Top Eight General Dental Terms Everyone Should Know
Have you heard your dentist utter a phrase that you are not familiar with? It is not uncommon for dentists to use words or phrases that are foreign to you. These specific dental terms properly describe what is really going on in your mouth. Sometimes, however, despite your dentist’s efforts to explain what’s happening in your teeth, you can still find yourself lost in translation.
While it should be easy to politely interrupt your dentist’s explanation and ask what a specific term means, it would help that you know at least some of the basics. This way, you can have a more meaningful discussion with them without you having to constantly interrupt and ask what a certain dental term means. Below are the top general dental terms that you should know.
- Dentures–A removal replacement for missing teeth, dentures help you eat, chew, and speak just as well as anyone with natural teeth. You can get complete dentures when all teeth are missing, or partial dentures when some natural teeth still remain.
- Implants –These are permanent tooth replacements that are surgically placed and anchored right into the jawbone. Implants can replace one or several teeth, or even all of them. These are also used to securely anchor dentures or bridges in place.
- Invisalign – These are clear, removable dental aligners that act like conventional dental braces. They treat orthodontic problems, ranging from mild to moderate. Every successive aligner is worn for a few weeks before moving on to the next.
- Laser Dentistry – Dentists use lasers to remove tooth decay, as well as in teeth whitening, root canal therapy, and gum disease treatment. Laser dentistry reduces the need for local anesthesia and drills, controls healing, and reduces healing time.
- Teeth Whitening – This is the process of lightening the natural tooth color using a bleaching agent. Teeth whitening can range from over-the-counter whitening toothpaste and gels to whitening strips and trays to professional in-office procedures.
- TMJ – The temporomandibular joints connect the lower and upper jaws, allowing their up and down, forward and back, and side-to-side movement. TMJ can also refer to TMJ disorder that can cause toothaches, headaches, earaches, and more.
- Veneers – Otherwise known as porcelain veneers, these are wafer-thin shells attached to the front of the tooth to improve shape, size, color, and length. Aside from looking naturally good, the stain-resistant veneers also strengthen natural teeth.
- Wisdom Teeth – Referred to as the third set of molars, these four teeth are the final ones to appear, somewhere between ages 17 and 25. When there isn’t enough room or when they are not properly aligned, they can cause problems so they are usually removed.
Do not be scared to ask your dentist to explain further dental terms that you are not familiar with. It is important that you understand your particular dental problem, along with the treatment options and care strategies available to you. If you are well-informed, then you can properly take care good care of your teeth.
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