Abutment:

A tooth (or implant) that supports a dental prosthesis.

All On Four:

The All-on-Four treatment concept provides patients with an immediately loaded fixed prosthesis (bridge or denture) supported by four non-removable (permanent) dental implants.

Alveolar bone:

The part of the jaw that surrounds the roots of the teeth.

Alveolar process:

The curving part of the jaw into which the teeth are rooted.

Alveolus:

An opening in your jawbone in which a tooth is attached

Ankylosis:

A condition where two hard tissues are fused together.

General Anesthesia:

General anesthesia is the induction of a state of unconsciousness with the absence of pain sensation over the entire body, through theadministration of anesthetic drugs. It is used during certain medical and surgical procedures.

Intravenous Sedation/Analgesia:

A medically controlled state of depressed consciousness while maintaining the patient's airway, protective reflexes and the ability to respond to stimulation or verbal commands. It includes intravenous administration of sedative and/or analgesic agent(s) and appropriate monitoring.

Local Anesthesia:

The loss of pain sensation over a specific area of the anatomy without loss of consciousness.

Non-Intravenous Conscious Sedation:

A medically controlled state of depressed consciousness while maintaining the patient's airway, protective reflexes and the ability to respond to stimulation or verbal commands. It includes administration of sedative and/or analgesic agent(s) by a route other than IV.

Anesthetic:

A drug which a doctor or dentist uses to put you, your mouth, or some other part of your body to sleep to prevent pain during dental or medical procedures.

Bridge:

See Fixed Partial Denture and/or Removable Partial Denture.

Dental Implant Bridge:

See Fixed Partial Denture and/or Removable Partial Denture.

Cementum:

Hard connective tissue covering the tooth root.

Cleft Lip:

Birth defect, in which one or more fissures form in the upper lip.

Cleft Palate:

Congenital deformity resulting in lack of fusion of the soft and/or hard palate, either partial or complete.

Conscious Sedation:

A state in which patients are awake and can breathe and swallow on their own but are less aware of what is taking place.

Crown:

An artificial tooth, an artificial replacement for the covering on a tooth, a part of the tooth visible in the mouth. Abutment Crown: Artificial crown serving for the retention or support of a dental prosthesis; Anatomical Crown: That portion of tooth normally covered by, and including, enamel; Artificial Crown: Restoration covering or replacing the major part, or the whole of the clinical crown of a tooth; Clinical Crown: That portion of a tooth not covered by supporting tissues.

Clear Choice Dental Implant Centers:

Clear Choice is a dental office chain that does dental implants procedures.

Crown Lengthening:

A surgical procedure exposing more tooth surface for restorative purposes.

Cyst:

Pathological cavity, usually lined with epithelium, containing fluid or soft matter.

Dental Implants:

Dental Implants refer to an artificial tooth root replacement and are used in prosthetic dentistry to support restorations that resemble a tooth or group of teeth.

Dental Prosthesis:

An artificial device that replaces one or more missing teeth.

Dental Specialist:

A dentist who has received postgraduate training in one of the recognized dental specialties. (DDS and DMD )

Permanent Dentition:

Refers to the permanent teeth in the dental arch.

Denture:

A synthetic replacement for all of your teeth in either your upper or your lower jaw.

Permanent Denture:

A synthetic replacement for all of your teeth in either your upper and/or your lower jaw that is secured by either mini dental implants or two to four full dental implants.

Denture Base:

The part of the denture that holds the artificial teeth and fits over the gums.

Dry Socket:

Localized inflammation of the tooth socket following extraction due to loss of blood clot.

Edentulous:

Toothless. Someone is said to be edentulous when all of their teeth are missing from either their upper or lower jaw.

Endodontist (Endo):

A dentist who specializes in root canals and the treatment of diseases or injuries that affect the root tips or nerves in your teeth and associated periradicular conditions.

Erupt, Eruption:

When a new tooth comes in, the tooth is said to erupt when the tooth breaks through the surface of your gums, so you can see the tooth in your mouth.

Excision:

Surgical removal of bone or tissue.

Extraction:

An extraction is the process or act of removing a tooth or tooth parts. A dental extraction is performed for a wide variety of reasons, including tooth decay that has destroyed enough tooth structure to prevent restoration. Extractions of impacted or problematic wisdom teeth are also routinely performed, as are extractions of some permanent teeth to make space for orthodontic treatment.

Fixed Appliances:

Orthodontic devices, commonly known as braces, that are bonded to the teeth to produce different tooth movements to help reposition teeth for orthodontic therapy.

Fixed Partial Denture:

A fixed partial denture is a prosthetic replacement of one or more missing teeth cemented or attached to the abutment teeth or implant abutments adjacent to the space.

Fracture:

The breaking of a part, especially of a bony structure; breaking of a tooth.

Frenectomy:

A Frenectomy is also known as a frenulectomy or frenotomy. A frenectomy is the removal of a frenulum, a small fold of tissue that limits movement of an organ. It can refer to frenulums in several places on the human body. It is related to frenuloplasty, a surgical alteration in a frenulum.

Frenum:

Small pieces of skin that attach your lips, cheeks and tongue to your mouth. Examples include the piece of skin under your tongue that sticks out when you pick up your tongue, and the piece of skin which sticks out when you pull out your lips.

Gingiva:

Soft tissues overlying the alveolus and encircling the necks of teeth that have erupted.

Gingivectomy:

The excision or removal of gingiva.

Gingivitis:

The inflammation of your gums caused by improper brushing. The first sign of periodontal (gum) disease.

Gingivoplasty:

Surgical procedure to reshape gingiva.

Graft:

A piece of tissue or alloplastic material placed in contact with tissue to repair a defect or supplement a deficiency.
Imaging, Diagnostic: This would include, but is not limited to, CAT scans, MRIs, photographs, radiographs, etc.

