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Explore the Words
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edentulous
having lost teeth
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xerostomia
abnormal dryness of the mouth resulting from decreased secretion of salivaXerostomia can cause cavities because your mouth needs saliva to help break down acids you eat.Dry mouth can lead to dental cavities.
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premolar
a tooth having two cusps or pointsThe student will probably ask why the cheek teeth, which are all similar in appearance, are divided into
premolars and molars.Wells, H. G. (Herbert George) -
tartar
an incrustation that forms on the teeth and gumsI found that the so-called
tartar on the teeth became detached a few days afterwards.Anshutz, Edward Pollock -
periodontal disease
a disease that attacks the gum and bone and around the teethUntreated
periodontal disease can lead to tooth loss.Periodontal disease cause people to lose teeth. -
decay
the organic phenomenon of rottingHe had very bad teeth - 11 were missing before he died and most of those left were badly
decayed, leaving abscesses in his jaws.Tooth decay is a big international problem affecting people of all ages. Many people lose days of work because of this problem. -
maxilla
the jaw in vertebrates that is fused to the craniumA careful examination of each tooth together with radiograms of the entire
maxilla are absolutely essential to determine their presence or absence.Nance, Willis O. -
periodontist
a dentist specializing in diseases of the gums and other structure surrounding the teethThe
periodontist performed a soft tissue graft to help save my tooth. -
orthodontia
the branch of dentistry dealing with the prevention or correction of irregularities of the teethNationwide, medically necessary
orthodontia costs roughly $6,500 per person, Ireland says.Washington Post (Jan 14, 2013) -
bicuspid
having two cusps or points (especially a molar tooth)Next behind the canines follow, on each side, two
bicuspids.Blaisdell, Albert F. -
sealant
a kind of sealing material that is used to form a hard coating on a porous surface (as a coat of paint or varnish used to size a surface)Dental
sealants, the popular, thin plastic coatings applied to the grooves of teeth, can reduce tooth decay in children by more than 70 percent.Seattle Times (Dec 21, 2010) -
malocclusion
a condition in which the opposing teeth do not mesh normallyMalocclusion if not corrected, can lead to a lack of self-confidence in people who have poorly aligned teeth.Malocclusion can lead to gum recession.
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posterior
located at or near the end of a structureMolars are located in the
posterior of our mouth. -
overbite
(dentistry) malocclusion in which the upper teeth extend abnormally far over the lower teethBut the Manager strolled out of the second theater with a broad grin, revealing his cutting
overbite.Callahan, Daniel -
prophylaxis
the prevention of diseaseHe dipped his napkin into the glass of water that stood on the table and performed an elaborate
prophylaxis about his mouth and teeth.Glass, MontagueGoing to the dentist twice a year is an example of a prophylaxis -
buildup
the act of accumulatingIn periodontal disease tartar and calculus
buildup in the gums and form periodontal pockets. -
gum
the tissue of the jaws that surrounds the bases of the teethIf not removed, plaque can cause tooth decay as well as gingivitis and more serious
gum disease.Chewing gum helps saliva get rid of plaque in your mouth. -
gag reflex
normal reflex consisting of retching"Dentists can also use acupuncture to stop people gagging if they have a very strong
gag reflex," he added.BBC (Mar 30, 2010) -
dental anatomy
the branch of gross anatomy concerning with the morphology of teethSereno also details the dinosaur’s peculiar
dental anatomy.Scientific American (Oct 3, 2012)Whales have an interesting dental anatomy, because they keep getting new teeth unlike humans who only get two sets of teeth. -
dental amalgam
an alloy of mercury with another metal (usually silver) used by dentists to fill cavities in teeth; except for iron and platinum all metals dissolve in mercury and chemists refer to the resulting mercury mixtures as amalgamsHolistic health practitioner Mitchell Corwin says metal toxicity, meaning
dental amalgam fillings, is the biggest contributor.Seattle Times (Mar 9, 2011)Most people prefer to get a white tooth colored filling opposed to an amalgam filling. Amalgam fillings look less attractive than tooth colored fillings, and pose less risk of mercury exposure. -
carious
(of teeth) affected with cavities or decayPain is usually absent until the articular surfaces become
carious.Miles, Alexander -
labial
of or relating to the lips of the mouthThe
labial letters cannot be properly pronounced, but the under lip has to do its best for them, against the upper teeth and gum. Livingstone, David -
incisor
a tooth for cutting or gnawingThe front teeth are called
incisors because they are used to cut the food.Davison, Alvin -
enamel
any smooth glossy coating that resembles ceramic glazeEnamel, a thin, protective covering, can never be replaced once damaged or lost.Eating a diet with insufficient vitamin D can destroy enamel.
