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Glossary

By Sakhr A. Murshid Al-Kubati, PhDLast reviewed

Plain meanings of dental words used on this site.

An open book with a small magnifying glass.
Abscess
A pocket of pus from an infection in a tooth or gum. It needs a dentist.
Aligner
A clear, removable tray used to straighten teeth.
Bridge
A false tooth fixed to the teeth on each side of a gap.
CBCT
Cone-beam CT. A 3D X-ray scan of the teeth and jaws.
Crown
A cap that covers a damaged tooth.
Dentine
The layer under the enamel. It has tiny channels to the nerve.
Denture
False teeth you can take out.
Enamel
The hard outer layer of a tooth.
Endodontist
A dentist who specialises in root canal treatment.
Fissure sealant
A thin coating on the chewing side of back teeth to keep out germs.
Fluoride
A mineral that makes enamel stronger and helps stop decay.
Fluorosis
Faint white marks on teeth from too much fluoride while teeth are forming.
Gingivitis
Early gum disease. Gums are red, swollen and may bleed.
Halitosis
The medical word for bad breath.
Implant
A small titanium screw in the jawbone that acts as a tooth root.
Interdental brush
A tiny brush for cleaning between teeth.
Intraoral scanner
A small wand that takes a 3D picture of the teeth.
Orthodontist
A dentist who specialises in straightening teeth and jaws.
Peri-implantitis
Infection and swelling of the gum around an implant.
Periodontitis
Serious gum disease that harms the bone holding teeth.
Plaque
A sticky film of germs on teeth.
ppm
Parts per million. Shows how much fluoride is in toothpaste.
Pulp
The soft middle of a tooth, with the nerve.
Retainer
A device worn after braces to keep teeth in place.
TMD
Temporomandibular disorder. A problem with the jaw joint and muscles.
Tooth decay (caries)
Damage to a tooth from acid made by germs. It can cause a hole (cavity).

Sources

Paraphrased in plain words. Links checked and accessed 21 Oct 2026.

  1. NHS (UK). “Dental abscess”. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/dental-abscess/ (accessed 21 Oct 2026).
  2. ADA MouthHealthy. “Braces”. https://www.mouthhealthy.org/all-topics-a-z/braces (accessed 21 Oct 2026).
  3. Oral Health Foundation. “Bridges”. https://www.dentalhealth.org/bridges (accessed 21 Oct 2026).
  4. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. “Dental cone-beam computed tomography”. https://www.fda.gov/radiation-emitting-products/medical-x-ray-imaging/dental-cone-beam-computed-tomography (accessed 21 Oct 2026).
  5. Oral Health Foundation. “Crowns”. https://www.dentalhealth.org/crowns (accessed 21 Oct 2026).
  6. Oral Health Foundation. “Sensitive teeth”. https://www.dentalhealth.org/sensitive-teeth (accessed 21 Oct 2026).
  7. NHS (UK). “Dentures (false teeth)”. https://www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/dentures/ (accessed 21 Oct 2026).
  8. NHS (UK). “Root canal treatment”. https://www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/root-canal-treatment/ (accessed 21 Oct 2026).
  9. NHS (UK). “Children's teeth”. https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-teeth-and-gums/taking-care-of-childrens-teeth/ (accessed 21 Oct 2026).
  10. Oral Health Foundation. “Fluoride”. https://www.dentalhealth.org/fluoride (accessed 21 Oct 2026).
  11. NHS (UK). “Gum disease”. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/gum-disease/ (accessed 21 Oct 2026).
  12. NHS (UK). “Bad breath”. https://www.nhs.uk/symptoms/bad-breath/ (accessed 21 Oct 2026).
  13. Oral Health Foundation. “Dental implants”. https://www.dentalhealth.org/dental-implants (accessed 21 Oct 2026).
  14. Oral Health Foundation. “Cleaning between your teeth”. https://www.dentalhealth.org/cleaning-between-your-teeth (accessed 21 Oct 2026).
  15. ADA News. “Digital dentistry: what to know about a few popular technologies (2022)”. https://adanews.ada.org/ada-news/2022/june/digital-dentistry-what-to-know-about-a-few-popular-technologies/ (accessed 21 Oct 2026).
  16. NHS (UK). “Braces”. https://www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/braces/ (accessed 21 Oct 2026).
  17. European Federation of Periodontology. “What is periodontitis?”. https://www.efp.org/for-patients/what-is-periodontitis/ (accessed 21 Oct 2026).
  18. NHS (UK). “How to keep your teeth clean”. https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-teeth-and-gums/how-to-keep-your-teeth-clean/ (accessed 21 Oct 2026).
  19. NHS (UK). “Temporomandibular disorder (TMD)”. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/temporomandibular-disorder-tmd/ (accessed 21 Oct 2026).
  20. NHS (UK). “Tooth decay”. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/tooth-decay/ (accessed 21 Oct 2026).