Glossary |
|
The terms listed here are all included in the training module. Unless otherwise denoted with a “*”, all glossary definitions were adapted from: Medline Plus Online Medical Dictionary. A Service of the US National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, accessed January 31, 2008.
-A-
Abscess: A localized collection of pus surrounded by inflamed tissue
Amelogenesis: The process of forming tooth enamel
Amelogenesis Imperfecta: Faulty development of tooth enamel that is genetically determined
Ankyloglossia: A congenital defect characterized by limited mobility of the tongue due to shortness of its frenulum
Ankylosis: Fusion of the alveolar bone with tooth cementum
Anodontia: An especially congenital absence of teeth
Anterior Cross Bite*: Malocclusion in which the maxillary incisors are posterior to (behind) the mandibular incisors.
Anterior Open Bite*: Vertical space between the upper and lower incisors resulting from opposing teeth failing to establish occlusal contact when the jaws are closed
Aphthae: A speck or blister on the mucous membranes characteristic of some diseases
Aphthous Stomatitis: A very common disorder of the oral mucosa that is characterized by the formation of canker sores on mucous membranes and that has a multiple etiology but is not caused by the herpes simplex virus
Aphthous Ulcer: Disintegration and necrosis of epithelial tissue on a mucous membrane; usually painful
-B-
Bacteriostatic: Causing inhibition of the growth of bacteria without destruction
Bruxism: The habit of unconsciously gritting or grinding the teeth especially in situations of stress or during sleep
-C-
Calculus: A concretion on teeth; an incrustation on the teeth consisting of plaque that has become hardened by the deposition of mineral salts
Cavity: An area of decay in a tooth
Cementum: A specialized external bony layer covering the dentin of the part of a tooth normally within the gum
Cheilitis: Inflammation of the lip
Circumvallate Papilla: Any of approximately 12 large papillae near the back of the tongue; supplied with taste buds responsive especially to bitter flavors
Cleft Palate: Congenital fissure of the roof of the mouth produced by failure of the two maxillae to unite during embryonic development and often associated with cleft lip
Cleidocranial dysostosis: A rare condition inherited in an autosomal dominant fashion and characterized especially by partial or complete absence of the clavicles, defective ossification of the skull, and faulty occlusion due to missing, misplaced, or supernumerary teeth
Crossbite*: Abnormal relationship of a tooth or teeth to the opposing teeth, with reversal of the normal pattern.
Cyanosis: A bluish or purplish discoloration (as of skin) due to deficient oxygenation of the blood
-D-
Dentin: A calcareous material similar to bone but harder and denser that composes the principal mass of a tooth; consists of a matrix containing minute parallel tubules which open into the pulp cavity and during life contain processes of the cells of the pulp
-E-
Enamel: Intensely hard calcareous substance that forms a thin layer partly covering the teeth; the hardest substance of the animal body; consists of minute prisms arranged at right angles to the surface and bound together by a cement substance
Endocarditis: Inflammation of the lining of the heart and its valves
Exfoliation: The shedding of a superficial layer of a tooth
-F-
Familial Adenomatous Polyposis: A disease of the large intestine that is marked by the formation especially in the colon and rectum of numerous adenomatous polyps which typically become malignant if left untreated; inherited as an autosomal dominant trait
Filiaform Papilla: Any of numerous minute pointed papillae on the tongue
Fluoroapatite*: Hard crystalline substance with the formula Ca5(PO4)3F; structural element of tooth enamel
Fluorosis: An abnormal condition (as mottled enamel of human teeth) caused by fluorine or its compounds
Foliate Papilla: Any of the paired oval papillae of the lateral aspect of the posterior part of the tongue that are rudimentary or missing in humans but form the chief organs of taste of some other mammals (as rabbits)
Frenectomy: Excision of a frenulum
Fungiform Papilla: Any of numerous papillae on the upper surface of the tongue that are flat-topped and noticeably red from the richly vascular stroma and usually contain taste buds
-G-
Gingivitis: Inflammation of the gums
-H-
Halitosis: A condition of having fetid breath
Hydroxyapatite: A complex phosphate of calcium Ca5(PO4)3OH that occurs as a mineral and is the chief structural element of vertebrate bone
Hypodontia: A congenital condition marked by a less than normal number of teeth; partial anodontia
Hypophosphatasia: A congenital metabolic disorder characterized by a deficiency of alkaline phosphatase and usually resulting in demineralization of bone
Hypopituitarism: Deficient production of growth hormones by the pituitary gland
Hypoplasia: A condition of arrested development in which an organ or part of an organ remains below the normal size or in an immature state
Hyperbilirubinemia: The presence of an excess of bilirubin in the blood
Hyperdontia*: A congenital condition marked by a greater than normal number of teeth
Hyperplasia: An abnormal or unusual increase in the elements composing a part (as cells composing a tissue).
-L-
Leukoplakia: A condition commonly considered precancerous in which thickened white patches of epithelium occur on the mucous membranes especially of the mouth
-M-
Malocclusion: An abnormality in the coming together of teeth
Methemoglobinemia: The presence of methemoglobin in the blood due to conversion of part of the hemoglobin to this inactive form
Mucocele: A swelling like a sac due to distension of a hollow organ or cavity with mucus
Mucositis: Inflammation of a mucous membrane
-N-
Non-cariogenic Diet: A diet not contributing to the formation of caries, low in sugar
Nonnutritive Sucking*:Sucking not relating to or providing nutrition
Neutropenia: Leukopenia in which the decrease in white blood cells is chiefly in neutrophils
-P-
Periodontitis: Inflammation of the periodontium and especially the periodontal membrane
Porphyria: Abnormalities of porphyrin metabolism characterized by excretion of excess porphyrins in the urine and by extreme sensitivity to light; usually hereditary
Posterior Crossbite:* Malocclusion in which the posterior maxillary molars or premolars are lingually displaced inside of the mandibular teeth.
Pulp: The highly vascular sensitive tissue occupying the central cavity of a tooth
-R-
Riga-Fede Disease*: Ulceration of the lingual frenum or ventral surface of the tongue in infants caused by abrasion of the tissue against natal or neonatal teeth
-T-
Temporomandibular Joint: The diarthrosis between the temporal bone and mandible that includes the condyloid process below separated by an articular disk from the glenoid fossa above and that allows for the opening, closing, protrusion, retraction, and lateral movement of the mandible
Temporomandibular Joint Disorder: A group of symptoms that may include pain or tenderness in the temporomandibular joint or surrounding muscles, headache, earache, neck, back, or shoulder pain, limited jaw movement, or a clicking or popping sound in the jaw and that are caused either by dysfunction of the temporomandibular joint (as derangement of the articular disk) or another problem (as spasm or tension of the masticatory muscles) affecting the region of the temporomandibular joint
-X-
Xerostomia: Abnormal dryness of the mouth due to insufficient saliva production
Xylitol: A crystalline alcohol C5H12O5 that is a derivative of xylose, used as a sweetener
|
|
