A
Abutment - a term used to denote the teeth on either side of a missing tooth.
Amalgam fillings (silver-mercury) - Are a mixture of different metals such as 65% silver, 6% copper,2% zinc and 25% tin bound with elemental mercury. Trituration is the process of mixing these alloys together with mercury. The mercury makes up between 45-50% of the mixture and acts as glue that binds these metals into a hard stable substance that can last for decades.
Air Abrasion - a method of removing tooth decay without a drill and anesthesia, by using compresed air and fine sand particles
Alveolar process - the part of the jaw that holds the teeth
Apex- the end of the tooth root
Active eruption- the emergence of the tooth from its position in the jaw.
Adjustment - a modification made upon a dental prosthesis after it has been completed and inserted into the mouth.
Allergy - an adverse or abnormal reaction to an organism, medication or substance.
Alveolus - the bony socket in which the root of the tooth sits.
Anaesthesia - the suppression of sensations such as pain; often used in surgical procedures.
Anatomical Crown - the portion of the tooth that is covered with enamel.
Anterior teeth - the front teeth (incisors and cupids).
Apicoectomy - the surgical removal of the apex after which the open end of the root is sealed with filling.
Aspirator - the tube-like straw that the dentist places in your mouth for suction.

B
Bleaching (tooth whitening) - Process of brightening or whitening stained, discolored, or dull teeth with an in-office power bleaching method, or dentist-supervised, at-home whitening systems.
Bonding (composite resin bonding) - Process by which enamel-like resin is bonded to a tooth's surface, sculpted to an ideal shape, hardened, and polished. This is the technique used for both front and back fillings.
Bridge - A bridge is a custom device anchored to neighbouring teeth that replaces one or more missing teeth. When a lost tooth is replaced with bridgework, the teeth on either side of the missing one must be prepared as crowns which will serve as abutments to hold the replacement teeth in place.
Bicuspids - (premolars) teeth between the canine teeth and molars.
Bruxizm- the habit of tooth grinding, usually during sleep, often resulting in loose or worn teeth, gum recession, destruction of the supportive bone and TMJ disorders.
Biopsy - a sample of tissue or cells which is removed from the body and subsequently used to diagnose an illness or condition.
Bone loss - the disintegration of bone surrounding the tooth socket; this can lead to loosening of the teeth.
Bone restorption - the process involving the gradual breakdown of bone mass.
Buccinator muscle - the cheek muscle.

C
Calculus - hardened deposit of mineral salts formed around the teeth.
Canine teeth - teeth next to the lateral incisors identified by pointed cusp used for tearing food
Canker sores - painfull noncontagious sores that form inside the mouth and on the lips
Calcium - mineral used in the body for strengthening and formation of bones and teeth; commonly found in dairy products.
Caries - medical term for decay caused by decalcification of the enamel and disintegration of the dentin by acid-producing bacteria.
Cast- reproduction of the mouth in stone or plaster.
Cavitron- a dental instrument, which uses sound wave technology to clean the teeth thoroughly.
Cement - a dental material used to seal inlays, onlays, and crowns also used for pupal protection.
Cervix - The tooth cervix refers to the point where the crown connects to the root, or roots, in the tooth; it is also known as the cementoenamel junction. This junction is where the enamel meets the cementum that covers the root of the tooth
Composite resin - Tooth-colored filling material made of resin reinforced with silica or porcelain particles.
Cosmetic contouring  - Reshaping the natural teeth to make them straighter or more youthful in appearance.
Cosmetic dentistry - Field of dentistry dedicated to the art and science of enhancing a person's smile, overall appearance, and oral health.
Cosmetic Imaging - A digital way to see a simulation of what your smile could look like after treatment.
Cyst - a pocket or sac of liquid which grows under the skin; cysts can be found all over the body.
Clasp - The clasp is the metal component of a denture which is used to fix and support the device. Clasps are also used to fasten together different parts of the dental prosthesis and to attach prosthetic devices to existing teeth or abutments.
Clinical Crown - The clinical crown is the visible area of the tooth that is exposed beyond the gums. It is located below the anatomical crown, which is the visible enamel covered upper part of the tooth.
Crown - A crown-sometimes called a cap-is a tooth like covering placed over a carefully prepared existing tooth. Most crowns are made of porcelain, a stain resistant material that closely replicates the appearance and function of your natural teeth. Used to strengthen, restore or improve the appearance of your natural tooth a crown is placed on an individual tooth much like a thimble over your finger. Crowns are also used to support teeth when there is no longer sufficient tooth structure left to place a filling.

