A silver filling
Plaque that becomes very hard due to the minerals found in saliva (aka tartar)
Tiny tunnels that are found inside the tooth; the area where the nerves and blood vessels are located inside a tooth.
A soft spot on a tooth where bacteria has taken sugar from various forms of food and turned it into acid which dissolves and weakens the tooth
A tooth-colored filling
A cap; a dental restoration that fits completely over your tooth in order to give it strength. They can be made of gold (white or yellow), porcelain, or a combination of both.
The outer part of the tooth that is typically seen. Enamel only covers the top part of the tooth and stops where the root begins.
The area of dentistry that deals with root canals.
A dentist who specializes in performing root canals (endodontics).
A material that is added to toothpastes, rinses, or gels that makes tooth structure stronger and more resistant to tooth decay
An early form of gum disease that results in the inflammation of the gums (aka gingiva).
A metal cylinder that is placed in a person's jawbone to serve as an "artificial root."
Braces that utilizes a series of mouthguards to re-align teeth instead of conventional brackets and wires.
"Laughing gas" -- a means for relaxing an individual so that dental treatment is more comfortable.
The area of dentistry that deals with braces.
A dentist who specializes in braces (orthodontics).
Gum disease; the early stage is gingivitis and a more advanced form is periodontitis
A dentist who specializes in the treatment of gum disease (periodontal disease).
A more advanced for of gum disease where not only are the gums inflamed, but also the supporting structures of the tooth (the ligaments that hold the tooth to the bone and the bone itself) are inflamed .
A mixture of bacteria and sugar that accumulates on teeth
A tooth-colored material that is used with a crown or a veneer in order to match your existing teeth or make them look lighter.
A routine dental cleaning where the primary focus is to remove light plaque, stain, and minimal tartar from above the gumline; treatment for gingivitis or preventative measure to keep gums healthy.
The inside part of the tooth, found in tunnels known as canals, where the nerves and blood vessels are located.
A woven piece of string that is placed between the gum and the tooth in preparation for an impression of a tooth for a crown; it is meant to push the gum tissue away from the tooth so that the tooth stands out more distinctly in the impression.
A procedure where the damaged nerve and blood vessels from the inside of the tooth, the canals (tunnels found inside the tooth where the pulp is located) are cleaned and shaped, and the space inside the tooth is sealed.
A deep cleaning where the primary focus is to remove plaque and tartar build-up from the pockets between your gum and teeth; treatment for periodontitis.
Plaque that becomes very hard due to the minerals found in saliva (aka Calculus)
A medication that can be given to someone before their dental appointment in order to help relax them so that treatment is more comfortable.
A thin piece of porcelain that is bonded to the front of your tooth to change their shape, size, or color.