infection caused by severe decay, trauma, or gum disease. You may have pain and swelling. see Emergencies

Typical silver colored filling made of mix of silver, tin, mercury, and some other trace elements like copper. Advantages- placement easier than other materials, cost. Disadvantage- color, breaks down 10-20 years.

Adhering tooth-colored resin materials to tooth surface to create a bond. Also, it is the process of covering of a tooth surface by enamel-like resin to correct stained or damaged teeth, by adhering a layer of plastic on the tooth.

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.

bridge

One or more artificial teeth attached, usually on both sides, by crowns to adjacent teeth. It is used to maintain space and function for missing teeth. May be made of gold or porcelain on gold.

Tooth grinding, often caused by stress. Most often done unconsciously at night.

Tooth-colored resin filling materials made of resin reinforced with silica or porcelain particles. Main advantages- tooth colored, are bonded to strengthen rather than weaken tooth. Disadvantages- They are very technique sensitive so should not be placed by dentists unfamiliar with their use.

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.

crown

A crown, also known as a cap, is a cover for a decayed or damaged tooth made of porcelain and/or metal.

diastema

space between two teeth.

extraction

The removal of teeth - may be simple or surgical. Oral surgery is the field of dentistry relating to extractions. For more information on Oral Surgery click here.

A bump or boil on the gum tissue, which is a tract, in which an abscessed tooth can drain.

Fluoride is the ion form of the element fluorine and exists abundantly in living tissue like tooth enamel. Once teeth are developed, fluoride makes the entire tooth structure more resistant to decay. For more information on Fluoride click here.

Gingiva

gum tissue

gingivitis

Inflammation of the gum tissue caused by plaque and or tarter build-up. Precurser to periodontitis if not treated. For more information on periodontal disease click here.

This is a tooth that is submerged under the gum tissue, usually associated with a wisdom tooth. It may be malpositioned and may never erupt, but may still require removal. For more information on Wisdom Tooth removal click here.

A a titanium, screw-like appliance positioned in the bone to replace a lost tooth or teeth. A crown, bridge, or bar and denture can be fixed to the implant(s). For more information on Implants click here.

A gold, porcelain, or composite custom-made tooth restoration cemented or bonded into the tooth. Inlays restore the area of the tooth between cusps and are fabricated in a dental lab from an impression of the prepared tooth.

A plastic mouthpiece to prevent damage from grinding teeth at night.

A gold, porcelain, or composite custom-made tooth restoration cemented or bonded to the tooth. Onlays are much like inlays, but include one, two, three or even four cusps. Like inlays and crowns, onlays are fabricated in a dental lab from an impression of the prepared tooth.

Advanced gum disease; inflamation of gum tissue which causes bone loss resulting in tooth loss if untreated.

A thin porcelain shell bonded to the tooth to correct imperfections in shape and color.

Posterior-bonded composite resin

tooth-colored filling for back teeth.

prophy

Simple cleaning of teeth with rubber wheel and dental toothpaste.

Cleaning out the inside nerve of the tooth to preserve the tooth.

The removal of hard deposits (called tartar or calculus), with metal scalers, on the root surface and smoothing the root surface to allow for reattachment of the gums to the tooth and ultimately pocket reduction.

rubber dam

thin rubber sheet applied to teeth to control moisture during dental procedures.

sealants

Plastic coating applied to grooves of teeth to prevent decay.

veneers (porcelain or composite)

ultra-thin, specially made laminates bonded to teeth. (Veneers are especially useful for repairing chipped, cracked, or worn teeth.)

Whitening

process of brightening or whitening stained, discolored, or dull teeth with in-office power bleaching method or dentist-supervised, at-home whitening systems.