A Amalgam - Material made from mercury and other alloy mixtures used to restore a drilled portion of a tooth. Anesthesia - Medications used to relieve pain. Anterior teeth - Front teeth. Also called incisors and cuspids. Arch - The upper or lower jaw. B Baby bottle tooth decay - Caused by sugary substances in breast milk and some juices, which combine with saliva to form pools inside the baby's mouth. Bicuspids - A premolar tooth; tooth with two cusps, which are pointed or rounded eminences on or near the masticating surface of a tooth. Bitewings - X-rays that help a dentist diagnose cavities. Bonding - Application of tooth-colored resin materials to the surface of the teeth. Bridge - A prosthetic replacement of one or more missing teeth cemented or otherwise attached to the abutment teeth or implant replacements. Bruxism - Teeth grinding. C Calculus - A hard deposit of mineralized substance adhering to crowns and/or roots of teeth or prosthetic devices. Canal - The narrow chamber inside the tooth's root. Canines - Also called cuspids. Canker sore - One that occurs on the delicate tissues inside your mouth. A canker sore is usually light-colored at its base and can have a red exterior border. Caries - A commonly used term for tooth decay, or cavities. Cold sore - Usually occurs on the outside of the mouth, usually on or near the nose or lips. A cold sore is contagious because it is caused by the herpes simplex virus, and it is usually painful and filled with fluid. Composite filling - Tooth colored restorations, also known as resin fillings. Composite resin - A tooth colored resin combined with silica or porcelain and used as a restoration material. Contouring - The process of reshaping teeth. Crown - An artificial tooth replacement that restores missing tooth structure by surrounding the remaining coronal tooth structure. It is also placed on a dental implant. Cusps - The pointed parts on top of the back teeth's chewing surface. Cuspids - Front teeth that typically have a protruding edge. D Dentin - The tooth layer underneath the enamel. Denture - A removable set of teeth. E Endodontics - A form of dentistry that addresses problems affecting the tooth's root or nerve. F Fluoride - A mineral in your bones and teeth. Fluorosis - A harmless over-exposure to fluoride and resulting sometimes in tooth discoloration. G Gingiva - Another word for gum tissue. Gingivitis - A minor disease of the gums caused by plaque. Gum disease - An infection of the gum tissues. Also called periodontal disease. I Impacted teeth - A condition in which a tooth fails to erupt or only partially erupts. Implant - A permanent appliance used to replace a missing tooth. Incisor - Front teeth with cutting edges; located in the center or on the sides near the front. Inlay - An artificial filling made of various materials, including porcelain, resin, or gold. L Laminate veneer - A shell that is bonded to the enamel of a front tooth. The shell is usually thin and made from porcelain resin. M Malocclusion - Bad bite relationship. Mandible - The lower jaw. Maxilla - The upper jaw. Molar - Usually the largest teeth, near the rear of the mouth. Molars have large chewing surfaces. N Neuromuscular Dentistry - Addresses more than the aches and pains felt in and around the neck and head that are associated with your teeth and jaw. O Onlay - A filling designed to protect the chewing surface of a tooth. Orthodontics - A field of dentistry that deals with tooth and jaw alignment. Overdenture - A non-fixed dental appliance applied to a small number of natural teeth or implants. P Palate - Roof of the mouth. Partial denture - A removable appliance that replaces missing teeth. Pediatric Dentistry - A field of dentistry that deals with children’s teeth Perio pocket - An opening formed by receding gums. Periodontal disease - Infection of the gum tissues. Also called gum disease. Periodontist - A dentist who treats diseases of the gums. Permanent teeth - The teeth that erupt after primary teeth. Also called adult teeth. Plaque - A sticky, colorless substance that covers the teeth after sleep or periods between brushing. Posterior teeth - The bicuspids and molars. Also called the back teeth. Primary teeth - A person's first set of teeth. Also called baby teeth or temporary teeth. Prophylaxis - The act of cleaning the teeth. Prosthodontics - The field of dentistry that deals with artificial dental appliances. Pulp - The inner tissues of the tooth containing blood, nerves and connective tissue. R Receding gum - A condition in which the gums separate from the tooth, allowing bacteria and other substances to attack the tooth's enamel and surrounding bone. Resin filling - An artificial filling used to restore teeth. Also called a composite filling. Root canal - A procedure in which a tooth's nerve is removed and an inner canal cleansed and later filled. Root planing - Scraping or cleansing of teeth to remove heavy buildup of tartar below the gum line. S Sealant - A synthetic material placed on the tooth's surface that protects the enamel and chewing surfaces. T TMJ - Temporomandibular joint disorder. Health problems related to the jaw joint just in front of the ear. Tarter - A hardened substance (also called calculus) that sticks to the tooth’s surface. V Veneer - A laminate applied or bonded to the tooth. W Whitening - A process that employs special bleaching agents for restoring the color of teeth. Wisdom tooth - Third set of molars that erupt last in adolescence.