A trip to the dentist

Fireball (United States of America)
40 words 57 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. edentulous
    having lost teeth
  2. xerostomia
    abnormal dryness of the mouth resulting from decreased secretion of saliva
    Xerostomia can cause cavities because your mouth needs saliva to help break down acids you eat.
    Dry mouth can lead to dental cavities.
  3. premolar
    a tooth having two cusps or points
    The student will probably ask why the cheek teeth, which are all similar in appearance, are divided into premolars and molars. Wells, H. G. (Herbert George)
  4. tartar
    an incrustation that forms on the teeth and gums
    I found that the so-called tartar on the teeth became detached a few days afterwards. Anshutz, Edward Pollock
  5. periodontal disease
    a disease that attacks the gum and bone and around the teeth
    Untreated periodontal disease can lead to tooth loss.
    Periodontal disease cause people to lose teeth.
  6. decay
    the organic phenomenon of rotting
    He had very bad teeth - 11 were missing before he died and most of those left were badly decayed, leaving abscesses in his jaws.
    Tooth decay is a big international problem affecting people of all ages. Many people lose days of work because of this problem.
  7. maxilla
    the jaw in vertebrates that is fused to the cranium
    A careful examination of each tooth together with radiograms of the entire maxilla are absolutely essential to determine their presence or absence. Nance, Willis O.
  8. periodontist
    a dentist who treats the gums and other structures surrounding teeth
    The periodontist performed a soft tissue graft to help save my tooth.
  9. orthodontia
    the branch of dentistry dealing with the prevention or correction of irregularities of the teeth
    Nationwide, medically necessary orthodontia costs roughly $6,500 per person, Ireland says. Washington Post (Jan 14, 2013)
  10. bicuspid
    having two cusps or points (especially a molar tooth)
    Next behind the canines follow, on each side, two bicuspids. Blaisdell, Albert F.
  11. sealant
    a kind of sealing material that is used to form a hard coating on a porous surface (as a coat of paint or varnish used to size a surface)
    Dental sealants, the popular, thin plastic coatings applied to the grooves of teeth, can reduce tooth decay in children by more than 70 percent. Seattle Times (Dec 21, 2010)
  12. malocclusion
    a condition in which the opposing teeth do not mesh normally
    Malocclusion if not corrected, can lead to a lack of self-confidence in people who have poorly aligned teeth.
    Malocclusion can lead to gum recession.
  13. posterior
    located at or near the end of a structure
    Molars are located in the posterior of our mouth.
  14. overbite
    (dentistry) malocclusion in which the upper teeth extend abnormally far over the lower teeth
    But the Manager strolled out of the second theater with a broad grin, revealing his cutting overbite. Callahan, Daniel
  15. prophylaxis
    the prevention of disease
    He dipped his napkin into the glass of water that stood on the table and performed an elaborate prophylaxis about his mouth and teeth. Glass, Montague
    Going to the dentist twice a year is an example of a prophylaxis
  16. buildup
    the act of accumulating
    In periodontal disease tartar and calculus buildup in the gums and form periodontal pockets.
  17. gum
    the tissue of the jaws that surrounds the bases of the teeth
    If not removed, plaque can cause tooth decay as well as gingivitis and more serious gum disease.
    Chewing gum helps saliva get rid of plaque in your mouth.
  18. gag reflex
    normal reflex consisting of retching
    "Dentists can also use acupuncture to stop people gagging if they have a very strong gag reflex," he added. BBC (Mar 30, 2010)
  19. dental anatomy
    the branch of gross anatomy concerning with the morphology of teeth
    Sereno also details the dinosaur’s peculiar dental anatomy. Scientific American (Oct 3, 2012)
    Whales have an interesting dental anatomy, because they keep getting new teeth unlike humans who only get two sets of teeth.
  20. dental amalgam
    an alloy of mercury with another metal (usually silver) used by dentists to fill cavities in teeth; except for iron and platinum all metals dissolve in mercury and chemists refer to the resulting mercury mixtures as amalgams
    Holistic health practitioner Mitchell Corwin says metal toxicity, meaning dental amalgam fillings, is the biggest contributor. Seattle Times (Mar 9, 2011)
    Most people prefer to get a white tooth colored filling opposed to an amalgam filling. Amalgam fillings look less attractive than tooth colored fillings, and pose less risk of mercury exposure.
