| dental | 1. <dentistry> Of or pertaining to the teeth or to dentistry; as, dental surgery. 2. <zoology> Dental formula, a brief notation used by zoologists to denote the number and kind of teeth of a mammal. Dental surgeon, a dentist. Origin: L. Dens, dentis, tooth: cf. F. Dental. 3.. <marine biology> A marine mollusk of the genus Dentalium, with a curved conical shell resembling a tooth. See Dentalium. Origin: Cf. F. Dentale. (21 Jun 2000) |
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| dental abscess | <dentistry> A pocket of pus adjacent to or within (apical abscess) the tooth's root caused by plaque and calculus invasion. Symptoms include tooth pain and tenderness that may be accompanied by facial swelling and a fever. Treatment includes antibiotics and a thorough cleansing of the infected site by a dentist. See: apical abscess. (27 Sep 1997) |
| dental abutments | <dentistry> Natural teeth or teeth roots used as anchorage for a fixed or removable denture or other prosthesis (such as an implant) serving the same purpose. (12 Dec 1998) |
| dental alloys | <dentistry> A mixture of metallic elements or compounds with other metallic or metalloid elements in varying proportions for use in restorative or prosthetic dentistry. (12 Dec 1998) |
| dental amalgam | <chemical, dentistry> An alloy used in restorative dentistry that contains mercury, silver, tin, copper, and possibly zinc. Chemical name: Dental materials and fillings, amalgams (12 Dec 1998) |
| dental anaesthesia | <anaesthetics, dentistry> General, conduction, local, or topical anaesthesia for operations upon the teeth, gingivae, or associated structures. (05 Mar 2000) |
| dental anatomy | <anatomy, dentistry> That branch of gross anatomy concerned with the morphology of teeth, their location, position, and relationships. (05 Mar 2000) |
| dental ankylosis | <dentistry> Bony union of the radicular surface of a tooth to the surrounding alveolar bone in an area of previous partial root resorption. Extracapsular ankylosis, stiffness of a joint due to induration or heterotopic ossification of the surrounding tissues. Synonym: spurious ankylosis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| dental anxiety | <psychology> Abnormal fear or dread of visiting the dentist for preventive care or therapy and unwarranted anxiety over dental procedures. (12 Dec 1998) |
| dental apparatus | The organs and structures primarily functioning in mastication: the jaws, teeth with their supporting structures, temporomandibular joint, muscles of mastication, tongue, lips, cheeks, and oral mucosa. Synonym: dental apparatus, masticatory apparatus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| dental arch | <anatomy, dentistry> The curved composite structure of the natural dentition and the residual ridge, or the remains thereof after the loss of some or all of the natural teeth. (05 Mar 2000) |
| dental articulation | <dentistry> The contact relationship of the occlusal surfaces of the upper and lower teeth when moving into and away from centric occlusion. Synonym: gliding occlusion. (05 Mar 2000) |
| dental articulators | <dentistry> Mechanical devices that simulate the temporomandibular joints and jaws to which maxillary and mandibular casts are attached. The entire assembly attempts to reproduce the movements of the mandible and the various tooth-to-tooth relationships that accompany those movements. (12 Dec 1998) |
| dental assistant | <specialist> Individuals who assist the dentist or the dental hygienist. (12 Dec 1998) |
| dental auxiliary | <specialist> Personnel whose work is prescribed and supervised by the dentist. (12 Dec 1998) |