| dental physiology | Functions and activities of dentition as a whole. (12 Dec 1998) |
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| 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) |
| dental prosthesis design | The plan and delineation of dental prostheses in general or a specific dental prosthesis. It does not include denture design. The framework usually consists of metal. (12 Dec 1998) |
| dental prosthesis, implant-supported | A prosthesis that gains its support, stability, and retention from a substructure that is implanted under the soft tissues of the basal seat of the device and is in contact with bone. (12 Dec 1998) |
| dental prosthesis repair | The process of reuniting or replacing a broken or worn dental prosthesis or its part. (12 Dec 1998) |
| dental prosthesis retention | The retention of a dental prosthesis in place by design, device, or adhesion. (12 Dec 1998) |
| dental prosthetics | A dental specialty concerned with the restoration and maintenance of oral function by the replacement of missing teeth and structures by artificial devices or prostheses. (12 Dec 1998) |