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DEFINITIONS AND TERMS USED
IN DENTISTRY & ORTHODONTICS
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1. INTEGRAL ODONTOLOGY:
It is the area of Dentistry which is responsible for the
prevention and treatment of diseases that affect the entire
system. This means, not only the proper functioning of
the teeth, but the complex set of glands, muscles, ligaments,
maxillary bones, joints, arteries and other organs that
surround them.
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2. DENTAL COSMETICS:
Nowadays, many people come to dental care consultation
looking for alternatives, not only physiological and functional,
but aesthetic. Cosmetic dentistry studies materials and
techniques that can supply that demand.
Cosmetic dentistry is the makeup made on teeth stained by
medications, congenital problems, fluorosis, trauma, etc.,
in order to restore their form, brightness and color. Cosmetic
dentistry implements techniques which significantly improve
the aesthetic appearance and enhance patient's self esteem.
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3. DENTAL WHITENING:
It is a procedure that eliminates pigmentations in teeth, by
using quimical substances that change yellowing teeth into
a more homogeneous, whiter color, considering that teeth
have different shades of colours. It can range from a single
tooth until all the dentition. It is done by using a gel
that is applied individually on each tooth, changing teeth
color from inside to outside.
This procedure must be made by a qualified professional.
Substances used are very corrosive and irritating.
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4. COSMETIC
VENEERS:
In cases in which dental whitening is not indicated or
does not work properly, or in teeth with some anomaly of
form or size, a thin layer of porcelain or compsite is
bonded to a natural tooth. In this procedure, a half millimeter
of enamel is removed from the front surface of the tooth.
The tooth is then exposed to phosphoric acid, in which
after the resin cements a veneer is then applied to the
tooth. This procedure is used to replace lost tooth structure,
straighten teeth, change the color or shape of a tooth,
and/or close teeth spaces.
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5. PREVENTION:
It is the conjunction of activities, techniques and procedures
performed in order to avoid the presence of any illness
in oral cavity.
These activities are:
- Education in oral hygiene.
- Prophilaxis
- Fluoride
- Sealants
- Dettartrage.
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6. EDUCATION
IN ORAL HYGIENE:
This term referes to the teaching provided by the dentist
about proper oral hygiene techniques, such as:
Proper brushing technique, proper flossing technique, oral
rinses, proper toothpaste for each case, toothbrush and special
devices which will help to get a good orel health.
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7. PLAQUE CONTROL:
By means of a revealing tincture, zones where brushing
must be improved are shown to the patient. Plaque amount
is revised and patient is taught about how to eliminate
it from teeth and surrounding tissues in oral cavity, such
as tongue, palate, etc.
Patient is taught about the proper way to achieve
daily oral care.
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8. PROPHYLAXIS:
Prophylaxis refers to the cleaning of teeth as a preventative
measure against periodontal (gum) disease and tooth decay.
This treatment can include plaque detection, the removal
of plaque and tartar in the supragingival (upper) and subgingival
(lower) levels of the gum line, the application of caries-preventing
agents, checking for signs of food impaction, and the checking
of restorations and prostheses.
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9. CALCULUS
REMOVAL:
It is the clinical procedure that mecanically removes
plaque and calculus deposits from the crown portion of
the tooth in order to avoid damage in support tissues and
avoid gingivitis and periodontal disease.
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10. SEALANTS:
Proper oral care greatly reduces the risk for dental problems,
but it cannot eliminate it entirely. Chewing surfaces of
premolars and molars, or back teeth, remain hot spots for
bacteria to gather. Because the pits and fissures of these
teeth are hard to reach by toothbrush bristles, bacteria
can grow in these crevices and eventually cause tooth decay.
Dental sealants, usually made of plastic resin materials,
seal the pits and fissures of the back teeth. These seals
shield these areas from bacteria and offer further protection
from decay. These resins block food and bacteria access
to the tooth enamel. It also creates a smooth tooth surface,
making the tooth easier to clean and eliminating tricky
spots that plaque can sink into.
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11. FLUORIDE:
Fluoride is a chemical solution or gel which dentist puts
on patient's teeth. Flouride hardens teeth surfaces and
prevents tooth decay.
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12. OPERATORY:
Operatory is the part of dentistry studying all manual
procedures made in order to prevent and cure dental diseases,
and repair loss of substances produced by them, by removing
damaged dental tissue and repairing it with fillings.
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13. AMALGAM:
A silver, mercury and other metals mixture which is used
for fillings on back teeth (premolars and molars).
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14. PHOTOCURED
RESIN:
It is a procedure where dental anatomy is restored by
means of a last generation resin material, by filling
a dental cavity after decay removal. This resin is activated
with a light beam produced by a photocuation lamp.
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15. IONOMER:
It is a procedure where dental anatomy is restored by
means of a composite cement which fills dental cavity
after decay removal.