D
Dentin - Layer of tooth structure under the enamel. Exposed dentine is the main cause of tooth sensitivity.
Diastema - Space between two teeth, usually the front two teeth.
Denture - a partial or full set of artificial removable teeth
Deciduous teeth - (baby teeth) first set of teeth that is later replaced by permanent teeth.
Decalcification -  The loss of calcium from your teeth, weakening the teeth and making them more susceptible to decay
Demineralization - loss of mineral from tooth enamel just below the surface in a carious lesion usually appearing as a white area on the tooth surface.
Dental occlusion - the positioning of the teeth when the jaw is closed normally; also known as the bite.
Dental tooth fillings - fillings are applied to a tooth in order to fill a cavity or hole and to prevent the spread of further infection in the tooth. There are several types of fillings; these include composite, silver amalgam and temporary fillings.
Desiccate - The process of desiccation involves removing all traces of moisture in order to thoroughly dry something out.
Diastema - a space between the teeth.

E
Enamel - Hard, white outer layer of the tooth that covers and protects the dentin.
Endodontics - an area of dentistry that deals with the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of diseases of the dental pulp and the tissues at the root apex
Extrusion - the jutting of a tooth beyond it's correct position
Endodontics - the treatment of diseases or injuries that affect the root tip or nerve of the tooth.
Edema - swelling resulting from fluid accumulation in gingival tissues.
edentulous  - having no teeth.
Erosion - the dissolution of tooth structure due to the presence of gastric juices or citrus. Erosion seldom occurs alone it is often accompanied by attrition or abrasion (or both) to varying degrees. Acidic foods, such as citrus fruits and juices, should be avoided in patients with signs of erosion.
Eye teeth - another name for the canine, or cuspid, teeth.

F
Fluoride treatment - Fluoride treatments help to strengthen the teeth externally, while the supplements are more helpful for the internal development of the teeth. As the teeth do get topical (external) benefit from fluoride-containing toothpastes, the over-the-counter (non prescription) fluoride rinses are generally not necessary. Dentists may recommend these rinses for children that, for a variety of reasons, may be especially prone to developing cavities. The non prescription rinses are also helpful in adults who are cavity prone.
Filtrum - the dimple or indentation under the nose directly above the upper lip.
Flap surgery - complex procedure where an area of the gum is lifted away from the bone.
Forceps - instrument commonly used during tooth extraction procedures.
Frenectomy - the surgical removal of a flap of tissue which may have developed in the mouth and joins the cheeks, lips or tongue to the jaw; this procedure helps to treat people who are tongue-tied.
Furcation - an area where the root divides.

G
Gum (periodontal) disease - Also known as gingivitis or periodontitis - you may not realize that red or bleeding gums, tooth sensitivity and bad breath are warning signs of gum disease– a serious infection that, left untreated, can lead to tooth loss.
Gum Reshaping - Excessive or uneven gums can be corrected with a simple cosmetic surgical procedure or gingivoplasty resulting in a more even, pleasing smile.
Gingivitis - a condition in which the gums are red, swollen and bleeding. Most cases result from poor oral hygiene and the build-up of plaque on teeth
General Anesthesia - relieves the sensation of pain.
Gingival crest - the gingival crest is the uppermost portion of the gingival (the gums). This is the area of the gums that surrounds the tooth; this portion serves primarily to protect the tooth
Golden proportion- the guidelines dentists use in determining the most aesthetic appearance of a particular tooth
Gutta Percha - material used in the filling of root canals.