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bruxism
involuntarily or unconsciously clenching or grinding the teeth, typically during sleepTeeth grinding, or
bruxism, is thought to be a habit aggravated by stress, he said.New York Times (Jul 11, 2011) -
abscessed tooth
an abscess of a common kind in the tissue around a toothOthers simply had stopped coming, except when an
abscessed tooth became unbearable.Seattle Times (Dec 1, 2010)an abscessed tooth refers to an infection around the pulp of a tooth. First, the dentist must eliminate the infection,drain the pus, and removed the diseased pulp. -
pulp
the soft inner part of a toothDNA from dental
pulp was extracted and converted into sequencing libraries as previously described.Nature (Oct 26, 2011) -
impacted tooth
a disorder in which a tooth is so crowded in its socket that it cannot erupt normallyThe dentist had to removed the impacted wisdom tooth; because ,
this tooth was causing an infection in the second molar tooth. -
gingivitis
inflammation of the gumsIf not removed, plaque can cause tooth decay as well as
gingivitis and more serious gum disease.Gingivitis can be reversed with proper brushing and flossing. -
temporomandibular joint
the joint between the head of the lower jawbone and the temporal boneThe temporomandibular joint connects the temporal bone of the skull with the lower jawbone.This joint opens and closes like a hinge. It slides side to side, backward, and forward. Problems with this joint are referred to as TMJ disorders.
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dry socket
inflammation in the socket of a toothAfter the woman had her wisdom teeth removed, a few days later she suffered from the pain of a
dry socket. -
molar
grinding tooth with a broad crownThere were also eight
molars on each jaw.Abbott, HenryThe most difficult teeth to clean which are located in the back of the mouth. -
fluorosis
a pathological condition resulting from an excessive intake of fluorine (usually from drinking water)In extreme cases,
fluorosis can cause discoloration and pitting of tooth enamel.Seattle Times (Nov 17, 2011) -
dentin
a calcareous material harder and denser than bone that comprises the bulk of a tooth“It is concluded that for protection of
dentin surfaces,” the authors wrote, “at least 30 minutes should elapse before tooth brushing after an erosive attack.”New York Times (May 21, 2012) -
canine tooth
one of the four pointed conical teeth (two in each jaw) located between the incisors and the premolarsThey have one
canine tooth on each side, in both jaws.Vaux, Frances Bowyer -
saliva
a clear liquid secreted by glands in the mouthTesting the devices with water, researchers have been able to detect glucose at levels similar to those found in human
saliva.Seattle Times (Jan 30, 2012) -
deciduous tooth
one of the first temporary teeth of a young mammalChildren are born with twenty deciduous teethBy two and a half, children have all of their baby or deciduous teeth.
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crown
the part of a tooth above the gum that is covered with enamelThe
crown is a restoration that fits on top of the tooth. -
palate
the surface of the mouth separating oral and nasal cavitiesThe roof of the mouth is called the
palate.There is a soft and a hard palate. -
salivary gland
any of three pairs of glands in the mouth and digestive system that secrete saliva for digestionIn rare cases, inflammation of the
salivary glands can occur.
Created on July 8, 2013
(updated July 16, 2013)
(updated July 16, 2013)