Glossary
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Abdominoplasty - Plastic surgery of the abdomen in which excess fatty tissue and skin are removed.
Abscess - A localized inflammation in the bone or soft tissue, usually caused by an infection.
Abutment - A tooth or implant used to support a prosthesis. A crown unit used as part of a fixed bridge.
Alveoloplasty - A surgical procedure used to re-contour the supporting bone structures in preparation of a complete or partial denture.
Amalgam - A dental filling material, composed of mercury, silver, tin, etc. used to fill decayed teeth.
Anesthetic - Drugs that eliminate or reduce pain.
Anterior - Refers to the teeth and tissues located towards the front of the mouth (upper or lower incisors and canines).
Apex - The tip of the root of the tooth.
Apicoectomy - The amputation of the apex of a tooth to treat an infection.
Astigmatism - Structural defects of the eye in which the light rays from a viewed object do not meet in a single focal point, resulting in blurred images being sent to the brain. An astigmatic cornea is not perfectly rounded but has an irregular shape. Astigmatism is most often combined with myopia or hyperopia.
Augmentation mammoplasty - a surgical procedure designed to enhance the size and shape of a woman’s breast.
Bicuspid - A two-cusped tooth found between the molar and the cuspid also called a canine tooth.
Biopsy - A process of removing tissue to determine the existence of pathology.
Bleaching - The technique of applying a chemical agent to the teeth to whiten them.
Blepharoplasty - Cosmetic surgical procedure that removes fat deposits, excess tissue, or muscle from the eyelids to improve the appearance of the eyes.
Bonding - Adhering a tooth coloured substance to repair and/or change the colour or shape of a tooth.
Bone loss - The breakdown and loss of the bone that supports the teeth, usually caused by infection or long-term occlusal (chewing areas of the teeth) stress.
Breast augmentation surgery – See augmentation mammoplasty
Breast enlargement surgery – See augmentation mammoplasty
Breast reduction surgery - Surgical procedure which involves the reduction in the size of breasts
Breast uplift surgery – Surgical procedure done to lift and re-shape breasts
Bridge - A nonremovable restoration that is used to replace missing teeth.
Bridges - a partial denture which is a prosthetic replacement of one or more missing teeth cemented or attached to abutment teeth or implants adjacent to the space.
Bruxism - The involuntary clenching or grinding of teeth.
Calculus - The hard deposit of mineralized plaque that forms on the crown and/or root of the tooth. Also referred to as tartar.
Cataract - gradual clouding of the crystalline lens resulting in reduced vision or eventual blindness, correctable by cataract surgery if visual loss becomes significant, the optical power being replaced with an intraocular lens, contact lens, or aphakic spectacles. May be congenital or caused by trauma, disease, or age.
Canine tooth - The second tooth from the big front tooth, commonly called the cuspid.
Cap - Another term for crown; usually referring to a crown for a front tooth.
Caries - The correct technical term for decay which is the progressive breaking down or dissolving of tooth structure, caused by the acid produced when bacteria digest sugars.
Cavity - A layman's term for tooth decay. Also, the dental term for the hole that is left after decay has been removed.
Cement - A special type of glue used to hold a crown in place.
Cementum - The very thin, bonelike structure that covers the root of the tooth.
Clear Lens Extraction (CLE) - procedure in which the eye's natural clear crystalline lens is removed and replaced with an intraocular lens, using the same technique as that in cataract surgery.
Clenching - The forceful holding together of the upper and lower teeth.
Composite - A tooth-colored filling made of plastic resin or porcelain.
Comprehensive eye exam - Evaluation of the complete visual system.
Conjunctiva - Transparent mucous membrane covering the outer surface of the eyeball except the cornea, and lining the inner surfaces of the eyelids.
Conjunctivitis - Inflammation or irritation of the conjunctiva. Symptoms can in one or both eyes. These include redness of the eyes or the edges of the eyelids, swelling of the eyelids or itching.
Contact lens - Small thin removable plastic lens which is worn directly on the front of the eye usually used instead of ordinary eyeglasses in order to correct or protect the vision.
Cornea - Transparent tissue that forms the front part of the eyeball, covering the iris and pupil. The cornea is the first part of the eye that refracts the light and provides most of the focusing power.
Corneal curvature - Shape of the front of the eye.
Corneal mapping or topography - A tool used to see the refractive problems that might be present in the cornea. Corneal topography is used not only for screening all patients before refractive surgery like LASIK but also for fitting contacts.
Corneal transplant (penetrating keratoplasty) - The surgical operation of grafting a replacement cornea onto an eye.