H
High lip line - Where the widest smile reveals the gum tissue above the teeth.
Hygienist - As licensed oral health professionals, dental hygienists focus on preventing and treating oral diseases-both to protect teeth and gums-and also to protect patients' total health. 
Halitosis - bad breath, caused by tooth decay, gum disease, digestive problems, smoking or some systemic diseases.
Heat-sterilizing - use of an autoclave or dry-heat sterilizer to kill all potential disease-causing agents that remain following patient treatment. Any instruments that is not heat stable and cannot tolerate high temperatures should be thoroughly cleaned and soaked in disinfectant chemicals.
Homodont - a homodont has teeth that are all the same size and shape. Most vertebrates and all invertebrates are homodont; mammals are the exception as they have different shaped teeth and are therefore heterodont.
Hydrogen Peroxide - a substance often used as an antiseptic; commonly used in mouthwash and as a whitening product in densistry.
Hypersensitivity - a sharp, sudden painful reaction in teeth when exposed to hot, cold, chemical, mechanical or osmotic (sweet or salt) stimuli.

I
Inlay - Porcelain, resin, or gold filling (made to fit a prepared cavity) bonded in place to help restore a decayed or broken tooth.
Implant - A dental implant is quite simply a titanium tooth root. This provides the support a crown needs to withstand the pressures of chewing. Implants help reverse the negative impact of missing teeth in a variety of ways, restores and maintains the natural bite, prevents unnatural stress on the other teeth, keeps opposing teeth in their proper place, prevents tilting and shifting of adjacent teeth and enhances your smile, speech and chewing function.
Incisor - Central or lateral front teeth with cutting edges (4 upper and 4 lower).
Impacted tooth - a condition in which a tooth is unable to erupt normaly because of it's position against the gum or bone
Immediate Denture - a complete or partial denture made before the natural teeth are extracted.
Impression Tray - formed in the general shape of the mouth, used for taking impressions.
Incision and drainage- a procedure to treat abscesses involving cutting the abscess and then draining out the fluid.
Indirect fillings - fillings that are sent away to a dental laboratory to be manufactured.
Intraoral - inside your mouth.
Invisalign - the system is a way to move teeth without the use of conventional brackets and archwires. Basically, a series of clear plastic trays are computer fabricated, with each tray gradually shifting the teeth into proper alignment. The system works best for minor tooth movements.

J
Jaw - a common name for the maxilla or mandible.

L
Laminates or veneers - Thin, custom-made moldings that cover the fronts of unattractive teeth. They are crafted from lifelike, high-tech materials to portray a bright, natural smile. If you are looking to improve your smile, custom-fitted veneers can provide the answer.
Labial - the term labial refers to the lips, which are also known as the labia. A labial sound for example is a sound or letter generated by the movement of the lips.
Laser dentistry - procedures carried out with the use of sophisticated laser technology.
Lingual - the term lingual refers to the tongue; structures that are close to the tongue are also often described as being lingual: the lingual surface of the tooth, for example, is the surface that lies next to the tongue.  Lingual comes from the Latin word for tongue, which is lingua.
Local Anesthesia - relieves the sensation of pain in a localized area.

M
Malocclusion - A bad bite caused by incorrect positions of the upper or lower teeth. 
Mandible - the lower jawbone
Maxilla - the upper jawbone
Maxillofacial - relating to the lower half of the face
Molars - back teeth used for grinding food. The furthest (third) molars are also known as wisdom teeth.
Masticatory System- the teeth and surrounding structures: jaws, temporomandibular joint, muscles, lips and tongue.
Midline - the midline refers to an invisible line which divides a structure or object into two equally-sized parts. In dentistry, the midline refers to the point of contact between the mesial surfaces of the incisors at the front of the mouth.
Mixed dentition - this refers to the mixture of primary and permanent teeth in the dental arch; this is common in children between the ages of 6 and 12 when some, but not all, of the deciduous teeth have fallen out and been replaced by permanent teeth.
Mucosa - the thin, pink or red outer membrane lining the inside of the oral cavity.

