals and students. Browse alphabetically or search for specific terms.
Abscess
A localized collection of pus caused by a...Sign up to read more
Abutment
A tooth, root, or implant used to support...Sign up to read more
Acrylic Resin
A synthetic polymer material used in denture bases,...Sign up to read more
All-on-4
An implant technique where a full arch of...Sign up to read more
Alloy
A mixture of two or more metals used...Sign up to read more
Alveolar Bone
The portion of the jawbone that surrounds and...Sign up to read more
Alveolar Ridge Augmentation
A surgical procedure to rebuild the bone ridge...Sign up to read more
Amalgam
A durable silver-colored filling material made from a...Sign up to read more
Anesthesia
The use of medication to prevent pain during...Sign up to read more
Anodized Implant
A dental implant with a surface treated through...Sign up to read more
Apex
The tip or end of the root of...Sign up to read more
Apicoectomy
A surgical procedure to remove the tip of...Sign up to read more
Artifact
An unwanted feature appearing on a radiographic image...Sign up to read more
Bicuspid
A tooth with two cusps or points, also...Sign up to read more
Bioactive Glass
A specialized glass material that bonds to bone...Sign up to read more
Biocompatibility
The ability of a dental material to function...Sign up to read more
Bis-GMA
Bisphenol A-glycidyl methacrylate, a resin monomer widely used...Sign up to read more
Bitewing
A type of dental X-ray that shows the...Sign up to read more
Bonding
A procedure in which tooth-colored resin material is...Sign up to read more
Bone Graft
A surgical procedure that adds bone or bone...Sign up to read more
Braces
Orthodontic devices consisting of brackets and wires used...Sign up to read more
Bridge
A fixed dental restoration used to replace one...Sign up to read more
Bruxism
The habitual grinding or clenching of teeth, often...Sign up to read more
CAD/CAM
Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Aided Manufacturing technology used to design and...Sign up to read more
Calculus
Hardened dental plaque that forms on teeth, also...Sign up to read more
Canine
A pointed tooth located between the incisors and...Sign up to read more
Caries
The scientific term for tooth decay or cavities,...Sign up to read more
Cavity
A hole in a tooth caused by decay...Sign up to read more
CBCT
Cone Beam Computed Tomography, a 3D imaging technique...Sign up to read more
Cementum
A specialized calcified substance covering the root of...Sign up to read more
Cephalometric Radiograph
A standardized lateral skull X-ray used in orthodontics...Sign up to read more
Ceramic
A hard, brittle, heat-resistant material used for dental...Sign up to read more
Composite
A tooth-colored filling material made of resin and...Sign up to read more
Contrast
The difference in density between adjacent structures on...Sign up to read more
Cover Screw
A small screw placed on top of a...Sign up to read more
Crown
A tooth-shaped cap placed over a damaged tooth...Sign up to read more
Cusp
A pointed or rounded projection on the chewing...Sign up to read more
Dentin
The hard, dense tissue forming the bulk of...Sign up to read more
Denture
A removable replacement for missing teeth and surrounding...Sign up to read more
Digital Radiography
A modern X-ray technique using electronic sensors instead...Sign up to read more
Dry Socket
A painful condition that occurs when the blood...Sign up to read more
E-max
A brand of lithium disilicate glass-ceramic known for...Sign up to read more
Edentulous
Having no natural teeth; completely toothless.
