Glossary of Common Dental Terms
Here is a comprehensive list of dental terms and definitions you may hear during your dental visit to describe problems and procedures.
Dentists use a lot of terms to describe problems and procedures. They would be glad to explain any term you don’t know.
ABSCESS
Acute or chronic localized inflammation with a collection of pus, associated with tissue destruction and, frequently, swelling.
ABRASION
Tooth wear caused by forces other than chewing, such as improper brushing.
ABUTMENT
A tooth or implant used to support an artificial device replacing teeth.
ACID ETCHIN
Applying an acid to the tooth-enamel surface to provide retention for bonding.
ALLOPLASTIC
Synthetic material used for tissue augmentation.
ALVEOLAR
The bone to which a tooth is attached.
ALVEOLOPLASTY
The recontouring of bone structures, usually in preparation for a prosthesis.
AMALGAM
A mixture of mercury, silver, tin, and copper used to fill cavities.
ANALGESIA
Loss of pain sensations without loss of consciousness.
ANESTHESIA
Removal of sensation. General anesthesia: a controlled state of unconsciousness. Local anesthesia: drug-induced elimination of sensation in one part of the body.
ANTERIOR
The teeth and tissues located towards the front of the mouth.
ANNUAL MAXIMUM
The most a dental plan will pay toward your dental care within a specific period, usually a calendar year.
APEX
The tip or end of the root end of the tooth.
APICOECTOMY
Amputation of a tooth apex (root tip).
ARCH, DENTAL
Upper or lower jaw.
AVULSION
Separation of tooth from its socket due to trauma; scientific term for “having a tooth knocked out.”
BAND
A metal ring orthodontists cement to a tooth as part of the bracing process.
BALANCE BILLING
The practice of billing a patient for the difference between what the dentist charges and the agreed-upon charge established by Delta Dental. In-network dentists cannot balance-bill patients.
BENEFIT LEVELS
Dental treatments are grouped into levels. The percentage covered by your dental plan often varies by benefit level. Most plans include the following benefit levels:
Preventive Services
Usually includes exams, cleanings, X-rays and fluoride treatments.
Basic Services
Usually includes procedures such as fillings, root canals, periodontal (gum) treatment and simple tooth extractions.
Major Services
Usually includes procedures such as crowns, dentures and implants.
Emergency Services
Dental services that are required immediately to avoid jeopardizing the patient’s health, or to relieve pain, swelling or bleeding.
Orthodontic Services
Treatment and procedures used to correct misaligned or crooked teeth. May include braces, retainers and other orthodontic appliances.
BENEFIT YEAR
The 12-month period your dental plan covers, which is not always a calendar year. For example, a benefit year could run June-May instead of January–December. This is also known as a plan year.
BICUSPID
A tooth with two cusps, usually a premolar tooth.
BILATERAL
Both sides.
BIOPSY
Process of removing tissue for evaluation.
BITEWING RADIOGRAPH
A side-view mouth X-ray.
BONDING
A composite resin that changes the shape or color of a tooth.
BRIDGE
A fixed partial denture replacing one or more missing teeth. Bridges can be fixed or removable.
BRUXISM
Grinding and/or clenching of teeth.
BUCCAL
Pertaining to or around the cheek.
CALCULUS
Hard mineralized plaque attached to crowns and/or roots of teeth.
CANAL
The space inside the root portion of a tooth containing pulp tissue; the passage which transmits vessels and nerves through the jaw.
CANTILEVER EXTENSION
Part of a fixed prosthesis supported at one end only.
CARIES
Tooth decay.
CAVITY
Decay in tooth caused by caries; also referred to as carious lesion.
CEMENT BASE
Material used under a filling to replace lost tooth structure.
CEMENTUM
Hard connective tissue covering the tooth root.
CEPHALOMETRIC RADIOGRAPH
A full-head X-ray.
CERTIFICATE OF COVERAGE
A booklet you receive from Delta Dental that explains your benefits coverage in detail.