Immediate Denture:

Prosthesis constructed for placement immediately after removal of remaining natural teeth.

Impacted Tooth:

An impacted tooth refers to an unerupted or partially erupted tooth that is positioned against another tooth, bone, or soft tissue so that complete eruption is unlikely.

Implant:

An implant is material inserted or grafted into tissue.

Mini Dental Implant:

A mini dental implant is material inserted or grafted into tissue.

Dental Implant:

A device specially designed to be placed surgically within or on the mandibular or maxillary bone as a means of providing for dental replacement; endosteal (endosseous); eposteal (subperiosteal); transosteal (transosseous).

Implantation, Tooth:

Placement of an artificial or natural tooth into an alveolus.

Intravenous Sedation:

Medications used intravenously (through the bloodstream) to produce varying levels of sedation.

Jaw:

A common name for either the maxilla or the mandible.

Lesion:

An injury or wound; area of diseased tissue.

Malignant:

Having the properties of dysplasia, invasion, and metastasis.

Malocclusion:

Improper alignment of biting or chewing surfaces of upper and lower teeth.

Mandible:

Your lower jaw

Mandibular:

Pertaining to your lower jaw.

Maryland Bridge:

A type of fixed partial denture not requiring crowns. The prosthesis is bonded to the natural teeth to secure it.

Masticate:

To chew your food and mix the food with saliva

Maxilla:

The upper jaw.

Maxillary:

Pertaining to your upper jaw

Midline:

A line / plane through the very center of your mouth perpendicular to your nose. The transition point between left and right.

Molar:

Teeth posterior to the premolars (bicuspids) on either side of the jaw; grinding teeth, having large crowns and broad chewing surfaces.

Mucous Membrane:

Lining of the oral cavity as well as other canals and cavities of the body; also called "mucosa."

Obstructive Sleep Apnea:

A disorder in which breathing stops for short periods of time during sleep.

Occlusal:

Pertaining to the biting surfaces of the premolar and molar teeth.

Occlusal plane:

The imaginary surface on which upper and lower teeth meet.

Occlusion:

Contact between biting or chewing surfaces of maxillary (upper) and mandibular (lower) teeth.

Oral And Maxillofacial Surgeon:

A dental specialist whose practice is limited to the diagnosis, surgical and adjunctive treatment of diseases, injuries, deformities, defects and aesthetic aspects of the oral and maxillofacial regions. An oral and maxillofacial surgeon is a graduate of an accredited dental school who has completed an additional four or more years of training in an accredited, hospital-based oral and maxillofacial residency program.

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery:

The specialty of dentistry that includes the diagnosis, surgical and adjunctive treatment of diseases, injuries and defects involving both the functional and aesthetic aspects of the hard and soft tissues of the oral and maxillofacial region. Through appropriate referrals, patients can be provided with health care for conditions relating to the specialty of oral and maxillofacial surgery.

Orthognathic Surgery:

Oral surgery performed to correct facial imbalances caused by abnormalities of the jaw bones.

Osseointegration:

The process by which bone heals around an implant.

Overdenture:

A removable prosthetic device that overlies and may be supported by retained tooth roots or dental implants.

Palate:

The hard and soft tissues forming the roof of the mouth that separates the oral and nasal cavities.

First Molar:

The teeth just behind the second bicuspids. These teeth have a level surface with multiple cusps.

Second Molar:

The teeth just behind the first molars. These teeth also have a level surface with multiple cusps.

Third Molars:

Also known as "wisdom teeth." Third molars are the teeth just behind the second molars. Third molars have a level surface with multiple cusps.

Partial Denture:

Usually refers to a prosthetic device that replaces missing teeth.

Periodontal:

Pertaining to the supporting and surrounding tissues of the teeth.

Periodontal Abscess:

An infection in the gum pocket that can destroy hard and soft tissues.

Periodontal Disease:

Inflammatory process of the gingival tissues and/or periodontal membrane of the teeth, resulting in an abnormally deep gingival sulcus, possibly producing periodontal pockets and loss of supporting alveolar bone.

Periodontist:

A dental specialist whose practice is limited to the treatment of diseases of the supporting and surrounding tissues of the teeth.

Periodontitis:

Inflammation and loss of the connective tissue of the supporting or surrounding structure of teeth with loss of attachment.

Post:

An elongated projection fitted and cemented within the prepared root canal, serving to strengthen and retain restorative material and/or a crown restoration.

Prosthesis:

Artificial replacement of any part of the body.

Prosthodontist:

A Prosthodontist is a dental specialist whose practice is limited to the restoration of the natural teeth and/or the replacement of missing teeth with artificial substitutes.

Rebase:

To replace the denture base.

Reline:

To resurface the side of the denture that is in contact with the soft tissues of the mouth.

Removable Appliance:

Removable orthodontic appliances used for simple tooth movement.

Removable Partial Denture:

Prosthetic replacement of one or more missing teeth that can be removed by the patient.

Resorb:

Literally, to absorb again. To lose substance. Some of a tooth may be resorbed.

Temporary Removable Denture:

An interim prosthesis designed for use over limited period of time.

TMJ:

An abbreviation for the "temporomandibular joint." The "temporomandibular joint" is the joint where your lower jaw connects to your skull.

Torus:

A bony elevation or protuberance of bone.

Unerupted:

Tooth/teeth that have not penetrated into the oral cavity.

Wisdom Teeth:

Wisdom teeth are also known as the third molars. Most people have four wisdom teeth, but it is possible to have more or fewer. Wisdom teeth are the last teeth to erupt in your mouth.

Xerostomia:

Decreased salivary secretion that produces a dry and sometimes burning sensation of the oral mucosa and/or cervical caries.