The Savon Tooth-o-Pedia:  Glossary of Dental Definitions

(Click on a term to see its full definition)

Panoramic x-ray

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A panoramic x-ray is a dental x-ray that shows the whole mouth in one x-ray

Pathogenic

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Pathogenic means can lead to disease

Pathological

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Pathological means related to, or caused by, disease

Pediatric Dentist

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A Pedodontist is a dentist who has had special training (usually two more years) after dental school in the field of children’s teeth

Pediatric Dentistry

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Pediatric Dentistry is the science of restoring the human primary dentition (baby teeth)

Periapical

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Periapical means around the tip of the root of the tooth

Periapical Abscess

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Periapical abscess is an inflammation with pus at the end of the root of the tooth

Periodontal abscess

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Periodontal abscess is an abscess of the soft tissue around the tooth

Periodontics

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Periodontics is the science of maintaining the health of the supporting structures around human dentition (teeth)

Periodontist

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A Periodontist is a dentist who has had special training (usually two more years) after dental school in the field of Periodontics (the teeth and their supporting structures)

Periradicular Abscess

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Periradicular abscess is an abscess with inflammation and pus around the root of the tooth

Permanent teeth

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Permanent teeth are the teeth that come in after the primary teeth have come out

Plaque

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Plaque is the soft bacterial colonies on the teeth

Porcelain Crown

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A porcelain crown is a covering made out of fired ceramic that replaces missing tooth structure

Posterior Teeth

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The posterior teeth are the back teeth

Premolar

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Premolar is the newer term for bicuspid

Preventative

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Preventative is a general word meaning to prevent or stop an action from happening

Primary teeth

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Primary teeth are the first teeth in the human dentition

Probing

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Probing is the action of exploring in a remote region to obtain information

Prosthodontics

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Prosthodontics is the science of replacing the human dentition (teeth) that has been lost to disease or neglect with an artificial replacement.

Prosthodontist

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A Prosthodontist is a dentist who has had special training (usually two years ) after dental school in the field of prosthetics (crowns, bridges, partial dentures, and full dentures)

Public Health Dentist

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A Public Health Dentist is a dentist who has had special training (usually two more years) after dental school in the field of public health

Pulp

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The inside of the tooth