DrlogyBrowse by Alphabet
Featured Dental Terms
Abcessed tooth
An infection in your gum caused by too much bacteria at the center of a tooth
Abfraction
The loss of tooth structure due to heavy compressive loading and flexing of a tooth as in heavy grinding. This often leads to notched defects at the gum line.
Abrasion
Loss of tooth structure caused by a hard toothbrush, poor brushing technique, or Bruxism (grinding or clenching the teeth)
Abscess
Acute or chronic localized inflammation, probably with a collection of pus, associated with tissue destruction and, frequently, swelling; usually secondary to infection.
Abutment
A term with different meanings depending on the clinical scenario.
Abutment crown
Artificial crown also serving for the retention or support of a dental prosthesis.
Accession
Addition of a test specimen, previously collected by a health care provider, to a laboratory specimen collection; recording of essential specimen identification data in a laborator...
Acid etching
Use of an acidic chemical substance to prepare the tooth enamel and or dentin surface to provide retention for bonding.
Adhesion
State in which two surfaces are held together by chemical or physical forces or both with or without the aid of an adhesive. Adhesion is one aspect of bonding.
Adhesive
Any substance that joins or creates close adherence of two or more surfaces. Intermediate material that causes two materials to adhere to each other.
Adjunctive
A secondary treatment in addition to the primary therapy.
Administrative costs
Overhead expenses incurred in the operation of a dental benefit program, exclusive of costs of dental services provided.
Administrative services only (ASO)
An arrangement under which a third party, for a fee, processes claims and handles paperwork for a self-funded group. This frequently includes all insurance company services (actuar...
Adult dentition
The permanent teeth of adulthood that either replace the primary dentition or erupt distally to the primary molars.
Air Abrasion
Tiny particles of aluminum oxide blasted in a stream of water at the tooth to remove the decayed debris and ruined enamel of cavities
Allergy
Unfavorable systemic response to a foreign substance or drug
Allogenic
Belonging to the same species, but genetically different.
Alloplastic
Refers to synthetic material often used for tissue augmentation or replacement.
Allowable charge
The maximum dollar amount on which benefit payment is based for each dental procedure as calculated by the third-party payer.
Alloy
Compound combining two or more elements having properties not existing in any of the single constituent elements. Sometimes used to refer to amalgam.
Alternate benefit
A provision in a dental plan contract that allows the third-party payer to determine the benefit based on an alternative procedure that is generally less expensive than the one pro...