List of Dental Terms

Source: Dr. Marketing

Welcome to our glossary of dental terms, a comprehensive list of dental terms arranged in alphabetical order. This resource helps patients and students understand both basic dental terms and more advanced dental anatomy terms. Whether you’re studying short term dental courses in Delhi or simply looking to improve your understanding of dental hygiene terms, this dental terminology glossary will be your quick guide to the most common dental terms. Each dental term is defined clearly so you can learn more about the world of oral health and treatment.



A

Abrasive — a material used in dentistry for polishing, cleaning, or smoothing surfaces of teeth and dental restorations.

Abscess — a localized accumulation of pus caused by bacterial infection, typically found at the root of a tooth or in gum tissue.

Acrylic resin — a synthetic polymer material used in making dentures, temporary crowns, and other dental appliances.

Adhesive prosthesis — a dental restoration used to replace a missing tooth, fixed to adjacent teeth without extensive preparation. Often applied as a temporary solution before permanent prosthetic treatment.

Alveolar bone — the part of the jawbone that supports and holds the teeth in place.

Alveoloplasty – a procedure where the dentist gently reshapes the jawbone to create a smoother, more comfortable surface for dentures.

Amalgam — a metallic dental filling material made from a mixture of mercury, silver, tin, and copper, used to restore decayed teeth.

 Anesthesia – Medication used to relieve pain during dental procedures.
 Anterior teeth – Front teeth; also called incisors and cuspids.
 Arch – The curved structure of the upper or lower jaw.

Anesthesia — medication used to block pain during dental procedures; can be local, regional, or general.

Anterior teeth — the front teeth, including incisors and canines, responsible for cutting and tearing food.

Apex — the tip of the root of a tooth, where nerves and blood vessels enter.

Apicoectomy — a minor surgical procedure that removes the apex of a tooth’s root to treat persistent infection.

B

Baby bottle tooth decay – Early childhood tooth decay caused by sugary liquids in bottles.
 Bicuspids – Premolars; teeth with two cusps for grinding food.
 Bitewings – X-rays showing crowns of upper and lower teeth for cavity detection.
Bicuspid (premolar) — a tooth located between canines and molars, with two cusps used for grinding food.

Biopsy — a diagnostic procedure in which a small tissue sample is taken from the mouth for laboratory examination.

Bleaching — a cosmetic dental procedure that lightens the color of teeth using bleaching agents.

Bonding — the process of applying a tooth-colored resin material to repair or improve the appearance of teeth.

Bone grafting – rebuilding or restoring the jawbone so it can support teeth or dentures.

Bridge — a fixed dental prosthesis used to replace one or more missing teeth by anchoring to neighboring teeth or implants.

Bruxism — involuntary grinding or clenching of the teeth, often occurring during sleep, which can cause wear and jaw discomfort.

Buccal — referring to the surface of a tooth that faces the inside of the cheek.

C

Calculus (tartar) — hardened dental plaque that adheres to teeth and can only be removed by professional cleaning.

Canine — pointed tooth used for tearing food; located between the incisors and premolars.

Caries — another term for tooth decay caused by bacterial activity on tooth surfaces.

Cementum — a hard connective tissue that covers the root surface of a tooth.

Composite resin — a tooth-colored filling material used for restorative purposes.

Crown — the visible part of the tooth above the gum line, or an artificial cap used to restore damaged teeth.

Curettage — cleaning of the tooth socket or gum pocket to remove infected tissue.

D

Dentin — the hard tissue beneath enamel and cementum that forms the bulk of a tooth’s structure.

Dental implant — a titanium post surgically placed in the jawbone to replace a missing tooth root.

Dentition — the arrangement or condition of the teeth within the mouth.

Denture — a removable prosthesis used to replace missing teeth and surrounding tissue.

Denture reline – adding new material to the inside of the denture so it sits more comfortably and securely on the gums.

Diagnosis — identification of a dental condition through examination, imaging, or tests.

Disinfection — the process of destroying microorganisms to ensure sterile dental instruments and surfaces.

Dry socket (alveolitis) — a painful condition occurring after tooth extraction when a blood clot fails to form or dislodges prematurely.

 Drainage – Removal of pus or fluid during dental infection treatment.

E

Edentulous — lacking teeth; used to describe a person with no natural teeth.

Enamel — the hard, outermost layer of a tooth that protects it from decay.

Endodontics — the branch of dentistry concerned with the treatment of tooth pulp and root tissues.

Eruption — the process by which a tooth moves through the gum to appear in the mouth.

Extraction — removal of a tooth from its socket in the jawbone.

F

Filling — material used to restore the function and shape of a decayed or damaged tooth.

Fissure — a deep groove or pit on the chewing surface of a tooth.

Fluoride — a mineral that strengthens enamel and helps prevent tooth decay.

Fluorosis — a condition caused by excessive fluoride intake during tooth development, leading to enamel discoloration.

Frenum — a small fold of tissue connecting the lips, cheeks, or tongue to the jawbone or gums.

