| Abutment: |
A
tooth or implant used to support a bridge or prosthesis. Also, a
term used to denote the teeth on either side of a missing tooth.
|
| Anterior: |
Refers
to the teeth and tissues located towards the front of the mouth
- maxillary and mandibular incisors and canines. |
| Apical: |
Towards
the apex (or root tip) of the tooth. |
| Alveolar
Bone: |
The
bone surrounding the root of the tooth; loss of this bone is typically
associated with severe periodontal disease. |
| Bruxism: |
The
grinding of teeth; usually occurs during sleep. |
| Buccal: |
The
surface of a tooth in contact with the cheek; opposite to the lingual
surface. |
| Calculus: |
Hard
calcium-like deposits which form on teeth and dentures. |
| Caries: |
The
technical term for tooth decay. |
| Carious
lesion: |
Decay
in tooth caused by caries, commonly called a cavity. |
| CDJ: |
Junction
of the cementum and dentin. |
| CEJ:
(cervical line) |
Junction
of the cementum and enamel; not always exact; sometimes cementum
and enamel do not meet. |
| Cementum: |
Bonelike
calcified tissue covering the dentin in the root of the tooth. |
| Clenching: |
The
clamping and pressing of the jaws and teeth together in occlusion,
frequently associated with psychological stress or physical effort. |
| Cusp: |
Pointed
or rounded eminence on or near the masticating surface of a tooth. |
| Decalcification: |
The
loss of calcium from teeth, weakening the teeth and making them
more susceptible to decay. |
| DEJ: |
Junction
of the dentin and enamel. |
| Dentin: |
Hard
calcified tissue surrounding the pulp and underlying the enamel
and cementum; makes up the bulk of the tooth. |
| Diagnostic
data: |
Diagnostic
data refers to clinical observations and patient health history
(e.g. Smoking history, Pocket Depths). |
| Distal: |
The
surface of the tooth farthest from the midline of the dental arch;
opposite the mesial. |
| Dry
mouth: |
Salivary
flow below 0.1 ml per minute is technically classed as xerostomia
(dry mouth). |
| Enamel:
|
The
hard, white shiny surface of the crown; hardest calcified tissue
covering the dentin in the crown of the tooth. |
| Endodontics: |
The
treatment of diseases or injuries that affect the root tip or nerve
of the tooth. |
| Extraction: |
The
removal of a tooth. |
| Facial: |
The
surface of a tooth next to the face; the outer surface of a tooth
resting against the cheeks or lips, usually referring to the front
surfaces of the anterior teeth.. |
| First
molar: |
The
teeth just behind the second bicuspids. These teeth have a level
surface with four cusps. |
| Fixed
orthodontic appliance: |
Any
orthodontic component that is cemented or bonded to the teeth. |
| Fixed
Prosthesis: |
Non-removable
tooth-borne dental prosthesis which is solidly attached to abutment
teeth or roots or implants. |
| Flap
surgery: |
This
technique involves reflecting (lifting) the gum away and then suturing
(stitching) it back into place or into a new position that will
be easier to clean. |
| Fluoride
products: |
This
includes fluoridated water, supplements, toothpaste, liquid rinses,
or gels. |
| Fracture: |
The
breaking of a tooth. |
| Furcation
(or furca): |
The
anatomical area of a multi rooted tooth where the roots divide.
There are bifurcations and trifurcations, depending on the number
of roots. |
| Furcation
involvements: |
This
ranges from early stages (where the probe can enter the tip of the
furcation area, with initial bone loss, and possibly not visible
radiographically) through the most severe states (where the probe
can pass between the roots, with total bone loss and possibly gingival
occlusion). |
| Gingiva: |
The
soft tissue surrounding teeth, also known as the gums. |
|
HIPAA |
The
US Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
requires all US health plans and any dentist who transmits health
information in an electronic transaction to use a standard format |
| Implant: |
A
replacement for a missing tooth that is implanted into bone, designed
to be placed surgically within or on the mandibular or maxillary
bone. Typically, a crown, bridge, or denture is then placed over
the implant to restore function and aesthetics. |
| Incisor: |
The
central and lateral incisors; the first and second teeth from the
midline of the mouth. |
| Insurer: |
Insurers
are organizations who insure patients against health care costs. |
| Interproximal: |
Refers
to the space between the adjoining surfaces of adjacent teeth. |
| Lingual: |
The
surface of a tooth in contact with the tongue; opposite to the buccal
surface. |
| Mandibular: |
Referring
to the lower jaw (the mandible). |
| Maxillary: |
Referring
to the upper jaw (the maxillae). |
| Mesial: |
The
surface of the tooth closest to the midline of the dental arch;
opposite to the buccal surface. |
| Molars: |
Teeth
posterior to the premolars (bicuspids) on either side of the jaw,
grinding teeth, having large crowns and broad chewing surfaces. |
| Occlusal: |
Relating
to the biting surface of teeth. Occlusion refers to any contact
between biting or chewing surfaces of maxillary (upper) and mandibular
(lower) teeth. |
| Osseus
(bone) surgery: |
A
technique that involves reshaping bone in the mouth. |
| Patient: |
A
Patient is an individual requiring health care furnished by a provider. |
| Periapical: |
Relating
to the space around the apex of a tooth root. |
| Periodontal
ligament: |
Dense
connective tissue enveloping the roots of teeth, located between
the cementum and alveolar bone. |
| Periodontal
pocket: |
The
pocket that forms when the gums lose attachment from the teeth.
