| dental offices | The room or rooms in which the dentist performs his services. (12 Dec 1998) |
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| dental orthopedics | The use of devices to move teeth or adjust underlying bone. The ideal age for starting orthodontic treatment is between ages 3 to 12 years. Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) problems can be corrected with splinting or dental braces. Teeth can be moved by removable appliances or by fixed braces. Crowding of teeth can require extraction of teeth. Retainers may be necessary long after dental braces are placed, especially with orthodontic treatment of adults. (12 Dec 1998) |
| dental pain | The most common cause of a toothache is a dental cavity. The second most common is gum disease. Toothache can be caused by a problem that does not originate from a tooth or the jaw. (12 Dec 1998) |
| dental papilla | Mesodermal tissue enclosed in the invaginated portion of the epithelial enamel organ and giving rise to the dentin and pulp. (12 Dec 1998) |
| dental pathology | The branch of dentistry concerned with the aetiology, pathogenesis, and clinical, gross, and microscopic aspects of oral and paraoral disease, including oral soft tissues, the teeth, jaws, and salivary glands. Synonym: dental pathology. (05 Mar 2000) |
| dental physiology | Functions and activities of dentition as a whole. (12 Dec 1998) |
| dental pins | Small cylindrical pieces of metal used to enhance retention. (12 Dec 1998) |
| dental plaque | <dentistry> A soft, thin film of food debris, mucin and dead epithelial cells deposited on the teeth, providing the medium for the growth of various bacteria. The main inorganic components are calcium and phosphorus with small amounts of magnesium, potassium and sodium, the organic matrix consists of polysaccharides, proteins, carbohydrates, lipids and other components. Plaque plays an important aetiological role in the development of dental caries and periodontal and gingival diseases and provides the base for the development of materia alba, calcified plaque forms dental calculus. (19 Mar 1998) |
| dental plaque index | An index which scores the degree of dental plaque accumulation. (12 Dec 1998) |
| dental polishing | Creation of a smooth and glossy surface finish on a denture or amalgam. (12 Dec 1998) |
| dental polyp | hyperplastic pulpitis |
| dental porcelain | <chemical> A type of porcelain used in dental restorations, either jacket crowns or inlays, artificial teeth, or metal-ceramic crowns. It is essentially a mixture of particles of feldspar and quartz, the feldspar melting first and providing a glass matrix for the quartz. Dental porcelain is produced by mixing ceramic powder (a mixture of quartz, kaolin, pigments, opacifiers, a suitable flux, and other substances) with distilled water. Chemical name: Dental materials and fillings, porcelain (12 Dec 1998) |
| dental process | That portion of bone in either the maxilla or the mandible which surrounds and supports the teeth. (12 Dec 1998) |
| dental prophylaxis | Treatment for the prevention of periodontal diseases or other dental diseases by the cleaning of the teeth in the dental office using the procedures of dental scaling and dental polishing. The treatment may include plaque detection, removal of supra- and subgingival plaque and calculus, application of caries-preventing agents, checking of restorations and prostheses and correcting overhanging margins and proximal contours of restorations, and checking for signs of food impaction. (12 Dec 1998) |
| dental prosthesis | An artificial replacement for one or more natural teeth or part of a tooth, or associated structures, ranging from a portion of a tooth to a complete denture. The dental prosthesis is used for cosmetic or functional reasons, or both. Dentures and specific types of dentures are also available. (12 Dec 1998) |