Bleaching - teeth whitening,
which can be accomplished by in
office laser or with take-home trays
and whitening gel.
Bonding - a technique for
attaching dental restorations to
teeth. Bonding can be used to attach
white composite fillings, veneers,
crowns and bridges.
Bridge - a permanent
appliance that is custom fabricated
to replace one or more missing teeth
which attaches to existing teeth on
either side of the space.
Cap - a common name for a
crown.
Composite Resin - a tooth-coloured
plastic filling material.
Crown - a custom made “cap”
that covers the tooth and not only
strengthens it but can change the
shape and colour.
Denture - a removable
prosthetic designed to replace some
or all missing teeth in the upper or
lower jaw.
Gingiva - the soft tissue
surrounding the teeth commonly known
as the gum.
Implant - titanium posts
surgically embedded into the jawbone
to act as artificial teeth roots for
the replacement of missing teeth.
Inlays - a
laboratory-fabricated porcelain or
gold tooth restoration commonly used
for heavily broken down teeth.
Mouthguard -a flexible
appliance made out of plastic that
is worn in athletic and recreational
activities to protect teeth from
trauma
Nightguard – an appliance
that may be suggested by your
dentist to eliminate grinding and/or
bruxing at night
Onlays - a
laboratory-fabricated porcelain or
gold tooth restoration that fills
and restores a defect in the tooth.
It extends over the edges of the
defect to hold the remaining parts
of the tooth together, thereby
strengthening the tooth.
Orthodontist - the dental
specialist concerned with
straightening and aligning of teeth.
Periodontist - the dental
specialist concerned with the health
of one’s gums.
Porcelain Veneers - thin
porcelain shells permanently bonded
to one’s teeth to camoflauge major
chips, stains, fillings and close
gaps.
Root Canal Therapy - a dental
treatment involving the removal of
diseased or injured nerve from
inside the tooth and replacement
with an inert material.
TMJ - temporomandibular joint is
where the lower jaw connects to the
temporal bone and can often be painful.
Nightguards are often made to
relieve the pressure on this joint
and relieve headache symptoms.
Smile Contouring -
selectively reshaping teeth to
improve the appearance of one’s
smile.
