Amalgam - Typical silver colored filling made of mix of silver, tin, mercury, and some other trace elements like copper. Advantages- placement easier than other materials, cost (but not in our office). Disadvantages- expansion/contraction of metallic substance, color, breaks down in 10-20 years, just plain ugly.

Apicoectomy - The name for a procedure of sealing and shaping the submerged root end of a tooth. This procedure involves surgical entry through soft tissue and bone to gain access to the root end.

Composite - Tooth colored filling materials. Many varieties, many uses. Main advantages- color, adhesives available to strengthen rather than weaken tooth. Disadvantages- some techniques may have shrinkage and wear problem, very technique sensitive.

Crown - Also called a cap, a crown is a cover for a decayed or damaged tooth made of porcelain and/or metal.

Bridge - One or more artificial teeth attached to neighboring teeth, usually joined by crowns on each side of artificial tooth. It is used to maintain space and function for missing teeth.

Bonding - The covering of a tooth surface to correct stained or damaged teeth, by painting a layer of plastic on the tooth.

Extraction - The removal of teeth-not the patient's wallet!

Laminate Veneers - A thin porcelain shell bonded to the tooth to correct imperfections in shape and color.

Inlay - A gold, porcelain, or composite custom-made filling cemented into the tooth. If it covers the tips of the teeth or otherwise supports the tips it is called an onlay.

Nightguard - A plastic mouthpiece to prevent damage from grinding teeth at night.

Orthodontic Treatment - Braces to correct the position of teeth.

Overbite - Refers to the amount of vertical overlap of the anterior teeth. Normal range is between 0 and 20%.

Overjet - Refers to the amount of distance between the upper and lower incisor teeth in a horizontal plane front to back. Normal is 0 to 1mm.

Porcelain Onlays - A restorative option done to replace one, more, or all of your posterior tooth cusps if fractured or lost due to trauma or decay. The final result is most esthetic and discreet. In comparison to a crown, an onlay is more conservative in regards to the amount of total tooth structure removal that is required. We love conserving tooth structure, ask if you are eligible!

Prophy - Simple cleaning of teeth with hand instruments, sometimes a cavitating and/or baking soda spraying instrument, rubber wheel and dental toothpaste.

Root Therapy - Cleaning out the inside tube of the tooth to preserve the teeth.

Root Planing - The cleaning of the root surface to provide healthy attached gum.

Sealant - Plastic coating applied to grooves of teeth to prevent decay.

Other terms we use to tell you what you may have:

• Abscess:
  Infection caused by severe decay, trauma, or gum disease. You may have pain and swelling, angular chelitis, sore areas in the outermost corners of the upper and lower lip junction.
• Bruxism:
  Tooth grinding often caused by stress. Most often done unconsciously at night.
• Crossbite:
  Misalignment of the teeth when biting. Lower teeth shift to one side. May affect both sides.
• Papillary Denture Hyperplasia:
  Raised bumpy red areas on the hard palate under an upper denture.
• Periodontitis:
  Advanced gum disease; inflammation of gum tissue, which causes bone loss resulting in tooth loss if untreated.