CLAIM/CLAIM FORM
Information the dentist submits to the dental plan to get paid for services performed on a patient.
CLEFT PALATE
Congenital deformity resulting in lack of fusion of the soft and/or hard palate.
CLENCHING
The clamping and pressing of the jaws and teeth together, frequently associated with psychological stress or physical effort.
CLOSED REDUCTION
The repositioning of a fractured bone without surgery.
COINSURANCE
A fixed percentage of a dental treatment cost that you share with your dental plan. For example, Delta Dental may pay for 80 percent of a given service, while you are responsible for 20 percent. Coinsurance kicks in after you meet your deductible.
COMPOSITE
A dental restorative material.
COMPOUND FRACTURE
A broken bone exposed to external contamination.
COORDINATION OF BENEFITS
Guidelines that determine how each dental plan pays when you are covered by more than one dental plan.
COPAYMENT
A set dollar amount you are required to pay your dentist for a service. An enrollee usually has a copayment or coinsurance, but not both. (Also known as “copay.”)
COPING
A thin covering of a tooth crown applied as part of a restoration.
CORONAL
The crown of a tooth.
COVERED SERVICE
A dental treatment or procedure paid for – either partially or fully – by your dental benefits.
CREDENTIALING
A process to ensure a dentist is properly trained to treat patients before being able to be a part of Delta Dental’s networks.
CROWN
A restoration that covers or “caps” a tooth to restore it to its normal shape and size. Anatomical crowns: The normal enamel covering of a tooth. Abutment crown: An artificial crown that supports a dental prosthesis. Artificial crown: A restoration that covers most or all of a tooth crown. Clinical crown: The part of a tooth not covered by supporting tissues.
CURETTAGE
Scraping or cleaning the walls of a cavity or gingival pocket.
CUSP
An extruded part of the chewing surface of a tooth.
CYST
A cavity containing fluid or soft matter.
DEBRIDEMENT
Removal of plaque, calculus and/or tissue.
DECAY
Carious lesions in a tooth resulting in decomposition of tooth structure.
DECIDUOUS
Used to describe primary (baby) teeth.
DEDUCTIBLE
A set dollar amount you are responsible for before your dental plan begins to pay for covered services.
DENTAL PROPHYLAXIS
Scaling and polishing procedure that removes plaque, calculus, and stains.
DENTIN
The part of the tooth beneath enamel and cementum.
DENTITION
The teeth in the dental arch. Permanent dentition refers to permanent teeth; deciduous dentition refers to deciduous (baby) teeth.
DENTURE
An artificial substitute for natural teeth and adjacent tissues.
DENTURE BASE
The part of a denture that contacts soft tissue and holds the artificial teeth.
DEPENDENTS
Anyone covered under a dental plan other than the primary subscriber. For example, a spouse or children.
DHMO (DENTAL HEALTH MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATION)
Also referred to as pre-paid plans, DHMOs require you to choose one dentist or dental facility for all of your oral health needs. These plans don’t have deductibles or maximums. An enrollee pays a fixed dollar amount (copayment) to the dentist at visits. Delta Dental’s DHMO plan is called DeltaCare® USA.
DIAGNOSTIC CAST
Plaster or stone model of teeth and adjoining tissues; also referred to as study model.
DIASTEMA
A space, often used to refer to a space between adjacent teeth.
DIRECT PULP CAP
Covering exposed tooth pulp with a dressing or cement.
DISCOUNT CARD/PLAN
An option for individuals and families that do not have dental benefits. Enrollees have access to dentists who have agreed to charge discounted fees for certain services. Patients pay the agreed-upon fee directly to the dentist. A discount card/plan is not insurance.
DISPLACED TOOTH
Partial loss of a tooth due to trauma.
DISTAL
Toward the back of the dental arch.
DRY SOCKET
Inflammation of the tooth socket following a tooth extraction.
