HOSA Dental Terminology Exam
2025 Questions and Answers
Maximum Permissible Dose (MPD) - ✔✔highest rate of radiation exposure
Roentgen (R) - ✔✔basic unit of exposure to radiation; C/kg
Rad (radiation absorbed dose) - ✔✔unit of absorbed radiation; Gy
Rem (roentgen equivalent measure) - ✔✔unit of radiation needed to produced same
biological effect of one R; Sv
Erythema Dose - ✔✔radiation overdose that produces redness of the skin
Dosimeter - ✔✔device to measure the amount of stray/secondary radiation
Lead Barriers, Shields - ✔✔device that blocks out scattered radiation
Phantom - ✔✔device used for practice in learning radiation-exposure techniques;
Dexter
Express Contract - ✔✔Verbal or written words that are agreed on in an established
contract
Liner applicator - ✔✔To place calcium hydroxide or glass ionomer in cavity
preparation.
Amalgam plugger - ✔✔used to pack amalgam into tooth
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,Sterilize - ✔✔the process where ALL forms of life are completely destroyed. This
includes all microorganisms; bacteria, fungi, viruses and bacterial spores. (Eg -
autoclave, chemical vapor sterilization and dry heat sterilization)
Disinfect - ✔✔the process where SOME forms of microorganisms are destroyed. it does
not destroy spores and resistant viruses.
Sanitize - ✔✔the process that cleans and destroys FEW microorganisms
Distal - ✔✔farthest from the midline
Root Canal Therapy - ✔✔process of removing pulp of a tooth and filling it with an inert
material.
palate - ✔✔hard and soft tissue forming the roof of the mouth
Broad-spectrum activity - ✔✔capable of killing a wide variety of microbes
Bioburden - ✔✔any visible organic debris, blood saliva and other body fluids
Unerupted tooth - ✔✔a tooth that has not pushed through the gum and assumed its
correct position in the dental arch
quadrant - ✔✔1/2 of one dental arch
abfraction - ✔✔loss of tooth surface in cervical area
ameloblast - ✔✔enamel forming cells
angle of the mandible - ✔✔area from which the ramus ascends on the lower border of
the mandible
apex - ✔✔root end of tooth
biteblock - ✔✔device used to hold radiation film in mouth for exposure
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,biteloop - ✔✔encircles periapical film
buccinator - ✔✔principal cheek muscle
cnaliculi - ✔✔small channels or canals may be present in cementum
candidiasis - ✔✔infection of mouth, thrush
cantilever bridge - ✔✔only one side of device attatched
cheilosis - ✔✔inflammation of lips
cingulum - ✔✔smooth, convex, or rounded bump on lingual of maxillary anteriors
clasp - ✔✔extension of partial appliance that grasps surrounding teeth for support
commisure - ✔✔corner of the mouth where the lips meet
complex cavity - ✔✔decay involving more than two surfaces of a tooth
compound - ✔✔nonelastic impression material used in edentulous impressions
condyloid - ✔✔posterior growth on ramus of the mandible
coping - ✔✔thin covering placed over remaining tooth surface
core buildup - ✔✔use of synthetic material to enlarge tooth core area to provide support
for a crown
cortical plate - ✔✔outer bone layer growth of alveolar bone
crepitus - ✔✔grinding, joint abrasion
cuspid - ✔✔third tooth posterior of the midline, also called canine, eye tooth
cuticle - ✔✔tissue layer covering tooth surface
Nasmyth's membrane - ✔✔tissue layer covering tooth surface
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, denticle - ✔✔small tooth growth, pulp stone
embrasure - ✔✔v-shaped tooth gap between contact area and gingival crest
fontanel - ✔✔baby's soft spot literally "little fountain"
genioplasty - ✔✔plastic surgery of the chin or cheek
gnarled enamel - ✔✔enamel rods twisting and curving within enamel tissue
gomphosis - ✔✔holding and anchoring action of a tooth in its socket
Hawley appliance - ✔✔orthodontic appliance to maintain space after correction
heterodont - ✔✔teeth of various shapes
hyoid - ✔✔small bone in neck area "Adam's apple"
incipient caries - ✔✔beginning decay
incisor - ✔✔cutting, anterior tooth
lacuna - ✔✔small open space in cementum
lamellae - ✔✔developmental imperfections of the enamel extending to the dentin
Maryland bridge - ✔✔bridge cemented to adjacent teeth
masseter - ✔✔muscle of mastication that closes the mouth
mentalis - ✔✔chin muscle that moves chin tissue and raises the lower lip
parotid - ✔✔largest salivary gland located near the ear
pontic - ✔✔artificial tooth part of a bridge
prophy - ✔✔professional tooth cleaning
COPYRIGHT © 2025 BY OLIVIA WEST, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 4
2025 Questions and Answers
Maximum Permissible Dose (MPD) - ✔✔highest rate of radiation exposure
Roentgen (R) - ✔✔basic unit of exposure to radiation; C/kg
Rad (radiation absorbed dose) - ✔✔unit of absorbed radiation; Gy
Rem (roentgen equivalent measure) - ✔✔unit of radiation needed to produced same
biological effect of one R; Sv
Erythema Dose - ✔✔radiation overdose that produces redness of the skin
Dosimeter - ✔✔device to measure the amount of stray/secondary radiation
Lead Barriers, Shields - ✔✔device that blocks out scattered radiation
Phantom - ✔✔device used for practice in learning radiation-exposure techniques;
Dexter
Express Contract - ✔✔Verbal or written words that are agreed on in an established
contract
Liner applicator - ✔✔To place calcium hydroxide or glass ionomer in cavity
preparation.
