The wearing away of tooth substance through an abnormal mechanical process such as tooth grinding, clenching or over-brushing with a hard toothbrush.

Localised oral inflammation in the bone, tooth or gum usually caused by a bacterial infection. Tooth abscesses commonly occur at the end of the root tip and can be the result of decay, trauma or severe gum disease. Symptoms can include pain and/or swelling.

Retainer tooth/teeth or implants that are used to support a bridge.

A plastic type material used to make artificial teeth, dentures and other dental (orthodontic) appliances.

The use of air and an abrasive (usually tiny particles of sodium bicarbonate or aluminium oxide) blasted in a stream of water to remove tooth structure or surface staining depending upon the particular stream used.

A soft rubber-like compound (derived from seaweed) used to take impressions of patient's teeth and oral structures.

The bone surrounding the roots of teeth.

A procedure used to reshape the remaining alveolar bone in bone-grafting procedures or to prepare for a complete/partial denture.

Most common silver-coloured filling consisting of a mix of mercury, silver, tin and copper. Amalgam is relatively inexpensive and easy to place.

A medication that causes temporary loss of bodily sensations. Can be applied locally or generally.

A state of reduced sensitivity to pain whilst a subject is fully conscious.

Pertaining to the front. Central incisors, lateral incisors, canines and premolar teeth.

A drug that has the capacity to kill bacteria. Used for the treatment of infections.

A substance that inhibits the growth of germs.

Acute Necrotising Ulcerative Gingivitis: Otherwise known as trench mouth or Vincent's disease. It is a bacterial infection and ulceration of the gum tissue between teeth caused by poor dental hygiene and more commonly found in smokers. Antibiotic therapy or minor surgery may be necessary to treat this condition.

Pertaining to the tip/end of the tooth root.

A minor surgical procedure to remove the tip/end of the tooth root to eliminate the source of infection.

Pertaining to the curved nature of the upper and lower jaws. The two arches in the oral cavity are the maxilla and mandible.

A mechanical device that holds models of a patients teeth in the same position as they lie in the mouth so that a dentist can study the bite relationship and jaw movements.

The state of being germ free.

A suction appliance that the dentist places in a patient's mouth to remove saliva, water and dental debris during dental procedures.

The wearing away of tooth substance due to activities such as chewing and grinding.

A device used to sterilise instruments or materials.

A child's first set of teeth that are progressively replaced by permanent teeth.  These are also known as primary, deciduous or milk teeth. Usually twenty in number.

The teeth which lie between the canines and molars having two cusps. They usually number eight in total, two in each quadrant.

Pertaining to the relationship between the forces applied during movement of living tissue, teeth and their related structures.

How the upper and lower teeth come together when the mouth is closed. Also known as occlusion.

X-ray view showing the coronal (above gum line) portion of the upper and lower teeth on the same film.

Pertaining to the whitening of teeth with chemical agents.

Pertaining to the adhesion of materials to teeth for procedures used to repair and/or change the colour or shape of a tooth. The process of attaching brackets (part of braces) to teeth using a dental adhesive for orthodontic treatment.

Pertaining to the loss of bone that supports the roots of teeth. Bone loss can result from gum disease/infections or occlusal stress. It can also be (rarely) the result of tumorous growths.

Pertaining to an orthodontic appliance that corrects dental irregularities (overcrowding or spacing).

Pertaining to a permanent prosthetic replacement of one or more missing teeth. Bridges span the space between teeth and are secured in place by cementation to abutment teeth or implants adjacent to the space.

The involuntary/subconscious clenching and grinding of teeth most commonly during sleep.

The surface of a tooth that faces and is closest to the inside of the cheek.

A dental implant is an artificial tooth root replacement and is used in prosthetic dentistry to support restorations that resemble a tooth or group of teeth.

Often known as root canal therapy endodontics deals with the tooth pulp and the tissues surrounding the root of a tooth. If the pulp (containing nerves) has become diseased or injured endodontic treatment is required to save the tooth.

Extreme relaxation during surgery. An intravenous or IV sedation is given by injection, either in the back of the hand or in the arm. The dose will depend on the amount of treatment needed and the length of time it will take to complete.

Oral and maxillofacial surgery: Surgery to correct a wide spectrum of diseases, injuries and defects in the head, neck, face, jaws and the hard and soft tissues of the oral and maxillofacial region.

The alignment of the teeth and jaws. It is a specialty of dentistry that is concerned with the study and treatment of malocclusions (improper bites), which may be a result of tooth irregularity, disproportionate jaw relationships, or both.

Periodontal disease affects the gums, bone and other supporting tissues of the teeth. Although most individuals suffer gum inflammation from time to time around 10% of the population appear to suffer from the more severe form of the disease causing loss of supporting bone. This group appears to be at greatest risk of losing teeth through periodontal disease. It is caused by the bacteria which regularly collect on the teeth.

A dental speciality concerned with the restoration and maintenance of oral function by the replacement of missing teeth and structures by artificial devices such as crowns, bridges, dentures or porcelain veneers.

Reconstructive & restorative dentistry. Prosthodontics involves the the diagnosis, treatment planning, rehabilitation and maintenance of the oral function, comfort, appearance and health of patients with clinical conditions associated with missing or deficient teeth.