G

Gag reflex — involuntary contraction of throat muscles triggered by touching the soft palate or back of the tongue.

Gingiva (gum) — soft tissue that surrounds and protects the teeth.

Gingivitis — inflammation of the gums caused by plaque buildup; reversible with proper hygiene.

Graft — tissue or bone transplanted to repair or rebuild oral structures. 

Gum disease – Infection of gum tissues, also called periodontal disease.

Gum recession — withdrawal of gum tissue from the tooth surface, exposing the root.

H

Halitosis — chronic bad breath caused by bacterial buildup, poor hygiene, or underlying conditions.

Hemisection — surgical division of a molar into two parts when one root is diseased.

Hygienist — a dental professional trained to perform preventive cleanings, scaling, and patient education.

Hypersensitivity — sharp pain in a tooth caused by exposed dentin or gum recession.

I

Implant – A titanium screw placed in the jawbone to support a crown or bridge.

Incisor — a front tooth with a sharp edge, used for cutting food.

Inlay — a custom-made restoration fitted into the cavity of a tooth, covering part of its surface.

Interdental — relating to the area between two adjacent teeth.

Irrigation — rinsing of a tooth socket or canal to remove debris and bacteria.

J

Jawbone — the bone structure (mandible or maxilla) that holds the teeth and forms the shape of the mouth.

K

Keratinized gingiva — firm, dense gum tissue resistant to mechanical stress, usually located near tooth necks.

L

Labial — referring to the surface of anterior teeth facing the lips.

Lamina dura — the thin layer of dense bone lining the tooth socket, visible on X-rays.

Lesion — an abnormal area of tissue due to injury or disease.

Lingual — relating to the surface of the teeth facing the tongue.

M

Malocclusion — improper alignment of teeth or bite.

Mandible — the lower jawbone.

Maxilla — the upper jawbone.

Molar — a large back tooth designed for grinding food.

Mucosa — soft tissue lining the inside of the mouth.

N

Necrosis — death of tissue, often referring to the dental pulp due to infection or trauma.

Night guard — a removable dental appliance worn during sleep to prevent tooth grinding (bruxism).

O

Occlusion — the contact between upper and lower teeth when biting or chewing.

Onlay — a restoration covering one or more cusps of a tooth, protecting its structure.

Oral hygiene — daily practices such as brushing and flossing that maintain oral health.

Orthodontics — the dental specialty focused on correcting teeth and jaw alignment.

Overdenture — a removable denture placed over remaining teeth or implants for stability.

P

Palate — the roof of the mouth, divided into hard and soft sections.

Pathology — the study and diagnosis of diseases affecting the oral cavity.

Periodontal disease — infection or inflammation of the gums and supporting structures of the teeth. 

Periodontist – Specialist in gum diseases.

Plaque — a soft, sticky film of bacteria that forms on teeth.

Polish — smoothing the surface of teeth to remove stains and reduce plaque buildup.

Pulp — soft inner tissue of the tooth containing nerves and blood vessels.

Prosthodontics — the dental specialty dealing with the design and fitting of artificial replacements for teeth.

R

Radiograph (X-ray) — an image produced using radiation to view internal dental structures.

Recession — exposure of the tooth root caused by gum tissue loss.

Restoration — any dental treatment that repairs or replaces damaged tooth structure.

Resin filling – Tooth-colored material for restorations.

Root canal — treatment that removes infected pulp and seals the canal within the tooth root.

Resin — a synthetic material used for fillings, sealants, and bonding.

S

Scaling — professional cleaning to remove plaque and calculus from tooth surfaces.

Sealant — a thin protective coating applied to the grooves of teeth to prevent decay.

Sensitivity — discomfort or pain in teeth when exposed to temperature changes or touch.

Sinus lift — a surgical procedure that adds bone to the upper jaw near the molars to support dental implants.

Stomatitis — inflammation of the mucous lining of the mouth.

T

 Tooth anatomy – Structure 

Tartar — hardened plaque that forms on teeth and can lead to gum disease.

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) — the hinge connecting the lower jaw to the skull.

Tooth anatomy — the structure including enamel, dentin, pulp, and root — fundamental term dental material and dental anatomy terms for dental students.

Transplantation — moving a tooth or tissue from one area to another within the mouth.

U

Ulcer — an open sore on the oral mucosa caused by irritation, infection, or systemic conditions.

Unerupted tooth — a tooth that has not yet emerged through the gum.

V

Veneer – Thin shell bonded to front teeth to improve appearance.
 Vital tooth – A tooth with living pulp tissue.

W

Whitening – Cosmetic treatment that brightens teeth color.
 Wisdom tooth – The third molar, often the last to erupt.

X

Xerostomia – Dry mouth due to reduced saliva flow.

Z

Zirconia crown – Durable ceramic restoration for strength and aesthetics.

Summary

This dental terms glossary includes key concepts, definitions, and clinical explanations used in modern dentistry. By studying this glossary of dental terms, both patients and dental students can better understand procedures, oral anatomy, and dental terms defined in everyday practice.