DUAL COVERAGE
Coverage under two separate dental plans — for instance, if a child is covered by dental plans from both parents. Also see “Coordination of Benefits.”
EDENTULOUS
Without teeth.
EFFECTIVE DATE
The date you can start using your dental benefits plan.
ENAMEL
Hard calcified tissue covering dentin of the crown of tooth.
ENDODONTIST
A dental specialist who treats disease and injuries of the tooth pulp. A patient who needs a root canal may be treated by an endodontist.
ENROLLEE
A person covered under a dental plan.
EQUILIBRATION
Reshaping the biting surfaces of teeth to create proper adjustment and alignment.
EVALUATION
Periodic oral evaluation: a regular dental checkup. Limited oral evaluation — problem-focused: an exam limited to a specific oral-health problem. Comprehensive oral evaluation: a thorough evaluation of hard and soft tissues. Detailed and extensive oral evaluation — problem-focused, by report: a detailed and extensive problem-focused evaluation.
EVULSION
Complete separation of the tooth from its socket due to trauma (avulsion). A knocked-out tooth.
EXCISION
Surgical removal of bone or tissue.
EXCLUSIONS
Dental services or procedures not covered by your dental plan.
EXPLANATION OF BENEFITS (EOB)
A document Delta Dental provides after a procedure. It contains a summary of the treatments you received, including the treatment cost, the portion covered by your dental plan, and the portion you may owe. An EOB is not a bill.
EXUDATE
A byproduct of inflammation or necrosis (death of tissue) containing fluid, cells, and/or other debris.
FACIAL
The surface of a tooth directed toward the face.
FEE SCHEDULE
A list of charges for specific dental treatments agreed to by both the dental plan and the dentist.
FILLING
The restoring of lost tooth structure using materials like metal, alloy, plastic, or cement.
FRACTURE
In dentistry, the breaking of a tooth.
FRENUM
Muscle fibers covered by a mucous membrane that attach the cheek, lips and/or tongue to associated structures.
FURCATION
The area of a multirooted tooth where the roots diverge.
GENERAL DENTIST
A primary dental care provider with a broad range of general oral health expertise. General dentists perform preventive care as well as many restorative procedures such as fillings, crowns, implants and more.
GINGIVA
The soft tissues overlying the crowns of unerupted teeth and encircling the necks of erupted teeth.
GINGIVECTOMY
The removal of gingiva.
GROUP
A company or organization that provides dental benefits to its employees or members. The group works with Delta Dental to select the plan type, benefit levels, maximums and member eligibility.
HEMISECTION
Surgical separation of a multirooted tooth so that one root and/or the overlaying portion of the crown can be surgically removed.
HETEROLOGOUS
Made up of tissue not normal to the part.
HIPAA
Stands for the “Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996,” a federal law intended to improve access to health coverage, limit fraud and abuse, protect personal health information (PHI), and control administrative costs.
HYGIENIST
A licensed dental professional who assists or performs procedures such as screenings, X-rays and cleanings. The range of services hygienists can perform varies from state to state.
IMAGING, DIAGNOSTIC
Includes, but is not limited to, CAT scans, MRIs, photographs, and X-rays.
IMMEDIATE DENTURE
Prosthesis that is placed immediately after removing natural teeth.
IMPACTED TOOTH
An unerupted or partially erupted tooth that is blocked from surfacing by another tooth, bone, or soft tissue.
IMPLANT
A device placed surgically in bone as support for a prosthesis.
IMPLANTATION, TOOTH
Placement of an artificial or natural tooth into a socket.
INDIRECT PULP CAP
Procedure in which the nearly exposed pulp is covered with a protective dressing to protect the pulp from additional injury and to promote healing and repair.
INDIVIDUAL AND/OR FAMILY PLAN
Dental plans that individuals and their families can purchase directly from Delta Dental rather than through an employer.
INLAY
A dental restoration made outside of the mouth and then applied to a tooth.
