Don’t Get Lost in Dental Lingo

Does it ever sound like your dentist is speaking another language? Every industry includes a few terms that the average person might not understand, and dentistry is no exception. Brush up on some dental lingo so the next time you visit your dentist you dazzle them with your smile and your expertise!

Different Kinds of Doctors

There are many different types of medical professionals that provide services for your oral health. These professionals include dentists, orthodontists, endodontists, plastic surgeons and more. A dentist is defined as someone qualified to treat diseases and conditions that affect your teeth and gums. Dentists will correct problems such as tooth decay, which are cavities through removing the decay and restoring your tooth. They complete 4 years of undergraduate education and 4 years of dental school. Some also complete fellowships to receive extra training.

Did you know that orthodontists also attend dental school? They too complete 4 years of undergraduate training followed by 4 years of dental school. However, they go on to do 2-3 years of training in orthodontics. Technically an orthodontist can treat your cavities, which is why so many orthodontic centers also provide dental services. A dentist, however, can become certified to provide Invisalign to their patients, which is a type of orthodontic correction. If a patient needs surgery to fix their jaw, bite or alignment, a dentist or orthodontist might refer them to an endodontist. All endodontists are dentists, but not all dentists are endodontists according to the American Association of Endodontists. These type of dentists received 2-3 extra years of training specializing in root canals, tooth extractions and treating diseased teeth. They are sometimes called “specialists” in the dental world.

Different Types of Dentistry

Did you know that there are different types of dentistry? You will hear people use the terms “family dentistry”, “cosmetic dentistry” and “restorative dentistry”. Family dentistry is dentistry that covers everyone in the family. We provide services for small children and adults. Not every dentist works in pediatric dentistry, or dentistry for children. We have very well-trained and welcoming dentists and hygienists that can be gentle and kind with children and patient with all other patients as well. This is very beneficial for you, as you won’t have to go to a pediatric dentist and a different dentist for yourself; you can receive all your family services in one place!

Cosmetic dentistry is dentistry that is meant to improve the look of your smile. While general dentistry preserves the health of your teeth and gums, cosmetic dentistry refers to customized dental treatments that focus on how your teeth and gums look. Cosmetic dentistry improves the dental aesthetics of your teeth such as the color, position, shape, size and alignment. These type of dental services include providing dental veneers, dental crowns, dental implants, implant-supported dentures, dental bridges, cosmetic bonding, teeth straightening and teeth whitening.

Restorative dentistry applies to many of our dental services. When your teeth are damaged from tooth decay (known as cavities), we have to remove parts of your tooth. We then use restorative dentistry services to fill the area and shape it like a natural tooth. Restorative dentistry services include root canal therapy, tooth-colored fillings, same-day crowns, laser dentistry and more.

Services We Do and What They Mean

Dentists go to school for many years to learn how to perform many procedures and services. Here are some of the services that they do and what they mean:

• Dental Cleaning – This is a biannual service where we meticulously clean plaque and stuck-on tartar from your teeth. We brush, polish, floss and clean your teeth completely and provide a fluoride treatment.
• Dental Exam – Also part of the biannual service, we take x-rays of your teeth and examine your mouth for oral cancer and any dental abnormalities.
• Cavity Filling – We remove parts of your tooth with tooth decay and fill that part with a special mixture that hardens to look like your real tooth.
• Tooth Extraction – When you must take out a tooth due to disease, infection or injury.
• Periodontal Treatment – If your gums have gum disease, we clean your gum area meticulously to reduce your symptoms.
• Scaling and Root Planing – This is where we clean below and along your gum line to remove plaque and food particles that accelerate your gum disease.
• Dental Sealant – A plastic coating placed on a tooth to prevent plaque from causing tooth decay.
• Dental Implant – If you lose a tooth, we provide a replacement via a custom-made dental implant.
• Porcelain Veneers – Tooth shells that are placed over your natural teeth to improve their appearance.
• Root Canal Therapy – With a severely-diseased tooth, we must go in and clean out the entire tooth root and fill it once more to maintain its structure.

There are many dental services we provide besides the ones we listed. As we prepare you for these services, we will explain them in detail for you.

Don’t Get Lost in Dental Lingo

It’s easy to get lost with the dental lingo used at dental offices. However, don’t ever be afraid to ask questions! We want you to always understand what is going on with your oral health and what we are talking about with your care. Positive dental experiences during childhood are the foundation of a lifetime of good oral health habits and bright, healthy smiles. We want that foundation to continue for your entire life.

As children grow into adults, they might experience new dental lingo along the way. That’s normal. If there are terms you need to look up at home, the American Dental Association has an entire glossary for you to learn from located here. We do all that we can to ensure you understand your care and are comfortable with your dental work every time your family comes into our office. If you would like additional help understanding certain dental terms, you can call Stonebrook Family Dental at (303) 872-7907!