Technical Talk: Our Guide to Dental Terminology

Like all specialists in the health industry, dentists need their own technical language that makes it much easier to talk to other dentists about the specifics of a particular case. However, to the uninitiated, these terms can seem like another language. We thought it might be useful to gather together in one place some definitions of some of the terms we use for our diagnoses, treatments and procedures.

Abscess: A symptom of advanced gum disease, an abscess is a bacterial infection that leads to a build-up of pus in the gums or deep in the bone of your teeth.

Crown Lengthening: An adjustment of the gum and bone level so that a crown or bridge can be affixed.

Dental Implant: An artificial titanium root that can be surgically attached to the jaw by our specialists.

Endodontic Treatment: Sometimes known as Root Canal Surgery, this is an effective way of treating infected teeth without resorting to extraction.

Extraction: The removal of an infected tooth.

Gingivitis: The early stages of gum disease. Gums that feel sore, look red and bleed when your teeth are brushed are symptomatic of gingivitis.

Gum Graft: The covering up of exposed roots by removing tissue from the roof of the mouth and attaching it so that the root is no longer exposed.

Periodontal Disease: Severe gum disease where plaque causes the gum to peel away from the tooth to form a ‘pocket’.

Pocket Reduction: A minor procedure that removes the bacteria from ‘pockets’ that have formed as a result of periodontal disease.

Plaque: A colourless sticky film that can be removed by brushing.

Restoration: The fitting of a crown or a set of artificial teeth by any of a number of processes – including the attachment of new teeth to a dental implant.

Ridge Augmentation: A procedure to re-establish the ridge of your gum line where it has sunken.

Scaling and Root Planing: A technique used by dentists to remove plaque and tartar from your teeth, from your gums and from deep beneath the gumline. 

Tartar: A hard substance that forms on the teeth and gums and can only be removed by your dentist.

We always try to describe our treatments and procedures in plain English. Do you ever feel that you've not had all your questions answered adequately? We've had lots of positive feedback from our patients - who really appreciate that we take the time to explain procedures and answer in full any questions they may have. We find that this relaxed but informative approach helps put our patients at ease. When patients are well-informed, they're far less likely to feel anxious.   

If you have any questions about any of the words and phrases you come across when reading our website, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Call our reception on 01603 632525. You can also get in touch via Facebook and Twitter.