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  BENEFITS AT A GLANCE  
     
 
No charge for exams, x-rays or cleaning once every 6 months  
 
No deductibles!  
 
No waiting period to see a dentist!  
 
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No annual maximums!  
 
No limitations on most pre-existing conditions!  
 
Adult and Children braces Include on Plans  
  DENTAL PROCEDURE DEFINITIONS
 
 
 
Terms
 
  • Amalgam
  • Anesthesia
  • Autoclave
  • Bicuspids
  • Bitewing X-rays
  • Board Certified
  • Braces
  • Bridges
  • Calculus
  • Canines
  • Canker Sore
  • Central Incisors
  • Composite Fillings
  • Crowns
  • Currettage
  • Dentures
  • Endodontist
  • Endentulous
  • Fluoride
  • General Anesthesia
  • Gingivitis
  • Gingivectomy
  • Gingivoplasty
  • Gold Fillings
  • Halitosis
  • Impacted tooth
  • Lateral Incisors
  • Local Anethesia
  • Molars
  • Neuroleptic Anesthesia
  • Occlusal X-rays
  • Onlay
  • Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon
  • Orthodontist
  • Panoramic X-rays
  • Periapical X-rays
  • Pediatric Dentist
  • Periodontist
  • Perio Charting
  • Plaque
  • Porcelain Fillings
  • Prosthetics
  • Prosthodontist
  • Root Canal
  • Root Planing
  • Sealants
  • Splints
  • Topical Anethesia
  • TMJ/TMD
  • Trench Mouth
  • X-Rays
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    A type of tooth filling made of silver and mercury. The metalic mixture is initially soft so that it can be molded to fit the tooth and gradually hardens. See alternatives: Gold, composites and porcelain.
    Substances used to remove the effects of pain. General one of 4 types: Topical Anesthesia, Local Anesthesia, General Anesthesia, and Neuroleptic Anesthesia.
    Equipment used to clean dental instruments that uses super heated high pressure steam.
    The premolars
    Similar to periapical X-rays except that only the crowns and part of the roots are seen for 2 or 3 adjacent teeth. So called Bitewing because the X-ray film holder provides a surface to bite down on and hold the X-ray securely in place.
    A Dentist that has been approved by the American Dental Society to practice a particular specialty. Board certified dentists have demonstrated at least two years of residency within a particular dental specialty and have been certified to be competent in that specialty. Any dentist may claim specific knowledge of any specialty, but a board certified dentist has passed an exam demonstrating education and experience within a certain field of dentistry.
    Bands, wires, ceramic or other appliances used to correct teeth alignment.
    Dental work that involves supporting a replacement tooth between two healthy teeth.
    Same as tartar. Occurs when plaque is left on the teeth untreated. A hard substance that acts an irritant by wedging between the tooth and gum. Left untreated calculus can eventually lead to periodontal disease.
    The teeth located just to the left and right of the lateral incisors, 4 in total. Also referred to as cuspids.
    An ulcer appearing in the mouth or lips usually caused by viral infection. Also referred to as a cold sore.
    The first four front teeth, two located on the top and two on the bottom of the mouth.
    An alternative to Silver Amalgam fillings. Composite fillings are made from a resin and particles that are mixed together and then given time to * "cure"* and harden. The advantages of composite fillings is that they are naturally white, can easily be colored to match the surrounding teeth, and are relatively easy to install. Composite fillings are however less biocompatiable than silver or gold and are generally not as strong as metal fillings. Composite fillings are used more often on front teeth.
    An artificial "top" made of porcelain, composite, or metal that is cemented on top of damaged teeth.
    A peridontal procedure which involves scraping off plaque to the bottom of the damaged gum tissue and removing the damaged gum tissue.
    A set of *artificial *teeth.
    Board Certified Dentists who specialize on teeth and diseases of the tooth pulp
    Without any teeth.
    A chemical substance known to strengthen teeth enamel making teeth less susceptable to decay. There are two ways fluoride makes its way to teeth: ingestion through food or water; and topical application made directly to the surface of the teeth by the dentist.
    A class of Anesthesia substance or substances that are inhaled as gases. General anethesia eliminates pain by rendering patients completely unconscious. General anethesia must be administered by medical or dental anesthesiologist, and oral surgeons with special training in a hospital or office operating room. General anethesia is general used with oral surgery or more complicated procedures where the patient must be relaxed and painfree for an extended period of time. Complete recovery from general anethesia often takes at least several hours.
    Stage one of early periodontal disease characterized by inflammation, swollen, reddish gum tissue which may bleed easily when touched or brushed. Untreated, gingivitis can lead to chronic periodontal disease and the stability of your teeth.
    A procedure performed by periodontists to remove gum tissue.
    A procedure performed by periodontists to reshaping the gum.
    An alternative to Silver Amalgam fillings. Gold is longer lasting however they are generally much more complicated, expensive and require multiple visits. Gold is generally used as totally cast fillings which are cemented into the mouth.
    The same as bad breath. Halitosis has several potential causes including dentures, tooth decay or periodontal disease.
