Understanding Dental Terms In The Office

Going to the dentist does not have to cause anxiety

, though it does for some people. Understanding some of the basic dental terms and procedures may alleviate some of the stress. If you hear the dentist say that a bitewing is required, don't worry, it's just a name for a single x-ray showing upper and lower teeth. Some of the common terms that are used in the dentist's office, by dentists and dental hygienists, are listed below.

Names of Your Teeth

Beginning from the front of your mouth, the incisors are the first four lower and upper teeth. They are used for cutting and biting food, along with the cuspids. The cuspids are the third from the center and are sometimes called canines. The bicuspids are the next teeth in line, the fourth and fifth ones that have only two cusps (points). They are mainly for chewing and grinding food. They are positioned right in front of the molars.

The molars are the three back teeth that grind the food. They are located in the upper and lower quadrant. Wisdom teeth are the last molars that erupt through the gums in the back of your mouth. As these teeth come in last, usually around ages 18 to 25, they are sometimes positioned in a way that requires an extraction for the health of the surrounding teeth.

Dental Procedure Terms

Dental extractions are the removal of teeth by a D.D.S (Doctor of Dental Surgery). Wisdom teeth will sometimes need to be removed by extraction methods, but not always. Teeth that cannot be saved will need to be extracted, but the teeth that simply have small cavities will only need to have a filling. Fillings are used when there are cavities present inside or around a tooth. The dentist will clear out the decay with a drill or other tool and then fill the hole with resin or porcelain material.

A root canal is a procedure that saves an abscessed tooth from an extraction, if it is possible to save. The pulp chamber is disinfected and cleaned, and then a permanent filling is placed inside the tooth. Root canals do not involve pain for most patients since local anesthetic is injected around the area in which the dentist will be working. Dentures are necessary when the teeth are unable to be saved. It involves replacing your natural teeth with artificial teeth. Dentures come in two forms, partial and complete. Partial dentures are used when some of the natural teeth remain, while complete dentures are used when none of the teeth can be saved.

Preventative Maintenance Terms

Your dentist may tell you to brush with fluoride toothpaste and floss daily. This means to use toothpaste with fluoride properties added. Fluoride is a mineral that strengthens tooth enamel to avoid decay. It is naturally ingested through water and food. An important procedure during annual cleanings is the fluoride treatment because it is applied directly to the teeth. Floss is a waxed, thread-like material to clean between all of the teeth. Dental hygienists can teach you the proper way to hold the pieces of floss and the correct amount of pressure to use when flossing.

by: Rachel Nolander

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