Dental Anatomy & Terminology
The hard outer covering of the crown of a tooth.
What is enamel?
This basic instrument is used to examine tooth surfaces and detect irregularities.
What is an explorer?
The tooth numbering system commonly used in the United States assigns permanent teeth numbers from 1 through 32.
What is the Universal Numbering System?
The process of cleaning hands with soap and water or an approved alcohol-based product.
What is hand hygiene?
This procedure uses a small mirror and an explorer to evaluate the teeth and oral tissues.
What is an oral examination?
The part of the tooth normally visible above the gumline.
What is the crown?
This instrument is used to gently reflect the cheek, lips, or tongue away from the working area.
What is a mouth mirror?
In the Universal Numbering System, tooth number 1 is the upper-right third molar.
What is the maxillary right third molar?
These protective items may include gloves, masks, protective eyewear, and gowns.
What is personal protective equipment, or PPE?
These images allow the dental team to view structures that cannot be seen during a visual examination.
What are dental radiographs or dental X-rays?
The soft tissue inside the tooth that contains nerves and blood vessels.
What is the pulp?
This instrument is commonly used to measure periodontal pocket depths.
What is a periodontal probe?
In the Universal Numbering System, tooth number 8 is the upper-right central incisor.
What is the maxillary right central incisor?
This process removes or destroys all forms of microbial life, including bacterial spores, on instruments.
What is sterilization?
This preventive treatment places a protective material into the grooves of back teeth to help prevent decay.
What are dental sealants?
This tissue surrounds and supports the teeth and includes the gums, periodontal ligament, cementum, and alveolar bone.
What are the periodontium or periodontal tissues?
This hand instrument is used to remove calculus deposits from tooth surfaces.
What is a scaler?
In the Universal Numbering System, primary teeth are identified using letters from A through T.
What is the primary dentition lettering system?
Instruments that enter soft tissue or bone are classified as this type and must be sterilized after use.
What are critical instruments?
This procedure removes plaque, calculus, and stains from the teeth.
What is a dental prophylaxis or professional dental cleaning?
This term describes the relationship between the upper and lower teeth when they come together.
What is occlusion
This instrument is designed to transfer or place materials such as cement, temporary filling material, or composite resin.
What is a plastic instrument or composite placement instrument?
In the Universal Numbering System, tooth number 19 is located in this quadrant and is this type of tooth.
What is the mandibular left first molar?
Before instruments can be sterilized, they must first be cleaned to remove blood, saliva, and debris. This step is important because organic material can interfere with the sterilization process.
What is instrument cleaning or decontamination?
During this restorative procedure, the dentist removes decayed tooth structure and replaces it with a material such as composite resin or amalgam.
What is a dental filling or direct restorative procedure?