Cosmetic dentistry - Any dental treatment or repair that is solely rendered to improve the appearance of the teeth or mouth.
Crown - the portion of the tooth covered by enamel. Also a type of restoration that covers all or most of the natural tooth.
Crown lengthening - A surgical procedure exposing more tooth for restorative purposes.
Crystalline lens - Is the eye's natural lens. Transparent and biconvex intraocular tissue that helps bring light to a focus on the retina.
Curettage - A deep scaling of that portion of the tooth below the gum line. Purpose is to remove calculus and infected gum tissue.
Cuspid - See canine tooth.
Cylinder - Refers to the degree of astigmatism (uneven roundness) present in the cornea.
Decay - See caries.
Dental Implants - A manufactured material placed in or on the jawbone to aid in replacing missing teeth.
Dentin - The part of the tooth that is under both the enamel which covers the crown and the cementum which covers the root.
Dentures - an artificial set of teeth that is removable.
Dioptre - Unit to designate the refractive power of a lens. A negative dioptre value (such as -3D) signifies an eye with myopia and positive dioptre value (such as +3D) signifies an eye with hyperopia.
Diplopia - Condition in which a single object is perceived as two; also called double vision.
Direct pulp cap - The procedure in which the exposed pulp is covered with a dressing or cement that protects the pulp and promotes healing and repair.
Dry socket - A localized inflammation of the tooth socket following an extraction.
Ear correction surgery - plastic surgery of the ear
Enamel - The hard, calcified portion of the tooth which covers the crown. Enamel is the hardest substance in the body.
Endodontist - a specialist who performs root canal and treats diseases and infections of the pulp.
Excision - Surgical removal of bone or tissue.
Exostosis - The overgrowth of normal bone.
Extracoronal - The outside of the crown of the tooth.
Extraction - Removal of a tooth.
Extraoral - The outside of the mouth.
Eye bag surgery – See blepharoplasty
Facelift surgery - Plastic surgery performed to remove sagging skin and wrinkles from the patient's face.
Farsighted - Focusing defect in which an eye is underpowered. Thus light rays coming from a distant object strike the retina before coming to sharp focus, blurring the vision.
Filling - Material used to fill a cavity or replace part of a tooth.
Floss - A thin, nylon string, waxed or unwaxed, that is inserted between the teeth to remove food and plaque.
Fluoride - A chemical compound used to prevent dental decay, utilized in fluoridated water systems and/or applied directly to the teeth. Fluoride makes the tooth surface stronger so that teeth can resist acid attacks.
General Anesthesia - a controlled state of unconsciousness, accompanied by a partial or complete loss of pain sensation, protective reflexes, including loss of ability to independently maintain airway and respond purposefully to physical stimulation or verbal command.
General Dentist - A general practitioner of dentistry
Gingiva - The soft tissue that covers the jawbone. Also referred to as the gums.
Gingivectomy - The removal of gingiva (gum).
Gingivitis - inflammation of gum tissue; the initial stage of gum disease.
Gingivoplasty - A surgical procedure to reshape or repair the gingiva (gum).
Glaucoma - Painless disease of the eye characterized by increased pressure within; left untreated it leads to a gradual impairment of sight often resulting in blindness.
Graf - A piece of tissue or synthetic material placed in contact with tissue to repair a defect or supplement a deficiency.
Gum disease - See periodontal disease.
Gynecomastia Surgery – A surgical procedure to reduce the abnormal enlargement of the breasts in a male.
Hip Replacement Surgery - substitution of an artificial ball and socket joint for the hip joint.
Impacted Tooth - an unerupted or partially erupted tooth that is positioned against another tooth, bone, or soft tissue so that complete eruption is unlikely.
Implant - An artificial device, usually made of a metal alloy or ceramic material, that is implanted within the jawbone as a means to attach an artificial crown, denture, or bridge.
Incision and Drainage - making an incision in an abscess to drain out the pus.
Incisors - The four front teeth referred to as central and lateral incisors, located in the upper and lower jaws and used to cut and tear food. The central incisors are the two large teeth in the middle of the mouth and the lateral incisors are next to the central incisor, one on each side.
Indirect pulp cap - A procedure in which the nearly exposed pulp is covered with a protective dressing to protect the pulp from additional injury and to promote healing and repair via formation of secondary dentin.
Inlays - a cemented type of restoration which is made to fit an internal/external preparation resulting from the loss of healthy tooth structure.
Interproximal - The area between two adjacent teeth.