IN-NETWORK DENTIST
A dentist who has agreed to be part of a Delta Dental network. In-network dentists agree to accept pre-established fees for services.
INTENTIONAL REIMPLANTATION
The intentional removal, repair and replacement of a tooth into its socket.
INTERPROXIMAL
Between the adjoining surfaces of adjacent teeth.
INTRACORONAL
Within the crown of a tooth.
INTRAORAL
Inside the mouth.
JAW
A common name for either the maxilla or the mandible.
LABIAL
Pertaining to or around the lip.
LESION
An injury or wound; area of diseased tissue.
LIFETIME MAXIMUM
The maximum amount a plan will pay over the course of a lifetime. The lifetime maximum may apply to an individual or a family and usually applies to specific treatments such as orthodontia.
LIMITATIONS
Conditions, such as age and period of time covered, that restrict a dental plan’s coverage for certain services.
LINE ANGLE
Used to designate the junction of two tooth surfaces or two walls of a tooth-cavity preparation.
LINGUAL
Pertaining to or around the tongue.
MAINTENANCE, PERIODONTAL
Therapy for preserving the health of the periodontium.
MALAR
Pertaining to the cheek bone.
MALIGNANT
Cancerous.
MALOCCLUSION
Improper alignment of biting or chewing surfaces.
MANAGED FEE-FOR-SERVICE
A type of dental plan where participating dentists agree to fee schedules that can provide discounts for dental care. Delta Dental’s managed fee-for-service option is called Delta Dental Premier®.
MANDIBLE
Lower jaw.
MAXILLA
The upper jaw.
MAXIMUM BENEFIT
See “Annual Maximum.”
MAXIMUM PLAN ALLOWANCE (MPA)
The amount set by Delta Dental that a Delta Dental Premier® dentist has agreed to charge for a service.
MEMBER
See “Enrollee.”
MESIAL
Toward the midline of the dental arch.
MOLAR
Teeth back of the premolars (bicuspids) on either side of the jaw; grinding teeth, having large crowns and broad chewing surfaces.
MOULAGE
A wax or plaster cast-mold reproduction of the face.
NATIONAL PROVIDER IDENTIFIER (NPI)
A unique identification number used to identify a health care professional as an alternative to their dental license number.
NETWORK
Dentists who have signed up with Delta Dental to provide dental care at agreed-upon fees.
NON-AUTOGENOUS
A graft from a donor other than the patient.
NON-PARTICIPATING DENTIST
See “Out-of-Network Dentist.”
OBTURATOR
A prosthesis that closes an opening in the palate.
OCCLUSAL RADIOGRAPH
An X-ray where the film is held between the teeth.
OCCLUSION
Any contact between biting or chewing surfaces of maxillary (upper) and mandibular (lower) teeth.
ONLAY
A restoration made outside the mouth that replaces a tooth cusp or cusps.
OPEN ENROLLMENT
The period of time in which employees or qualified individuals can enroll in or make changes to benefit plans.
OPTIONAL SERVICES
Procedures not covered under the terms of a dental benefits contract. Delta Dental will review claims for optional services to determine what, if any, amount will be paid for the service.
ORAL
Pertaining to the mouth.
ORAL MAXILLOFACIAL RADIOLOGIST
A dental specialist who performs and reads diagnostic imagery (such as X-rays, CT scans and ultrasounds) used to examine bones in the skull and face, as well as dental structures.
ORAL PATHOLOGIST
A dental specialist trained to diagnose dental diseases.
ORAL SURGEON
A dental specialist trained to perform dental surgeries such as wisdom teeth removal, dental implants and more.
ORTHODONTIST
A dental specialist who treats the misalignment of the teeth and their surrounding structures, using appliances such as braces and retainers.
OSTEOPLASTY
Surgical procedure that modifies the bones in the jaws.
OSTEOTOMY
Surgical cutting of bone.