    A tooth that is blocked by an adjacent tooth preventing it from erupting the surface of the gum. An impacted tooth may push other teeth together or damage the bony structures supporting the adjacent tooth. Often times, impacted teeth must be surgically removed.
    The teeth located just to the left and right of the central incisors, 4 in total
    A class of Anesthesia substance applied by injection directly to the gums or mouth tissue to provide pain relief to a local area of the mouth or gum. Lidocain and prilocaine, and mepivacain are the most widely used. Dentists often apply local anethesia to reduce the pain associated with general dental procedures. The advantages are that the patient remains alert during the procedure without the pain.
    The class of teeth found in the back of the mouth after the canines that are characterized as having multiple biting surfaces.
    A class of Anesthesia substance applied intravenously. The degree of anethesia can be controlled from slight consciousness to totally unconscious. Fentanyl and droperidol combinations are most commonly used. Dentists often apply Neuroleptic anethesia to reduce the pain associated with any dental procedures. The advantages are that the degree of unconsciousness and pain relief can be controlled and generally the recovery time is much less than with general anethesia. s
    Larger X-rays taken to show the whole bite of the lower and upper jar.
    A large filling when a substantial part of the tooth is replaced.
    Board Certified Dentists who specialize on surgery of the teeth and bones of the jaw, jawbone or face.
    Board Certified Dentists who specialize on correcting abnormally aligned or positioned teeth. See Braces.
    As the name suggests, a type of X-ray where the X-ray machine makes a complete half circle from ear to ear to produce a complete two dimensional representation of all teeth.
    X-rays providing complete side views from the roots to the crowns of the teeth. Typically a complete set consists of 14-24 films with each tooth appearing in two different films from two different angles.
    Board Certified Dentists who specialize on children's teeth.
    Board Certified Dentists who specialize on gums, gum disease, tissues and structures supporting the teeth.
    A numeric assignment indicating the deepth of a periodontal probe which is used to measure the depth between the teeth and the adjacent gums. The larger the number, the larger the space and the more likely that periodontal disease can or has occurred.
    A sticky fairly transparent film that forms on the teeth or cracks of the teeth primarily composed of undigested food particles mixed with saliva and bacteria. Plaque left alone eventually turns in to tartar or calculus.
    An alternative to Silver Amalgam fillings. Porcelain fillings are made of the same material as china. Porcelain fillings and tooth replacement is accomplished by hardening in a mold and then baked at an extremely high temperature. The advantages of porcelain are similar to composites in that they can be easily colore to match surrounding teeth. Porcelain is much stronger and longer lasting than composite teeth replacement. The disadvantages of porcelain is that the substance is brittle and typically requires a highly skilled dental professional and multiple dental visits.
    Dental implants or artificial teeth.
    Board Certified Dentists who specialize in the replacement of missing teeth by bridges and dentures. See Bridges. See Dentures.
    A four step process required when the inner pulp of the tooth is irreversibly damaged. Step one involves removing all of the inner pulp from the chamber of the tooth. Step two involves cleaning and smoothing the inside of the tooth. Step three involves filling the tooth with an inert material. Finally, an artificial crown is placed on top of the tooth.
    The procedure of scraping plaque off of teeth below the gum line or on the root of the tooth.
    A substance applied to the bitting surface of teeth to protect the teeth from decay.
    Used with an otherwise healthy tooth has become loose due to advanced periodontal disease. The loose tooth is wired to surrounding solid teeth and a composite is added on top to hold the wire in place.
    A class of Anesthesia substance applied directly to the gums or mouth tissue to provide pain relief on the immediate surface of the tissue. Lidocain and Benzocaine are the two most widely used. Dentists often apply topical anethesia to reduce the pain associated with needle pricks required for the application of a local anethesia or to reduce pain and discomfort of mild infections or irritations on the gum or in the mouth.
    Temporalmandibular Joint (TMJ) /Temporomandibular disorder (TMD). The temporalmandibular joint is a complicated joint formed where the lower jaw bone attaches to the head. TMD refers to general class of disorder affecting the bones and muscles of this region. Symptoms range from tenderness and swelling to headaches and neck and back aches. Generally, a clicking or popping sound when the jaw is opened or closed is evidence or some form of one of the disorders.
    Same as Vincent's Infection and Necrotizing Ulcerative Gingivitis (NUG). An acute and painful infection of the gums not contagious with a odor and painful bleeding of the mouth and gums.
    High frequency light (or radiation) which pentrate different substances with different rates and absorbtion. By using film on the opposite side of the substance, different level of exposure are recorded corresponding to each of the different substances to form a picture. In dentistry, there are typically 4 types of X-rays: Periapical, Bite-wing, Occlusal, Panoramic.
     
     
     
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