Enamel
The hard, white outer layer of the tooth...Sign up to read more
Endodontics
The branch of dentistry concerned with the study...Sign up to read more
Endosteal Implant
The most common type of dental implant, placed...Sign up to read more
Exposure Time
The duration for which X-rays are generated during...Sign up to read more
Extraction
The removal of a tooth from its socket...Sign up to read more
Feldspathic Porcelain
A traditional ceramic material composed of feldspar, silica,...Sign up to read more
Filling
A dental restoration used to repair a tooth...Sign up to read more
Fissure
A groove or natural depression on the chewing...Sign up to read more
Fixture
The portion of a dental implant that is...Sign up to read more
Fluoride
A mineral that helps strengthen tooth enamel and...Sign up to read more
Frenum
A fold of tissue that restricts the movement...Sign up to read more
Full Mouth Radiograph
A complete set of dental X-rays that provides...Sign up to read more
Gingiva
The soft tissue (gums) that surrounds and supports...Sign up to read more
Gingivitis
Inflammation of the gums characterized by redness, swelling,...Sign up to read more
Glass Ionomer
A dental cement that chemically bonds to tooth...Sign up to read more
Graft
A piece of tissue, such as bone or...Sign up to read more
Guided Bone Regeneration
A surgical technique using barrier membranes to direct...Sign up to read more
Guided Implant Surgery
A technique using 3D imaging and surgical guides...Sign up to read more
Gutta-Percha
A rubber-like material derived from tropical trees, used...Sign up to read more
Halitosis
The medical term for bad breath, which can...Sign up to read more
Healing Abutment
A temporary component attached to a dental implant...Sign up to read more
Hounsfield Unit
A standardized scale used in CT imaging to...Sign up to read more
Hybrid Denture
A fixed prosthesis that combines features of dentures...Sign up to read more
Hydroxyapatite
A naturally occurring mineral form of calcium that...Sign up to read more
Hypodontia
A developmental condition characterized by the absence of...Sign up to read more
Image Receptor
The device that captures the X-ray image, which...Sign up to read more
Immediate Loading
A technique where a dental implant is loaded...Sign up to read more
Impaction
A condition in which a tooth is blocked...Sign up to read more
Implant
A titanium post surgically placed into the jawbone...Sign up to read more
Implant Crown
A prosthetic tooth attached to a dental implant...Sign up to read more
Implant Overdenture
A removable denture that snaps onto dental implants...Sign up to read more
Incisor
A flat, sharp-edged tooth at the front of...Sign up to read more
Inlay
A custom-made filling that fits within the cusps...Sign up to read more
Interproximal
Referring to the area between adjacent teeth, important...Sign up to read more
Invisalign
A brand of clear aligner orthodontic treatment using...Sign up to read more
Jaw
The bony structure of the mouth consisting of...Sign up to read more
Kilovoltage (kVp)
The measure of electrical potential applied to an...Sign up to read more
Laminate
A thin shell of porcelain or composite material...Sign up to read more
Lateral Cephalogram
A side-view X-ray of the skull used for...Sign up to read more
Leucite
A potassium aluminum silicate mineral added to dental...Sign up to read more
Lithium Disilicate
A high-strength glass ceramic material used for crowns,...Sign up to read more
Local Anesthesia
Medication that numbs a specific area of the...Sign up to read more
Locator Attachment
A type of precision attachment used to connect...Sign up to read more
Malocclusion
Misalignment of the teeth or incorrect relation between...Sign up to read more
Mandible
The lower jaw bone, which is the largest...Sign up to read more
Maxilla
The upper jaw bone, which forms the roof...Sign up to read more
Milliamperage (mA)
The measure of electrical current in an X-ray...Sign up to read more
Mini Implant
A smaller diameter dental implant used in narrow...Sign up to read more
Molar
A large, flat tooth at the back of...Sign up to read more
Monolithic Restoration
A dental restoration made from a single block...Sign up to read more
Nerve
Tissue that transmits sensations from the teeth to...Sign up to read more
Night Guard
A removable appliance worn during sleep to protect...Sign up to read more
Occlusal Radiograph
An X-ray technique that captures a large area...Sign up to read more
Occlusion
The contact between the upper and lower teeth...Sign up to read more
Onlay