OUT-OF-NETWORK DENTIST
A dentist who has not signed up to participate with Delta Dental.
OVERDENTURE
Prosthetic device supported by retained teeth roots or implants.
PALATE
The hard and soft tissues forming the roof of the mouth.
PALLIATIVE
Action that relieves pain.
PANORAMIC RADIOGRAPH
An X-ray that shows the entire upper and lower mouth and jaw on a single film.
PARTIAL DENTURE
A prosthetic device that replaces missing teeth, designed to be removed by the patient.
PARTICIPATING DENTIST
See “In-Network Dentist.”
PATIENT
An individual who has established a professional relationship with a dentist for the delivery of dental care.
PEDIATRIC DENTIST
A dental specialist who treats children; formerly known as a pedodontist.
PERIAPICAL
The area surrounding the end of the tooth root.
PERIAPICAL RADIOGRAPH
An X-ray made by placing film inside the mouth.
PERICORONAL
Around the crown of a tooth.
PERIODONTAL
Pertaining to the supporting and surrounding tissues of the teeth.
PERIODONTAL DISEASE
Inflammation of the gingival tissues and/or periodontal membrane.
PERIODONTAL POCKET
A deepened gingival fissure; a feature of periodontal disease.
PERIODONTIST
A dental specialist who treats diseases of the supporting and surrounding tissues of the teeth. Patients with periodontal (gum) disease are treated by a periodontist.
PERIODONTITIS
Inflammation and loss of the connective tissue of the surrounding structure of teeth.
PERIRADICULAR
Surrounding a portion of the root of the tooth.
PLAN YEAR
See “Benefit Year.”
PLAQUE
A soft sticky substance, composed largely of bacteria, that accumulates on teeth.
PONTIC
The artificial tooth on a fixed partial denture (bridge).
POST
A metallic projection cemented within a prepared root canal to strengthen and retain restorative material.
POSTERIOR
Teeth and tissues towards the back of the mouth – i.e., premolars and molars.
PPO (PREFERRED PROVIDER ORGANIZATION)
A dental plan in which participating dentists agree to fee schedules that provide deeper discounts and lower out-of-pocket expenses. Delta Dental’s PPO options are called Delta Dental PPOSM and Delta Dental PPO plus Premier.
PRE-ESTABLISHED FEE
The amount set by Delta Dental that an in-network dentist has agreed to charge for a service.
PREMEDICATION
The use of medications prior to dental procedures.
PRE-TREATMENT ESTIMATE
Delta Dental of Illinois recommends that you get a pre-treatment estimate for any service over $300. If your dentist recommends a certain procedure that will cost over $300, ask them to determine what the fee will be in advance of performing the procedure so you have a clear understanding of what you may owe. Learn more here.
PREMIUM
The amount the enrollee pays for dental benefits, usually paid monthly, quarterly, or annually.
PRIMARY DENTITION
The first set of teeth.
PROCESSING POLICIES
Clinical guidelines to validate that a dental treatment or procedure meets the criteria set by your dental plan. Processing policies may change occasionally. If a processing policy is applied to a billed service, it will be explained on the Explanation of Benefits (EOB).
PROPHYLAXIS
A scaling and polishing procedure that removes plaque, calculus and stains.
PROSTHESIS
Artificial replacement of any part of the body. Dental prosthesis: any device or appliance replacing one or more missing teeth and/or associated structures. Types of prostheses include: definitive prosthesis — a prosthesis to be used over an extended period of time; fixed prosthesis — non-removable tooth-borne dental prosthesis; interim prosthesis — a provisional prosthesis designed for use over a limited period of time; removable prosthesis — dental prosthesis designed to be removed and reinserted by the patient.
PROSTHODONTIST
A dental specialist who restores natural teeth and replaces missing teeth with artificial substitutes, like implants or dentures.
PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION (PHI)
Personal information about a patient, such as a Social Security number and medical history, which is required to be stored securely by health care entities such as a doctor, dentist, health clinic or health insurer.