Intracoronal -The area within the crown of a tooth.
Intraoral - The inside of the mouth.
Iris - The coloured part of the eye. Elastic, pigmented, muscular tissue in front of the crystalline lens that regulates the amount of light that enters the eye by adjusting the size of the pupil in the centre.
Keratectomy - Surgical removal of corneal tissue.
Keratitis - Inflammation of the cornea.
Keratotomy - Surgical incision (cut) of the cornea.
Keratoplasty - Surgical reshaping of the cornea.
Knee Replacement Surgery - the surgical insertion of a hinged prosthesis performed to relieve pain and restore motion to a knee severely affected by osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or trauma.
Labial - The area pertaining to or around the lip.
Laser scar removal - Laser treatment that reduces the appearance of scars and helps prevent recurrence.
Lipectomy - Surgical excision of subcutaneous fatty tissue
Liposuction – See lipectomy
Lingual - The area pertaining to or around the tongue.
Local anesthetic - An injection given in the mouth to numb the areas where a tooth or area needs a dental procedure.
Malocclusion - The improper alignment of biting or chewing surfaces of upper and lower teeth.
Man breast surgery – See gynecomastia
Mandible - The lower jaw.
Mastication - The act of chewing.
Mastopexy – See breast uplift surgery
Maxilla - Upper jaw.
Myopia - Also called nearsightedness or short-sightedness is the inability to see distant objects as clearly as near objects.
Molars - The broad, multicusped back teeth, used for grinding food are considered the largest teeth in the mouth. In adults there are a total of twelve molars (including the four wisdom teeth, or third molars), three on each side of the upper and lower jaws.
Occlusal x-ray - An intra oral x-ray taken with the film held between the teeth in biting position.
Occlusion - Any contact between biting or chewing surfaces of upper and lower teeth.
Onlay - A cast gold or porcelain filling that covers one or all of the tooth's cusps.
Optician - Professional who makes and adjusts optical aids, e.g., eyeglass lenses, from refraction prescriptions supplied by an ophthalmologist or optometrist.
Optometrist - Doctor of optometry (OD) specializing in vision problems, treating vision conditions with spectacles, contact lenses, low vision aids and vision therapy, and prescribing medications for certain eye diseases.
Oral surgery - The removal of teeth and the repair and treatment of other oral problems, such as tumors and fractures.
Orthodontics - A specialized branch of dentistry that corrects malocclusion and restores the teeth to proper alignment and function. There are several different types of appliances used in orthodontics, one of which is commonly referred to as braces.
Otoplasty – See ear correction surgery
Overbite - A condition in which the upper teeth excessively overlap the lower teeth when the jaw is closed. This condition can be corrected with orthodontics.
Palate - The hard and soft tissues forming the roof of the mouth.
Palliative - Treatment that relieves pain but is NOT curative.
Panorex - An extraoral full-mouth X-ray that records the teeth and the upper and lower jaws on one film.
Partial denture - A removable appliance used to replace one or more lost teeth.
Pediatric dentistry - The specialized branch of dentistry that deals solely with treating children's dental disease. Also referred to as pedodontics.
Periapical - The area that surrounds the root tip of a tooth.
Pericoronitis - An inflammation of the gum tissue around the crown of a tooth, usually the third molar.
Periodontal disease - The inflammation and infection of gums, ligaments, bone, and other tissues surrounding the teeth. Gingivitis and periodontitis are the two main forms of periodontal disease. Also called gum disease or pyorrhea.
Periodontal surgery - A surgical procedure involving the gums and jawbone.
Periodontal - Relating to the tissue and bone that supports the tooth
Periodontics - The dental specialty that deals with and treats the gum tissue and bone that supports the teeth.
Periodontist - a specialist who treats the gums and supporting structures of the teeth.
Periodontitis - Inflammation of the supporting structures of the tooth, including the gum, the periodontal ligament, and the jawbone.
Periradicular - The area which surrounds a portion of the root of the tooth.
Permanent teeth - The thirty-two adult teeth that replace the baby, or primary teeth. Also known as secondary teeth.
Pit - A recessed area found on the surface of a tooth, usually where the grooves of the tooth meet.
Plaque - a sticky substance that accumulates on teeth composed largely of bacteria and salivary substance.
Pontic - An artificial tooth used in a bridge to replace a missing tooth.
Porcelain Crowns - a porcelain cap which covers the crown of the tooth to repair it or change the shape and/or colour.
Porcelain Veneers - A thin layer of porcelain adhered to a surface of a tooth to repair or change the color and/or shape.
