Key Words

Front 1

Alveolar Process

Back 1

is the thickened ridge of bone that contains the tooth sockets (dental alveoli) on bones that hold teeth.

Front 2

Ankyloglossia

Back 2

is a condition present at birth that restricts the tongue's range of motion.

Front 3

Apex

Back 3

The area at the end of the root

Front 4

Arch Wire

Back 4

is a wire conforming to the alveolar or dental arch that can be used with dental braces as a source of force in correcting irregularities in the position of the teeth.

Front 5

Band

Back 5

a thin metal strip fitted around a tooth or its roots.

Front 6

Biofilm (plaque)

Back 6

bacteria that grows on surfaces within the mouth.

Front 7

Braces

Back 7

are devices used in orthodontics that align and straighten teeth

Front 8

Bracket

Back 8

is a small metal attachment soldered or welded to an orthodontic band or cemented directly to the teeth, serving to fasten the arch wire to the band or tooth.

Front 9

Bruxism

Back 9

is a condition in which you grind, gnash or clench your teeth.

Front 10

Buccal

Back 10

the side of a tooth adjacent to (or the direction towards) the inside of the cheek, lips or vestibule respectively.

Front 11

Calculus

Back 11

is a form of hardened dental plaque.

Front 12

Capillaries

Back 12

smallest of blood vessels.

Front 13

Cementum

Back 13

is the surface layer of the tooth root

Front 14

Cheilitis

Back 14

It is the inflammation of the lips

Front 15

Cheiloschisis

Front 16

Cleft Lip

Back 16

A congenital facial defect of the lip (usually the upper lip) due to failure of fusion of the medial and lateral nasalprominences and maxillary prominence;

Front 17

Cleft Palate

Back 17

can occur alone or in association with cleft lip.

Front 18

Compound Caries

Back 18

caries involving more than one surface of a tooth

Front 19

Crown

Back 19

is a tooth-shaped "cap" that is placed over a tooth

Front 20

Cuspids

Back 20

Located between the incisors and first premolar, cuspids are primarily used for gripping and tearing food.

Front 21

Deciduous teeth

Back 21

baby teeth

Front 22

Dental Caries (cavities)

Back 22

is a breakdown of teeth due to activities of bacteria.

Front 23

Dental Plaque (Biofilm)

Back 23

mass of bacteria that grows on surfaces within the mouth

Front 24

Dentalgia

Back 24

Pain in a tooth due to the condition of the pulp or periodontal ligament resulting from caries, infection, or trauma.

Front 25

Dentin

Back 25

is a calcified tissue of the body and, along with enamel, cementum, and pulp, is one of the four major components of teeth.

Front 26

Distal

Back 26

the surface of a tooth that is farthest from the midline of the dental arch

Front 27

Edentulous

Back 27

Persons who have lost teeth

Front 28

Facial

Back 28

Labial(anterior teeth; side touching lips),

Front 29

Gingivae (gums)

Back 29

part of the soft tissue lining of the mouth.

Front 30

Gingivitis

Back 30

Gum disease with inflammation of the gums.

Front 31

Hard Palate

Back 31

the bony front part of the palate.

Front 32

Incisal

Back 32

relating to, being, or involving the cutting edge or surface of a tooth

Front 33

Incisors

Back 33

are the front teeth

Front 34

Labial

Back 34

The side of a tooth adjacent to (or the direction towards) the oral cavity

Front 35

Lingual

Back 35

The side of a tooth adjacent to (or the direction towards) the oral cavity, as opposed to buccal, labial or vestibular, which refer to the side of a tooth adjacent to (or the direction towards) the inside of the cheek, lips or vestibule respectively

Front 36

Mandible

Back 36

the horseshoe-shaped bone forming the lower jaw.

Front 37

Maxilla

Back 37

one of a pair of joined bones forming the upper jaw, carrying all teeth except the incisors.

Front 38

Mesial

Back 38

directed toward the sagittal plane or midline of the face, along the dental arch.

Front 39

Molars

Back 39

are large, flat teeth at the back of the mouth.

Front 40

Mouth

Back 40

the opening in the lower part of the human face, surrounded by the lips, through which food is taken in and from which speech and other sounds are emitted.

Front 41

Mucus

Back 41

a slimy substance, typically not miscible with water, secreted by mucous membranes and glands for lubrication, protection

Front 42

Neck

Back 42

the part of a person's body connecting the head to the rest of the body.

Front 43

Occlusal

Back 43

. pertaining to the masticating surfaces of the premolar and molar teeth

Front 44

Occlusion

Back 44

means simply the contact between teeth.

Front 45

Oral Cavity

Back 45

the part of the mouth behind the gums and teeth that is bounded above by the hard and soft palates and below by the tongue and by the mucous membrane connecting it with the inner part of the mandible.

Front 46

Orthodontia

Back 46

the branch of dentistry concerned with preventing or correcting irregularities of the teeth Also called dental orthopaedics.

Front 47

Papillae

Back 47

is a condensation of ectomesenchymal cells called odontoblasts, seen in histologic sections of a developing tooth.

Front 48

Periodontitis

Back 48

is a serious gum infection that damages the soft tissue and destroys the bone that supports your teeth.

Front 49

Periodontium

Back 49

is the specialized tissues that both surround and support theteeth, maintaining them in the maxillary and mandibular bones.

Front 50

Plaque

Back 50

is a soft, sticky film that builds up on your teeth and contains millions of bacteria.