N
Nasal - relating to the nose.
NTI-tss (tension suppression system) - A device that prevents medically diagnosed migraine pain, tension-type headache, and jaw disorders ("TMJ"), without drugs or surgery, through the reduction of trigeminally innervated muscular activity. 
Nitrous Oxide - (laughing gas) a gas used as an anesthetic in dentistry and other medical procedures.
Nerves - structures which transmit signals and sensations such as temperature or pain to the brain.
Nightguard - a removable acrylic appliance to minimize the effects of grinding (bruxism) and TMJ-associated problems.
Novocaine - a local anaesthetic used during surgical procedures.eria, remove plaque and freshen breath.

O
Onlay - Porcelain, resin, or gold filling that protects a tooth by covering the chewing surface.
Orthodonticts - branch of dentistry that deals with the diagnosis of missaligned teeth.
Occlusal Trauma - results from excessive force placed on a normal dentition, i.e. grinding and clenching of teeth. If left uncontrolled, occlusal trauma may result in rapid attachment loss and bone destruction.
Open bite - increased distance between the two arches space between the front upper and lower teeth when the back teeth are touching.
Oral cavity - the mouth.
Oral hygiene - the standard of cleanliness in the mouth; it is important to have good oral hygiene in order to have healthy teeth and gums.
Oral and maxillofacial surgery - the treatment and diagnosis of any illness relating to the face, mouth, jaw and neck.
Oral pathologist - examines oral tissues for evidence of suspected abnormalities, such as cancer.
Osteoblasts - cells which aid in the growth and development of teeth and bones.
Osteoclasts - cells which help remodel bone.

P
Partial denture - Removable dental appliance that replaces some of the natural teeth.
Periodontal treatment - Treatment for gum disease. Often performed by gum and implant specialist or periodontist.
Porcelain - Ceramic, tooth-colored material that fuses at high temperatures to form a hard, enamel-like substance.
Papillae - small projections on the surface of the tongue
Plaque - a thin film on the the surface of teeth made up of material in saliva containing bacteria
Pontic - the artificial tooth of the fixed bridge that replaces natural tooth
Post - a metal or carbon fiber support used to reinforce a tooh that has had a root canal therapy.
Posterior - term refering to the back part of the mouth
Premolars - see bicuspids
Prosthetic - refering to the artificial part of the human body
Prosthodontics - branch of dentistry that deals with replacement of damaged or missing teeth
Pulp - soft, spongy tissue in the center of the tooth containing blood vessels and nerves
Pulpectomy - the complete removal of the tooth's pulp.
Pulpotomy - partial removal of the tooth's pulp
Panorex - a single large X-ray taken outside of the mouth that shows all the teeth on one film.
Parasthesia - a state of numbness, which is experienced after a surgical procedure.
Pedodontics - the treatment of children's teeth.
Permanent teeth - the teeth that replace the deciduous or primary teet
Polishing - a dental procedure that removes stains, plaque and acquired pellicles by using an abrasive polishing paste in a rubber cup, attached to a slow-speed handpiece.
Porcelain Veneer - ultra-thin shells of ceramic material bonded to the front of the tooth.
Post crown- a device used to connect the post-core to the crown of the tooth.
Preventive - a procedure performed to aid in the prevention of decay and/or gum disease.
Procera - procera is a type of porcelain crown. They are one of the strongest all-porcelain crowns available. Procera's framework is computer-generated porcelain is then added to the structure.
Prosthetics - a fixed or removable appliance used to replace missing teeth (i.e. bridges, partials and dentures).
Pyorrhea - a form of serious gum disease; also known as periodontitis.