Premolar - Another name for bicuspid.
Preventive dentistry - Education and treatment devoted to and concerned with preventing the development of dental disease.
Primary teeth - The first set of teeth that humans get, lasting until the permanent teeth come in. Also referred to as deciduous teeth or baby teeth.
Prophylaxis - The scaling and polishing procedure performed to remove calculus, plaque, and stains from the crowns of the teeth.
Prosthodontics - The dental specialty dealing with the replacement of missing teeth and other oral structures.
Prosthodontist - a dentist who specializes in the restoration of teeth, replacement of missing teeth and maintaining proper occlusion.
Pulp - The hollow chamber inside the crown of the tooth that contains its nerves and blood vessels.
Pulpectomy - Removal of the entire pulp from the canals in the root.
Pulpitis - An often painful inflammation of the dental pulp or nerve.
Pulpotomy - The removal of a portion of the tooth's pulp.
Pupil - Variable-sized black circular opening in the centre of the iris that regulates the amount of light that enters the eye.
Quadrant - The dental term for the division of the jaws into four parts, beginning at the midline of the arch and extending towards the last tooth in the back of the mouth. There are four quadrants in the mouth; each quadrant generally contains five to eight teeth.
Rebase - The process of refitting a denture by replacing the base material.
Receded gums - A condition characterized by the abnormal loss of gum tissue due to infection or bone loss.
Reduction mammoplasty – See breast reduction surgery
Refraction - Test to determine the refractive power of the eye; also, the bending of light as it passes from one medium into another.
Refractive errors - The degree of visual distortion or limitation caused by inadequate bending of light rays, includes hyperopia, myopia, and astigmatism.
Reline - The process of resurfacing the tissue side of a denture with a base material.
Replantation - The return of a tooth to its socket.
Restoration - Any material or devise used to replace lost tooth structure (filling, crown) or to replace a lost tooth or teeth (bridge, dentures, complete or partial).
Retainer - A removable dental appliance, usually used in orthodontics, that maintains space between teeth or holds teeth in a fixed position until the bone solidifies around them.
Retina - Layer of fine sensory tissue that lines the inside wall of the eye, composed of light sensitive cells known as rods and cones. Acts like the film in a camera to capture images, transforms the images into electrical signals, and sends the signals to the brain by way of the optic nerve.
Retrograde filling - A method of sealing the root canal by preparing and filling it from the root tip, generally done at the completion of an apicoectomy.
Rhinoplasty – Plastic surgery of the nose
Rhytidectomy – See facelift surgery
Root Canal - removal of the pulp of a tooth and filling with an inert material.
Root canal - The hollow part of the tooth's root. It runs from the tip of the root into the pulp.
Root - The part of the tooth below the crown, normally encased in the jawbone. It is made up of dentin, includes the root canal, and is covered by cementum.
Scaling - A procedure used to remove plaque, calculus and stains from the teeth.
Sealant - A composite material used to seal the decay-prone pits, fissures, and grooves of children's teeth to prevent decay.
Six-year molar - The first permanent tooth to erupt, usually between the ages of five and six.
Sleep Apnea - a disorder which is potentially fatal in which a person who is asleep may stop breathing multiple times for more than 10 seconds.
Socket - The hole in the jawbone into which the tooth fits.
Stainless steel crown - A pre-made metal crown, shaped like a tooth, that is used to temporarily cover a seriously decayed or broken down tooth. Used most often on children's teeth.
Sub gingival scaling - The removal of calculus and plaque found on the tooth below the gum line.
Supra gingival scaling - The removal of calculus and plaque found on the tooth above the gum line.
Tartar - also called calculus. A hard deposit containing bacteria which adheres to teeth.
Third molar - The last of the three molar teeth, also called wisdom teeth. There are four third molars, two in the lower jaw and two in the upper jaw, one on each side. Some people are born without third molars.
Tooth whitening - a process to lighten the color of teeth.
Tummy tuck surgery – see abdominoplasty
Ultrasonography - Recordings of the echoes of ultrasound waves sent into the eye and reflected from the structures inside the eye or orbit. Ultrasonography is used to make measurements and to detect and localize tumours and retinal detachments.
Veneer - An artificial filling material, usually plastic, composite, or porcelain, that is used to provide an aesthetic covering over the visible surface of a tooth. Most often used on front teeth.
Vision therapy - Orthoptics, vision training, eye exercises. Is a treatment process for the improvement of visual perception and/or coordination of the two eyes, for more efficient and comfortable binocular vision.
Wisdom teeth - See third molar.
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