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16. PERIODONTICS:
This is the dental speciality that deals with and treats
the gum tissue and bone that supports the teeth, avoiding
early tooth loss. In prostodontic treatment, dentist teaches
prevention and oral hygiene techniques. Other problems
are treated, such as gum bleeding, loosen teeht, gum retraction
and dental sensibility.
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17. PLAQUE
CONTROL:
By means of a revealing tincture, zones where brushing
must be improved are shown to the patient. Plaque amount
is revised and patient is taught about how to eliminate
it from teeth and surrounding tissues in oral cavity, such
as tongue, palate, etc.
Patient is taught about the proper way to achieve
daily oral care.
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18. CURETTAGE:
Curettage removes the soft tissue lining of the periodontal
pockets in order to completely eliminate bacteria and diseased
tissue.
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19. SUBGINGIVAL
PLAQUE REMOVAL:
It is the mechanical removal of bacterial plaque and
calculus from dental root, in order to avoid damage on
support tissue.
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20. ROOT
PLANING:
It consists in the deep scraping of root surface when
there is a declared periodontal disease. In this procedure,
all inorganic material is removed from dental root.
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21. PROSTHODONTICS:
This is a branch of dentistry that focuses on the restoration
and replacement of missing teeth and parts of the jaw.
A prosthodontist's duties include the creation, restoration,
and replacement of human teeth with a variety of different
procedures and applications, such as:
TOOTH SUPPORTED FIXED BRIDGE:
This is the art and science of restoring damaged teeth
and replacing mising teeth by using metals, porcelain,
composite or other cosmetic materials in order to create
a fixed prosthesis, which is supported by adjacent
teeth..
PORCELAIN CROWNS:
These are porcelain caps which cover the crown (that portion
above the gumline) of the tooth to repair it or change
the shape and/or color
REMOVABLE PARTIAL PROSTHESIS:
This type of prosthesis replaces several missing teeth
by using devices that are kept inside the mouth by physical
and mechanical means. These prosthesis can be removed
for their hygiene. Removable bridges can have acrylic
or metalic structures.
TOTAL PROSTHESIS:
This type of prosthesis restore mastication function, speech
and cosmetics in patients who have lost all their teeth,
allowing them to have an adequate mastication.
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22. ORAL SURGERY:
Branch of dentistry focused in prevention, diagnosis,
and treatment of oral diseases produced by development
alterations, inflammatory and infectious processes, trauma,
cancer and pain states.
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23. SIMPLE
EXODONTIA:
Exodontia is the surgical act of removing destroyed or
damaged teeth, when it's not possible to rehabilitate them.
When there is no complication in removing teeth, this procedure
is called "Simple exodontia".
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24. SURGICAL
EXODONTIA:
It is when a tooth or root fragment is extracted in a
non-conventional manner due to difficulty to reach these
teeth (included/retained teeth), where it becomes necessary
to remove bone tissue to get to the tooth.
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25. INCLUDED
TEETH EXODONTIA:
It is the surgical removal of third molar (wisdom tooth);
this is a very complex surgery, due to the location of
this tooth, which requires to cut gum tissue and remove
bone around the molar to get it out.
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26. FRENECTOMY:
Frenectomy is the surgical procedure in which labial or
lingual frenum (a fold of tissue or muscle connecting the
lips, cheek or tongue to the jawbone) is removed in cases
where it interferes with phonation and diction.
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27. PEDIATRIC
DENTISTRY:
The dental specialty focusing on treatment of children.
Also called pedodontics. Its main goal is to preserve and
improve oral health in children patients, knowing how a
child thinks and reacts, in order to achieve an adequate
interaction with child on dental chair. It also takes care
of childhood diseases, organs development and maturation,
as dental eruption and cranio-maxillary growth.
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28. ENDODONTICS:
This brianch of dentistry focuses on study and treatment
of dentine-pulp complex. Pulp is the soft tissue forming
the inner structure of a tooth and containing nerves and
blood vessels.
When dentine-pulp complex receives an aggression (caused
by decay, mechanical, physical or chemical trauma) which
it can not recover from, it is necessary to make a root canal
therapy, which consists in removing pulp tissue, and replace
it with bio-compatible materials.
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29. APICAL
SURGERY:
When a endodontical treatment fails, ita cn be necessary
to make an apical surgery (on the apex or final portion
of the root).
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30. TEMPORARY
DENTITION:
These are the first teeth to come out, after the sixth
month. They are also known as milk dentition and are 20
teeth.
At the age of six years, they start to exfoliate, and are
replaced by permanent teeth.
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31. PHONOAUDIOLOGY:
This is the professional discipline that studies human
communication and its disorders. It focuses on prevention,
detection, diagnosis and intervention in language, speeh
and audition areas, so the patien can achieve a proper
social and educative performance. Dentistry and orthodontics
usually are supported on these professionals to eliminate
lingual habits.
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