A short dictionary of dental terms

You've only just stepped into the dental surgery and you're already faced with lots of terms you don't understand? Don't worry – we'll explain in detail the meaning of the most common dental terms, which could be a great help to you.

Dentistry is full of medical terms that patients usually don't know. We always make a point of explaining every treatment we carry out in simple words. Even so, we believe an explanatory guide can be helpful for many patients who may want to look into certain issues on their own or who need further clarification.

In our little dictionary we explain the most important dental terms, from treatments and specialties to common dental procedures.

Here is our dictionary of dental terms to make communication between dentist and patient easier. It also covers, as far as possible, the terminology of our services and specialist fields:

• Panoramic dental X-ray

A panoramic dental X-ray is a seemingly simple examination that in fact relies on technology, providing an image that allows the dentist to examine all the teeth and any dental problems.

It is used to get an overall picture of the condition of the teeth, the lower and upper jaw bones and the joints, and allows the dentist to view all the areas that need to be assessed. A panoramic dental X-ray is therefore a complete image of the patient's anatomy.

• Treatment plan

The treatment plan is drawn up by the dentist at the patient's first visit to the dental clinic. It sets out all the procedures needed to achieve optimal oral health for the patient, the alternatives, the materials that may be used, how many appointments will be needed and what the costs are.  The treatment plan must be specific and complete and state which treatments are needed simply and clearly, so that the patient fully understands what they will be going through.

• Paediatric dentist

A paediatric dentist is the specialist responsible for treating the dental problems of babies, children and teenagers. Specialising in paediatric dentistry means extra years beyond dental school, during which the dentist has trained, in theory and in practice, to interact with and treat children. A paediatric dentist is therefore professionally trained to treat any kind of oral condition found in children

• Endodontist

Endodontics is the branch of dentistry that deals with treating the dental pulp, a soft tissue made up of arteries, veins, nerve endings and connective cells that nourishes the teeth and gives them sensation. The pulp is found both in the crown of the tooth and in the root canals, i.e. the channels that run through the inside of the tooth root. An endodontist is therefore the specialist responsible for treating root canals.

• Periodontology

Periodontology is the branch of dentistry concerned with the prevention, diagnosis, care and maintenance of the soft and hard tissues around the tooth (the periodontal tissues), namely the gum, the alveolar bone, the root cementum and the periodontal ligament.

• Rubber dam

The rubber dam is an indispensable tool in dental treatment. It is actually a latex sheet stretched over a metal or plastic frame and placed in the patient's mouth to isolate the treatment area, providing a completely dry working field and an effective antimicrobial barrier. 

• Diastema

Have you ever wondered what the gap between the teeth is called – the one we often see in the smiles of celebrities or on magazine covers? The gap between teeth is called a diastema, and it is a separation of the teeth from one another for reasons that may be more or less problematic. In everyday language, a diastema is also known as a gap-toothed smile.

• Orthodontics

Orthodontics is the branch of dentistry concerned with identifying and correcting defects in tooth alignment and occlusion (bite). Having misaligned teeth is not only an aesthetic problem affecting teenagers and adults alike; it also affects dental health, for example by making daily tooth brushing less effective. Today, several orthodontic techniques allow the orthodontist to offer different types of brace for each type of treatment: fixed braces, removable braces or invisible aligners to restore the function of the mouth. 

• Obturation

Obturation is a method of restoring the function and original shape of a tooth damaged by decay. When the dentist carries out an obturation, they first remove the decay, clean the affected area and then fill the cleaned cavity with a special material. It is more commonly known as a filling.

• Halitosis.

Halitosis, or bad breath, is a condition in which the breath has a persistent unpleasant odour that can be freshened only temporarily with remedies such as mints, mouthwash, sprays and chewing gum. It may be caused by underlying health problems, harmful habits or eating certain foods.

• DSD

Digital Smile Design, or DSD, is a  digital smile planning system. This software makes it possible to carry out an in-depth analysis of the relationship between the patient's facial and dental proportions, so that the patient's dental problems can be identified and possible improvements studied. The software allows patients themselves to be involved in designing their smile: thanks to a virtual reconstruction of the smile you want, you can get a concrete idea of the final result without having to wait for the outcome of treatment.

• Bruxism

Bruxism is a dental problem involving unconscious grinding of the teeth during sleep. This condition can lead to complications and damage to tooth enamel.