| oral 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) |
|---|---|
| oral pharynx | The area of the throat at the back of the mouth. (12 Dec 1998) |
| oral phase | In psychoanalytic personality theory, the earliest stage in psychosexual development, lasting through the first 18 months of life, during which the oral zone is the centre of the infant's needs, expression, gratification, and pleasurable erotic experiences; has a strong influence on the organization and development of the child's psyche. (05 Mar 2000) |
| oral physiotherapy | The use of a toothbrush, interdental stimulator, floss, irrigating device, or other adjunctive aid to maintain oral health Origin: physio-+ G. Therapeia, treatment (05 Mar 2000) |
| oral plate | A circumscribed area of fusion of foregut endoderm and stomodeal ectoderm in the embryo which breaks through early in development to establish the oral opening. See: buccopharyngeal membrane. (05 Mar 2000) |
| oral polio vaccine | <drug> A live vaccination, administered orally to children for protection against the polio virus. Typically given at 2, 4 and 15 months. A final oral vaccine is recommended at 4-6 years. (27 Sep 1997) |
| oral poliovirus vaccine | An aqueous suspension of live, attenuated strains of poliomyelitis virus (types 1, 2, and 3) given orally for active immunization against poliomyelitis. See: Sabin vaccine. Synonym: poliomyelitis vaccines. (05 Mar 2000) |
| oral region | The region of the face including the lips and mouth. Synonym: regio oralis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| oral shields | Removable appliances used in orthodontic treatment, usually placed between the labial and buccal mucosa and the teeth. (05 Mar 2000) |
| oral smear | A group of cytologic specimens containing material from the mouth (oral smear), oesophagus and stomach (gastric smear), duodenum (paraduodenal smear), and colon, obtained by specialised lavage techniques; used principally for the diagnosis of cancer of those areas. (05 Mar 2000) |
| oral stage | The earliest of the stages of infantile psychosexual development, lasting from birth to 12 months or longer. (12 Dec 1998) |
| oral stereotypy | Constant repetition of meaningless words or phrases; seen in schizophrenia. Synonym: catalogia, cataphasia, oral stereotypy. Origin: L. Verbum, word, + gero, to carry about (05 Mar 2000) |
| oral submucous fibrosis | A precancerous condition of the oral mucosa and upper aerodigestive tract characteristically in a native of India. (05 Mar 2000) |
| oral surgeon | <specialist> A physician specialist expert in the surgical treatment of the jaw, face, teeth and associated structures. (11 Jan 1998) |
| oral surgery | The branch of dentistry concerned with the diagnosis and surgical and adjunctive treatment of diseases, injuries, and deformities of the oral and maxillofacial region. (05 Mar 2000) |