Alveolus: the socket that surrounds and supports the root of the tooth
Brachycephalic: refers to the shape of a patient's head. In this case, "shortened" head as in the Pug, Bulldog and Persian cats
Canine tooth: in mammals, one of the four largest, single-rooted teeth. They are relatively long and pointed and are sometimes called "fangs."
Conventional Endodontic Therapy: a procedure which removes contaminated pulp and fills the pulp cavity with a biologically inert material. Also called a "root canal"
Crown: the part of the tooth visible above the gum line
Deciduous: baby teeth that will fall out, replaced by the adult dentition
Dental caries: tooth decay with demineralization of enamel and dentin (relatively rare in dogs)
Dolichocephalic: refers to the shape of a patient's head. In this case, long and narrow, as seen in Collies, Greyhounds and some Siamese cats
Epulis: common oral tumors, some of which are benign tumors of the periodontal ligament, some of which are a locally aggressive and highly invasive neoplasm
Enamel: the covering over the crown of the tooth and the hardest substance in the body
Endodontics: a branch of dentistry dealing with the treatment of diseases that affect the tooth pulp
Exodontics: a branch of dentistry dealing with the extraction of teeth and related procedures
Extraction: removal of a tooth
Resorption Lesion: common, painful "cavity" lesion often found at the neck of the tooth in cats. Also known as "neck lesions" or "cervical line lesions."
Gingiva: the gums
Gingivitis: inflammation of the gingiva
Malocclusion: improper alignment of the teeth
Mandibular: referring to the lower jaw
Mandibular prognathism: a longer than normal mandible
Maxillary: referring to the upper jaw
Maxillary brachygnathism: a shorter than normal upper jaw
Mesaticephalic: refers to the shape of a patient's head. In this case, medium-shaped, as in the Labrador Retriever, Dalmation, Poodle and most Domestic Shorthair cats
Neck: the part of the tooth between crown and root located at the gum line
Occlusion: alignment of the teeth (the way the teeth fit together)
Odontoclast: one of the large multinucleate cells that are active during dental resorption
Orthodontics: a branch of dentistry dealing with the guidance and correction of malocclusion
Periodontal ligament: a fibrous structure which holds the tooth in the alveolus (socket)
Periodontics: the study and treatment of diseases of the tooth-supporting tissues
Prosthodontics: a branch of dentistry dealing with the construction of appliances designed to replace missing teeth and/or other adjacent structures
Pulp: the fleshy part in the center of a tooth comprised of soft tissue, cells, blood vessels and nerve endings
Pulp cavity: the hollow chamber in the tooth in which pulp tissue is located
Radiograph: an x-ray
Restorative/operative dentistry: the restoration of form and function of teeth
Root: the part of the tooth underneath the gum line
Root Apex: the narrowed or pointed end of the root of a tooth
Rugae: the covering of the hard palate that is characterized by irregular ridges
Stomatitis: inflammation of the gingival and oral mucosa
Vital Pulp Therapy: a procedure which preserves healthy dental pulp
|