A dental restoration that covers one or more...Sign up to read more
Oral Surgery
A specialty of dentistry that involves surgical treatment...Sign up to read more
Orthodontics
The branch of dentistry concerned with the prevention...Sign up to read more
Osseointegration
The biological process by which bone cells grow...Sign up to read more
Osteotome
A surgical instrument used to compress and shape...Sign up to read more
Palate
The roof of the mouth, consisting of the...Sign up to read more
Panoramic Radiograph
A single X-ray image that shows the entire...Sign up to read more
Pedodontics
The branch of dentistry that specializes in the...Sign up to read more
PEEK
Polyether ether ketone, a high-performance polymer used for...Sign up to read more
Peri-implantitis
Inflammation of the tissues surrounding a dental implant,...Sign up to read more
Periapical Radiograph
An X-ray that shows the entire tooth from...Sign up to read more
Periodontics
The branch of dentistry concerned with the structures...Sign up to read more
Periodontitis
A serious gum infection that damages the soft...Sign up to read more
Plaque
A sticky film of bacteria that constantly forms...Sign up to read more
Platform Switching
An implant design concept where a narrower abutment...Sign up to read more
PMMA
Polymethyl methacrylate, an acrylic material used for temporary...Sign up to read more
Pontic
The artificial tooth in a dental bridge that...Sign up to read more
Porcelain
A ceramic material used to make dental crowns,...Sign up to read more
Prosthodontics
The branch of dentistry that specializes in the...Sign up to read more
Pulp
The soft tissue in the center of a...Sign up to read more
Pulpectomy
The removal of all pulp tissue from a...Sign up to read more
Pulpitis
Inflammation of the dental pulp, often causing severe...Sign up to read more
Radiograph
A dental X-ray image used to diagnose conditions...Sign up to read more
Radiolucent
Appearing dark on a radiograph because X-rays pass...Sign up to read more
Radiopaque
Appearing light or white on a radiograph because...Sign up to read more
Recession
The gradual exposure of the tooth root caused...Sign up to read more
Resin Cement
An adhesive dental cement used to bond indirect...Sign up to read more
Restoration
Any dental procedure or material used to repair...Sign up to read more
Retainer
A removable or fixed appliance worn after orthodontic...Sign up to read more
Ridge Preservation
A procedure performed after tooth extraction to maintain...Sign up to read more
Root
The portion of a tooth below the gum...Sign up to read more
Root Canal
A treatment to repair and save a badly...Sign up to read more
Sandblasted Surface
An implant surface texture created by projecting particles...Sign up to read more
Scaling
A dental cleaning procedure that removes plaque and...Sign up to read more
Scatter Radiation
X-rays that have been deflected from their original...Sign up to read more
Sealant
A thin, protective coating applied to the chewing...Sign up to read more
Sensitivity
A condition in which teeth experience discomfort or...Sign up to read more
Sinus Lift
A surgical procedure that adds bone to the...Sign up to read more
Subperiosteal Implant
A type of implant placed on top of...Sign up to read more
Tartar
Another name for calculus; hardened dental plaque that...Sign up to read more
Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ)
The joint connecting the lower jaw to the...Sign up to read more
Titanium
A biocompatible metal widely used for dental implants...Sign up to read more
TMD
Temporomandibular Disorder; conditions affecting the jaw joint and...Sign up to read more
Tooth Whitening
A cosmetic procedure to lighten the color of...Sign up to read more
Torque
The rotational force applied when inserting a dental...Sign up to read more
Ulcer
An open sore in the mouth that can...Sign up to read more
Veneer
A thin shell of porcelain or composite material...Sign up to read more
Voxel
A three-dimensional pixel that represents a unit of...Sign up to read more
Wisdom Teeth
The third set of molars, typically erupting between...Sign up to read more
X-ray
Electromagnetic radiation used to create images of the...Sign up to read more
Xenograft
A bone graft material derived from a different...Sign up to read more
Xerostomia
The medical term for dry mouth, a condition...Sign up to read more
Zirconia
A strong, tooth-colored ceramic material used for dental...Sign up to read more
Zygomatic Implant
An extra-long implant anchored in the cheekbone (zygoma)...Sign up to read more