R
Resin-bonded bridge - Thin metal or glass fiber-reinforced bridge requiring slight or no reduction of anchor teeth. Also called a Maryland bridge it is usually used a provisional restoration.
Root canal - space in the root of tooth that contains pulp tissue
Root canal treatment (Endodontics) - Inside your tooth, running like a thread through the root, is the pulp. When the pulp is diseased or injured, the pulp tissue dies. If you do not remove it, your tooth gets infected and this causes intense pain and can lead to a dental abscess. After the dentist removes the pulp, the root canal is cleaned and sealed off to protect it. Then a crown is placed over your tooth to help make it stronger.
Rubber dam - Thin rubber sheet applied to teeth in order to control moisture during dental procedures. It also forms a protective barrier for the patient when silver-mercury fillings are removed.
Reimplantation - the re-attachment of a tooth, which has been knocked out.
Restorations - any replacement for lost tooth structure or teeth (i.e. bridges, fillings, crowns and implants).
Restorative dentistry - process of restoring missing, damaged or diseased teeth to normal form and function.
Root resection - the treatment or removal of an infected part of the root.

S
Scaling - scraping of the tooth above the gums.
Sedation dentistry - sometimes known as sleep dentistry, dental sedation enables a patient to be feel relaxed during treatment.
Socket - a cavity in the bone
Soft palate - the back 1/3 of the roof of the mouth composed of soft tissue
Space maintainer - a dental appliance used to maintain space in the mouth.
Succedaneous - a tooth that replaces or succeeds another.
Suture - a joining of two bones, also stitches.

T
TMJ/TMD - If a patient's teeth don't fit and slide together in harmony, one or more of the head and neck muscle groups may begin to suffer from fatigue. This may be felt as headaches, eye pain, shoulder pain. Stress levels are known to make matters worse
Tartar - a salivary deposit of calcium phosphate, calcium carbonate, and organic matter on natural or artificial teeth
Teeth stains - Extrinsic - stain located on the outside of the tooth surface, originating from external substances such as tobacco, coffee, tea or food usually removed by polishing the teeth with an abrasive prophylaxis paste.
Teeth stains - Intrinsic - stain originating from the ingestion of certain materials or chemical substances during tooth development, or from the presence of caries. This stain is permanent and cannot be removed.
Third molar- see WISDOM TOOTH.
Toothbrush - a brush used to clean the teeth; can be manual or electric.
Transverse ridge - the transverse ridge is a ridge which is fashioned by the connection of two inclines on the occlusal exterior of a tooth. These are usually only found on the posterior teeth (the premolars and molars).
Trench mouth - an infection which affects the gums; characterised by redness and swollen gums.
Tuberosity reduction - this procedure involves the removal of the bony mass (the tuberosity), which protrudes behind the last molar tooth.

U
Unerupted tooth - a tooth which has grown but not broken through the gum line; these teeth often have to be extracted.
 
V
Veneers (porcelain or composite)- Are thin, custom-made moldings that cover the fronts of unattractive teeth. They are crafted from lifelike, high-tech materials to portray a bright, natural smile. If you are looking to improve your smile, custom-fitted veneers can provide the answer.
Vital pulpotomy - a procedure to remove a portion of the tooth pulp from the crown area of the tooth.

W
Walking bleach - Method used to lighten a tooth that has darkened after root canal treatment. The whitening agent is placed inside the tooth and is active 24 hours per day.
Whitening - People with stained or dull teeth will benefit from whitening - a safe, effective means to whiten stained, discoloured or dull teeth (or even a single tooth). In-office and supervised at-home whitening systems are available. At-home systems should be individually fitted and monitored by your cosmetic dentist.
Wisdom tooth removal - Wisdom teeth, also known as third molars are the last teeth to erupt. This occurs usually between the ages of 17 and 25. If these impacted teeth are in an abnormal position (a dentist can show you this on an x-ray), their potential for harm should be assessed. When a wisdom tooth is partially erupted, food and bacteria collect under the gum causing a local infection. This may result in bad breath, pain, swelling Once the initial episode occurs, each subsequent attack becomes more frequent and more severe. Impacted wisdom teeth are almost certain to cause problems if left in place. This is particularly true of the lower wisdom teeth.