| tooth attrition | The wearing away of a tooth as a result of tooth-to-tooth contact, as in mastication, occurring only on the occlusal, incisal, and proximal surfaces. It is chiefly associated with aging. It is differentiated from tooth abrasion (the pathologic wearing away of the tooth substance by friction, as brushing, bruxism, clenching, and other mechanical causes) and from tooth erosion (the loss of substance caused by chemical action without bacterial action). (12 Dec 1998) |
|---|---|
| tooth avulsion | Partial or complete displacement of a tooth from its alveolar support. It is commonly the result of trauma. (12 Dec 1998) |
| tooth bleaching | The use of a chemical oxidizing agent (sometimes in combination with heat) to lighten tooth discolorations. (boucher's clinical dental terminology, 4th ed, p34) (12 Dec 1998) |
| tooth-borne | A term used to describe a prosthesis or part of a prosthesis which depends entirely upon the abutment teeth for support. (05 Mar 2000) |
| tooth-borne base | The denture base restoring an edentulous area which has abutment teeth at each end for support; the tissue which it covers is not used for support. (05 Mar 2000) |
| tooth bud | The primordial structures from which a tooth is formed; the enamel organ, the dental papilla, and the dental sac enclosing them. (05 Mar 2000) |
| tooth calcification | The process whereby calcium salts are deposited in the dental enamel. The process is normal in the development of bones and teeth. (boucher's clinical dental terminology, 4th ed, p43) (12 Dec 1998) |
| tooth cement | <dentistry> A bony substance covering the root of a tooth. (08 Jan 1998) |
| tooth cervix | The constricted part of the tooth at the junction of the crown and root or roots. It is often referred to as the cementoenamel junction (cej), the line at which the cementum covering the root of a tooth and the enamel of the tooth meet. (12 Dec 1998) |
| tooth components | The anatomical components of a tooth, its tissues, and correlated parts. (12 Dec 1998) |
| tooth, cracked, syndrome | <syndrome> A toothache caused by a broken tooth (tooth fracture) without associated cavity or advanced gum disease. Biting on the area of tooth fracture can cause severe sharp pains. These fractures are usually due to chewing or biting hard objects such as hard candies, pencils, nuts, etc. Sometimes, the fracture can be seen by painting a special dye on the cracked tooth. Treatment usually is to protect the tooth with a crown. However, if placing a crown does not relieve pain symptoms, a root canal procedure may be necessary. (12 Dec 1998) |
| tooth crown | The upper part of the tooth, which joins the lower part of the tooth (tooth root) at the cervix (tooth cervix) at a line called the cementoenamel junction. The entire surface of the crown is covered with enamel which is thicker at the extremity and becomes progressively thinner toward the cervix. (12 Dec 1998) |
| tooth, deciduous | The 20 teeth of the first dentition, which are shed and replaced by the permanent teeth, usually by the age of six years. All deciduous teeth are normally expected to erupt by the age of two and a half years. (12 Dec 1998) |
| tooth demineralization | A tooth's loss of minerals, such as calcium in hydroxyapatite from the tooth matrix, caused by acidic exposure. An example of the occurrence of demineralization is in the formation of dental caries. (12 Dec 1998) |
| tooth discoloration | Any change in the hue, colour, or translucency of a tooth due to any cause. Restorative filling materials, drugs (both topical and systemic), pulpal necrosis, or haemorrhage may be responsible. (12 Dec 1998) |