|
| Periodontal
probe: |
A
dental instrument used to measure pocket depth. |
| Periodontal
RiskCalculator™ |
The
Periodontal RiskCalculator™ assigns a risk and current disease
score for periodontitis based on data collected during the course
of a standard oral examination. The tool has predicted with a statistical
validity of p< .00001 the periodontal status of untreated patients
over a 15-year study period. In the software, this tool is referred
to as a Periodontal Risk and Disease Assessment. |
| Periodontium: |
The
combination of several tissues that support the teeth, including
the gingiva, the cementum, the periodontal ligament, and alveolar
bone. |
| Permanent
teeth: |
The
teeth that replace the deciduous or primary teeth. |
| Pocket: |
A
feature of periodontal disease where the connecting tissue has lost
its attachment leaving an abnormally deep "pocket" where
bacteria and debris collect. |
| Pontic: |
The
component of a bridge that replaces the missing teeth. |
Premolars
(bicuspids) : |
Two-cusped
teeth between the eye teeth and the molars. |
| PreViser
ID: |
This
unique identifier is used to locate and store a Patient’s
report history in the PreViser™ system, yet remain compliant
with privacy standards by keeping the information de-identified.
This random 32-character ID is automatically generated by PreViser™
at the time the patient record is created and saved, and cannot
be changed. |
| Primary
teeth: |
The
first set of teeth which come in; also called "baby teeth"
or "deciduous teeth". |
| Prophylaxis: |
A
general meaning to clean the teeth, also known as a prophy. Specifically,
a prophylaxis is a scaling and polishing procedure performed to
remove coronal plaque, calculus and stains. |
| Prosthesis: |
Any
device or appliance replacing one or more missing teeth and/or,
if required, associated structures. (This is a broad term which
includes abutment crowns, and abutment inlays/onlays, bridges, dentures,
obturators and gingival prostheses). |
| Provider: |
A
Provider is an individual clinician providing health care to Patients. |
| Provisional: |
Formed
or preformed for temporary purposes or used over a limited period;
a temporary or interim solution; usually refers to a prosthesis
or individual tooth restoration. |
| Proximal: |
The
surface of the tooth that touches the adjacent tooth; refers to
the mesial and distal surfaces. |
| Pulp: |
The
innermost noncalcified tissue containing blood vessels, lymphatics,
and nerves. |
| Quadrant: |
Denotes
one of four equal sections in the mouth. The upper right, upper
left, lower right or the lower left. |
| Radiographic: |
Referring
to x-rays. |
| Removable
prosthesis: |
Dental
prosthesis designed to be removed and reinserted by the patient. |
| Restorations: |
Any
replacement for lost tooth structure or teeth (ie. bridges, fillings,
crowns and implants). |
| Root
planing: |
The
removal of hard deposits from the root surface below the gumline. |
| Scaling: |
Scraping
of the tooth above the gums, to remove of plaque, calculus and stain
from teeth. |
| Sealant: |
The
application of a clear resin over the biting surfaces of teeth to
prevent decay. |
| Second
molars: |
The
teeth just behind the first molars. These teeth have a level surface
with four cusps. |
| Sextant: |
The
division of teeth into six parts:
maxillary right, maxillary anterior, maxillary left, mandibular
right, mandibular anterior, mandibular left. |
| Splint: |
A
device used to support, protect, or immobilize oral structures that
have been loosened, replanted, fractured or traumatized. Also refers
to devices used in the treatment of temporomandibular joint disorders.
|
| Target
Tooth: |
The
“Target Tooth” is an area of focus in determining the
Caries Risk Score. It describes the type of tooth that has been
most recently exposed to saliva for at least 12 months. In other
words, what type of tooth has erupted and begun to grow in most
recently, but has been exposed in the mouth since the initial eruption
for at least 12 months before the date of the exam? |
| Tooth
RiskCalculator™: |
The
Tooth RiskCalculator™ determines the likelihood that an individual
will develop caries (tooth decay), and also calculates risk of damage
to the root surface and risk of tooth fracture. In the program,
this tool is referred to as a Caries, Root, and Fracture Risk Assessment. |
| Topical
fluoride: |
Topical
application of a gel or liquid that prevents decay, applied directly
to the area of concern. |
| Treatment: |
Treatments
are actions by the Patient or Provider used to treat a Patient (e.g.
Smoking cessation, Root Planing). |
| Treatment
Option Plan: |
A
Treatment Option Plan is a suggested list of treatment options that
could be applied to improve the Patient's health and reduce risk.
|
| UCR: |
Stands
for Usual, Customary, and Reasonable. The definition varies from
company to company, but is generally a standard by which insurance
companies set maximum benefit levels. |