  21. carious
    (of teeth) affected with cavities or decay
    Pain is usually absent until the articular surfaces become carious. Miles, Alexander
  22. labial
    of or relating to the lips of the mouth
    The labial letters cannot be properly pronounced, but the under lip has to do its best for them, against the upper teeth and gum.  Livingstone, David
  23. incisor
    a tooth for cutting or gnawing
    The front teeth are called incisors because they are used to cut the food. Davison, Alvin
  24. enamel
    any smooth glossy coating that resembles ceramic glaze
    Enamel, a thin, protective covering, can never be replaced once damaged or lost.
    Eating a diet with insufficient vitamin D can destroy enamel.
  25. bruxism
    involuntarily or unconsciously clenching or grinding the teeth, typically during sleep
    Teeth grinding, or bruxism, is thought to be a habit aggravated by stress, he said. New York Times (Jul 11, 2011)
  26. abscessed tooth
    an abscess of a common kind in the tissue around a tooth
    Others simply had stopped coming, except when an abscessed tooth became unbearable. Seattle Times (Dec 1, 2010)
    an abscessed tooth refers to an infection around the pulp of a tooth. First, the dentist must eliminate the infection,drain the pus, and removed the diseased pulp.
  27. pulp
    the soft inner part of a tooth
    DNA from dental pulp was extracted and converted into sequencing libraries as previously described. Nature (Oct 26, 2011)
  28. impacted tooth
    a disorder in which a tooth is so crowded in its socket that it cannot erupt normally
    The dentist had to removed the impacted wisdom tooth; because , this tooth was causing an infection in the second molar tooth.
  29. gingivitis
    inflammation of the gums
    If not removed, plaque can cause tooth decay as well as gingivitis and more serious gum disease.
    Gingivitis can be reversed with proper brushing and flossing.
  30. temporomandibular joint
    the joint between the head of the lower jawbone and the temporal bone
    The temporomandibular joint connects the temporal bone of the skull with the lower jawbone.
    This joint opens and closes like a hinge. It slides side to side, backward, and forward. Problems with this joint are referred to as TMJ disorders.
  31. dry socket
    inflammation in the socket of a tooth
    After the woman had her wisdom teeth removed, a few days later she suffered from the pain of a dry socket.
  32. molar
    grinding tooth with a broad crown
    There were also eight molars on each jaw. Abbott, Henry
    The most difficult teeth to clean which are located in the back of the mouth.
  33. fluorosis
    a pathological condition resulting from an excessive intake of fluorine (usually from drinking water)
    In extreme cases, fluorosis can cause discoloration and pitting of tooth enamel. Seattle Times (Nov 17, 2011)
  34. dentin
    hard and dense material that comprises the bulk of a tooth
    “It is concluded that for protection of dentin surfaces,” the authors wrote, “at least 30 minutes should elapse before tooth brushing after an erosive attack.” New York Times (May 21, 2012)
  35. canine tooth
    one of the two pointed, cone-shaped teeth in the upper jaw
    They have one canine tooth on each side, in both jaws. Vaux, Frances Bowyer
  36. saliva
    a clear liquid secreted by glands in the mouth
    Testing the devices with water, researchers have been able to detect glucose at levels similar to those found in human saliva. Seattle Times (Jan 30, 2012)
  37. deciduous tooth
    one of the first temporary teeth of a young mammal
    Children are born with twenty deciduous teeth
    By two and a half, children have all of their baby or deciduous teeth.
  38. crown
    the part of a tooth above the gum that is covered with enamel
    The crown is a restoration that fits on top of the tooth.
  39. palate
    the surface of the mouth separating oral and nasal cavities
    The roof of the mouth is called the palate.
    There is a soft and a hard palate.
  40. salivary gland
    any of three pairs of glands in the mouth and digestive system that secrete saliva for digestion
    In rare cases, inflammation of the salivary glands can occur.
Created on Mon Jul 08 14:58:00 EDT 2013 (updated Tue Jul 16 11:54:54 EDT 2013)

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