Dental Terminology- clearly explained-
must read before a test 2026
What term describes the hard outer surface of the crown of a tooth?
✔️✔️ Enamel
What is the name of the calcified tissue beneath enamel that forms the bulk of the tooth?
✔️✔️ Dentin
What is the soft tissue found in the center of the tooth containing nerves and blood vessels
called?
✔️✔️ Pulp
What term refers to the part of the tooth visible above the gumline?
✔️✔️ Crown
What is the portion of the tooth embedded within the jawbone called?
✔️✔️ Root
What is the specialized connective tissue that anchors the tooth to the alveolar bone?
✔️✔️ Periodontal ligament
What is the bony socket that holds the tooth in place called?
✔️✔️ Alveolus
What term refers to inflammation of the gums?
✔️✔️ Gingivitis
What is the dental term for tooth decay?
✔️✔️ Caries
What term describes the removal of pulp tissue from a tooth?
✔️✔️ Pulpectomy
What is the procedure of reshaping tooth enamel to improve appearance called?
✔️✔️ Enameloplasty
What is the term for grinding or clenching of teeth, often during sleep?
✔️✔️ Bruxism
What is the medical term for dry mouth due to reduced saliva flow?
✔️✔️ Xerostomia
1
,What is the term for the first set of teeth in children?
✔️✔️ Primary dentition
What is the second set of teeth that replaces primary teeth called?
✔️✔️ Permanent dentition
What term refers to a surgical incision into the gum tissue?
✔️✔️ Gingivectomy
What is the dental term for plaque that has hardened on teeth?
✔️✔️ Calculus
What is the instrument used to remove calculus from teeth called?
✔️✔️ Scaler
What is the name for a dental restoration that covers the entire crown of a tooth?
✔️✔️ Crown restoration
What term refers to a removable appliance used to replace missing teeth?
✔️✔️ Denture
What is the dental term for misaligned teeth?
✔️✔️ Malocclusion
What term describes a cavity preparation shaped to receive a filling?
✔️✔️ Cavity preparation
What is the process of cleaning teeth to remove plaque and calculus called?
✔️✔️ Prophylaxis
What is the term for inflammation of the tissues surrounding a tooth?
✔️✔️ Periodontitis
What is the dental term for a false tooth used in a bridge?
✔️✔️ Pontic
What is the supporting structure for a dental bridge called?
✔️✔️ Abutment
What is the term for the space between two adjacent teeth?
✔️✔️ Interproximal space
What is the dental term for the chewing surface of posterior teeth?
✔️✔️ Occlusal surface
2
, What is the term for the front surface of anterior teeth?
✔️✔️ Labial surface
What is the inner surface of teeth facing the tongue called?
✔️✔️ Lingual surface
What is the surface of teeth facing the cheeks called?
✔️✔️ Buccal surface
What term describes a crack or split in a tooth?
✔️✔️ Fracture
What is the dental term for the alignment of upper and lower teeth when biting?
✔️✔️ Occlusion
What is the term for excessive wear of tooth structure?
✔️✔️ Attrition
What is the loss of tooth structure caused by chemical processes called?
✔️✔️ Erosion
What is the wearing away of teeth due to friction with external objects called?
✔️✔️ Abrasion
What is the dental term for an impacted tooth that fails to erupt?
✔️✔️ Impaction
What is the term for surgical removal of a tooth?
✔️✔️ Extraction
What is the dental term for a small, localized collection of pus in the gums?
✔️✔️ Abscess
What is the process of replacing a missing tooth root with a metal post called?
✔️✔️ Implant placement
What is the term for a thin shell placed over the front of a tooth for cosmetic purposes?
✔️✔️ Veneer
What is the dental term for an artificial covering for a decayed or damaged tooth?
✔️✔️ Filling
What is the term for inflammation of the dental pulp?
✔️✔️ Pulpitis
3
must read before a test 2026
What term describes the hard outer surface of the crown of a tooth?
✔️✔️ Enamel
What is the name of the calcified tissue beneath enamel that forms the bulk of the tooth?
✔️✔️ Dentin
What is the soft tissue found in the center of the tooth containing nerves and blood vessels
called?
✔️✔️ Pulp
What term refers to the part of the tooth visible above the gumline?
✔️✔️ Crown
What is the portion of the tooth embedded within the jawbone called?
✔️✔️ Root
What is the specialized connective tissue that anchors the tooth to the alveolar bone?
✔️✔️ Periodontal ligament
What is the bony socket that holds the tooth in place called?
✔️✔️ Alveolus
What term refers to inflammation of the gums?
✔️✔️ Gingivitis
What is the dental term for tooth decay?
✔️✔️ Caries
What term describes the removal of pulp tissue from a tooth?
✔️✔️ Pulpectomy
What is the procedure of reshaping tooth enamel to improve appearance called?
✔️✔️ Enameloplasty
What is the term for grinding or clenching of teeth, often during sleep?
✔️✔️ Bruxism
What is the medical term for dry mouth due to reduced saliva flow?
✔️✔️ Xerostomia
1
,What is the term for the first set of teeth in children?
✔️✔️ Primary dentition
What is the second set of teeth that replaces primary teeth called?
✔️✔️ Permanent dentition
What term refers to a surgical incision into the gum tissue?
✔️✔️ Gingivectomy
What is the dental term for plaque that has hardened on teeth?
✔️✔️ Calculus
What is the instrument used to remove calculus from teeth called?
✔️✔️ Scaler
What is the name for a dental restoration that covers the entire crown of a tooth?
✔️✔️ Crown restoration
What term refers to a removable appliance used to replace missing teeth?
✔️✔️ Denture
What is the dental term for misaligned teeth?
✔️✔️ Malocclusion
What term describes a cavity preparation shaped to receive a filling?
✔️✔️ Cavity preparation
What is the process of cleaning teeth to remove plaque and calculus called?
✔️✔️ Prophylaxis
What is the term for inflammation of the tissues surrounding a tooth?
✔️✔️ Periodontitis
What is the dental term for a false tooth used in a bridge?
✔️✔️ Pontic
What is the supporting structure for a dental bridge called?
✔️✔️ Abutment
What is the term for the space between two adjacent teeth?
✔️✔️ Interproximal space
What is the dental term for the chewing surface of posterior teeth?
✔️✔️ Occlusal surface
2
, What is the term for the front surface of anterior teeth?
✔️✔️ Labial surface
What is the inner surface of teeth facing the tongue called?
✔️✔️ Lingual surface
What is the surface of teeth facing the cheeks called?
✔️✔️ Buccal surface
What term describes a crack or split in a tooth?
✔️✔️ Fracture
What is the dental term for the alignment of upper and lower teeth when biting?
✔️✔️ Occlusion
What is the term for excessive wear of tooth structure?
✔️✔️ Attrition
What is the loss of tooth structure caused by chemical processes called?
✔️✔️ Erosion
What is the wearing away of teeth due to friction with external objects called?
✔️✔️ Abrasion
What is the dental term for an impacted tooth that fails to erupt?
✔️✔️ Impaction
What is the term for surgical removal of a tooth?
✔️✔️ Extraction
What is the dental term for a small, localized collection of pus in the gums?
✔️✔️ Abscess
What is the process of replacing a missing tooth root with a metal post called?
✔️✔️ Implant placement
What is the term for a thin shell placed over the front of a tooth for cosmetic purposes?
✔️✔️ Veneer
What is the dental term for an artificial covering for a decayed or damaged tooth?
✔️✔️ Filling
What is the term for inflammation of the dental pulp?
✔️✔️ Pulpitis
3