PROVIDER
See “Dental Professionals.”
PROVISIONAL
A temporary prosthesis or individual tooth restoration.
PULP
The connective tissue containing blood vessels and nerves that occupies the pulp cavity of a tooth.
PULP CAVITY
The space within a tooth containing the pulp.
PULPECTOMY
Complete removal of pulp tissue from the root-canal space.
PULPITIS
Inflammation of the pulp.
PULPOTOMY
Surgical removal of a portion of the pulp with the aim of saving the remaining pulp.
QUADRANT
One of four equal sections into which the dental arches are divided.
RADICULAR
Pertaining to the root.
RADIOGRAPH
X-ray.
REBASE
Refitting a denture by replacing the base material.
REIMPLANTATION, TOOTH
The return of a tooth to its socket.
RELINE
The process of resurfacing the tissue side of a denture with new material.
RETAINER
A device used to stabilize teeth.
ROOT
The portion of the tooth that is covered by cementum and located in the alveolus (socket).
ROOT CANAL
The chamber within the root of the tooth that contains the pulp.
ROOT-CANAL THERAPY
The treatment of disease and injuries of the pulp and associated conditions.
ROOT PLANING
A procedure designed to remove microbial flora, bacterial toxins, calculus, and diseased cementum or dentin on the root surfaces and in the pocket.
SCALING
Removal of plaque, calculus, and stains from teeth.
SIALODOCHOPLASTY
Surgical procedure to repair and/or restore a portion of a salivary-gland duct.
SIALOGRAPHY
X-rays of the salivary ducts and glands.
SIALOLITHOTOMY
Surgical procedure to remove a stone within a salivary gland or its duct.
SPECIALIST
A dentist who concentrates on one discipline, such as pediatric dentistry, orthodontia or prosthodontics.
SPLINT
A device used to support, protect, or immobilize oral structures that have been loosened, replanted, fractured, or traumatized.
STOMATITIS
Inflammation of the mouth membranes.
STRESS BREAKER
Part of a tooth-borne and/or tissue-borne prosthesis designed to relieve the abutment teeth and their
supporting tissues from stress.
STUDY MODEL
Plaster or stone model of teeth and adjoining tissues; also referred to as diagnostic cast.
SUBSCRIBER
A person who has signed up for dental coverage from Delta Dental. If family coverage is offered, additional people covered will be listed as the subscriber’s spouse or dependents.
SUTURE
A stitch used to repair an incision or wound.
TEMPORARY REMOVABLE PARTIAL DENTURE
An interim prosthesis.
TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT (TMJ)
The hinge between the mandible (lower jaw) and base of the skull (temporal bone).
TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT DYSFUNCTION
Abnormal functioning of the TMJ.
TERMINATION DATE
The date your dental benefits coverage ends or you are no longer eligible for benefits.
TISSUE CONDITIONING
Material placed in contact with tissues for a limited time to help the tissues heal.
TRANSPLANTATION, TOOTH
Transfer of a tooth from one socket to another, either in the same or a different person.
TRISMUS
Restricted ability to open the mouth, usually due to inflammation.
UNERUPTED
Tooth/teeth that have not penetrated into the oral cavity.
UNILATERAL
One-sided.
VENEER
A layer of tooth-colored material attached to the tooth surface. Veneers may be made of porcelain, ceramic, composite, or acrylic resin.
VOLUNTARY
A dental benefits plan offered through an employer where employee participation is optional. Employers usually don’t help cover the cost of the plan but still allow employees to enjoy pre-tax savings on premiums through payroll deduction.
WAITING PERIOD
A period of time before you are eligible to receive benefits for all or certain dental treatments.
X-RAY
Radiograph.
XEROSTOMIA
Decreased salivary secretion that produces a dry and sometimes burning sensation and/or tooth decay.
ZYGOMATIC BONE
A cheekbone.