Have you ever had a conversation with a family member or friend about dental issues and encountered unfamiliar terms? We are committed to making sure you always have a clear understanding of what we’re talking about, so if you ever need clarification, please let us know immediately. Here are several terms that may pop up in conversations related to dental issues.
Enamel
Do you ever give any thought to the surface of your teeth? That surface is called enamel and it’s more important than you may realize. It “helps protect your teeth from daily use such as chewing, biting, crunching, and grinding.” Here’s another fact you may not know: “This tough shell is the hardest tissue in the human body.”
Bridge
What happens when you’re missing one tooth or several teeth? You can’t leave the space empty, because it will cause additional problems for your mouth in the long run. A bridge fills the gap between your existing teeth, which is important so your gums and the surrounding teeth don’t sustain further damage. It also provides you with a replacement tooth or teeth so you can still chew your food and speak without any problems.
Plaque
If you’re getting an award, plaque sounds like a good thing, but it doesn’t sound so appealing in the context of your teeth. There’s a good reason for that. “Plaque is made up of invisible masses of harmful germs that live in the mouth and stick to the teeth.” Different kinds of plaque cause different kinds of problems. Tooth decay is one, and gum disease is another. You may not realize it, but your best defense against both is simple and inexpensive: flossing and brushing regularly will help protect you against both types of plaque.
Dental caries
Have you ever heard this term for tooth decay? Regardless of what you call it, it “remains the most prevalent chronic disease in both children and adults, even though it is largely preventable.” We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: if you brush, floss, and visit us on a regular basis, you can reduce your risk for this and many other oral health issues.
Bonding
We take our teeth for granted, but they can break, chip, or crack. They can also become discolored. When this happens, many people struggle with deciding how to deal with the problem. Bonding can be a solution for any of these problems. It’s a simple process that involves applying composite resin to the tooth to restore its natural appearance.
Dentures
If you lose adult teeth and permanent replacements are not an option for one reason or another, dentures may be the answer. Dentures can be put in and taken out, as needed. If you need a full set of replacement teeth, full dentures would be necessary. If you have some teeth and just need to replace the others, partial dentures would work for you.
Hygienist
“Dental hygienists are licensed oral health professionals who focus on preventing and treating oral diseases – both to protect teeth and gums, and also to protect patients’ total health.” At Moore Family Dental, dental hygienists are important members of our team and they are committed to providing you with the best care possible.
Are there any other terms you want us to explain? Just let us know. We’re here to help in any way we can!