Amalgam plugger - ✔✔used to pack amalgam into tooth
COPYRIGHT © 2025 BY OLIVIA WEST, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,Sterilize - ✔✔the process where ALL forms of life are completely destroyed. This
includes all microorganisms; bacteria, fungi, viruses and bacterial spores. (Eg -
autoclave, chemical vapor sterilization and dry heat sterilization)
Disinfect - ✔✔the process where SOME forms of microorganisms are destroyed. it does
not destroy spores and resistant viruses.
Sanitize - ✔✔the process that cleans and destroys FEW microorganisms
Distal - ✔✔farthest from the midline
Root Canal Therapy - ✔✔process of removing pulp of a tooth and filling it with an inert
material.
palate - ✔✔hard and soft tissue forming the roof of the mouth
Broad-spectrum activity - ✔✔capable of killing a wide variety of microbes
Bioburden - ✔✔any visible organic debris, blood saliva and other body fluids
Unerupted tooth - ✔✔a tooth that has not pushed through the gum and assumed its
correct position in the dental arch
quadrant - ✔✔1/2 of one dental arch
abfraction - ✔✔loss of tooth surface in cervical area
ameloblast - ✔✔enamel forming cells
angle of the mandible - ✔✔area from which the ramus ascends on the lower border of
the mandible
apex - ✔✔root end of tooth
biteblock - ✔✔device used to hold radiation film in mouth for exposure
COPYRIGHT © 2025 BY OLIVIA WEST, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
,biteloop - ✔✔encircles periapical film
buccinator - ✔✔principal cheek muscle
cnaliculi - ✔✔small channels or canals may be present in cementum
candidiasis - ✔✔infection of mouth, thrush
cantilever bridge - ✔✔only one side of device attatched
cheilosis - ✔✔inflammation of lips
cingulum - ✔✔smooth, convex, or rounded bump on lingual of maxillary anteriors
clasp - ✔✔extension of partial appliance that grasps surrounding teeth for support
commisure - ✔✔corner of the mouth where the lips meet
complex cavity - ✔✔decay involving more than two surfaces of a tooth
compound - ✔✔nonelastic impression material used in edentulous impressions
condyloid - ✔✔posterior growth on ramus of the mandible
coping - ✔✔thin covering placed over remaining tooth surface
core buildup - ✔✔use of synthetic material to enlarge tooth core area to provide support
for a crown
cortical plate - ✔✔outer bone layer growth of alveolar bone
crepitus - ✔✔grinding, joint abrasion
cuspid - ✔✔third tooth posterior of the midline, also called canine, eye tooth
cuticle - ✔✔tissue layer covering tooth surface
Nasmyth's membrane - ✔✔tissue layer covering tooth surface
COPYRIGHT © 2025 BY OLIVIA WEST, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
, denticle - ✔✔small tooth growth, pulp stone
embrasure - ✔✔v-shaped tooth gap between contact area and gingival crest
fontanel - ✔✔baby's soft spot literally "little fountain"
genioplasty - ✔✔plastic surgery of the chin or cheek
gnarled enamel - ✔✔enamel rods twisting and curving within enamel tissue
gomphosis - ✔✔holding and anchoring action of a tooth in its socket
Hawley appliance - ✔✔orthodontic appliance to maintain space after correction
heterodont - ✔✔teeth of various shapes
hyoid - ✔✔small bone in neck area "Adam's apple"
incipient caries - ✔✔beginning decay
incisor - ✔✔cutting, anterior tooth
lacuna - ✔✔small open space in cementum
lamellae - ✔✔developmental imperfections of the enamel extending to the dentin
Maryland bridge - ✔✔bridge cemented to adjacent teeth
masseter - ✔✔muscle of mastication that closes the mouth
mentalis - ✔✔chin muscle that moves chin tissue and raises the lower lip
parotid - ✔✔largest salivary gland located near the ear
pontic - ✔✔artificial tooth part of a bridge
prophy - ✔✔professional tooth cleaning
COPYRIGHT © 2025 BY OLIVIA WEST, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 4
