HOSA Dental Terminology Exam
2025 Questions and Answers
Abducens - ✔✔sixth cranial nerve, used for lateral eye sense and movement
Abfraction - ✔✔loss of tooth surface in the cervical area, caused by tooth grinding
compression forces
Abnormal labial frenum - ✔✔enlarged or thick labial frenum that may cause diastema
abrasion - ✔✔an injury in which skin is scraped away; wearing away of a tooth surface
from abnormal causes
abscess - ✔✔collection of pus
absorption - ✔✔transfer of drug substance from the administration site by body fluids
abutment - ✔✔natural tooth or teeth prepared to hold a bridge retainer in place
accessory - ✔✔auxiliary; eleventh cranial nerve assisting with spinal movements
acetaminophen - ✔✔drug used as an aspirin replacement in children
acid etchant - ✔✔material to prepare cavity margins for retention of the bonding and
restorative materials
acidifier - ✔✔a chemical ingredient that maintains the required acidity of the fixer and
stop-bath solutions
COPYRIGHT © 2025 BY OLIVIA WEST, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
, acidity - ✔✔condition of being sour; makes litmus paper red
acquired pellicle - ✔✔little skin; thin covering on teeth, plaque
acrylic - ✔✔synthetic resin material used in fabrication of appliances
activate - ✔✔to adjust an appliance so that it will exert effective force on the teeth and
jaws
activator - ✔✔substance that reacts with the initiator to start polymerization
acute - ✔✔sharp or severe
acute radiation exposure - ✔✔radiation resulting from a massive, short-term, ionizing
dose, such as an accidental exposure or explosion of radiation material
addiction - ✔✔compulsive, uncontrollable dependence on a drug
adenoid - ✔✔lymphatic tissue found in the nasopharynx area
adentitis - ✔✔inflammation of the glandular tissue
adjunctive orthodontics - ✔✔procedures necessary to correct or restore function
adrenocorticosteroids - ✔✔byproducts from the adrenal cortex; drugs to treat inflamed
conditions, allergies, and emergencies
ala-tragus line - ✔✔imaginary line from the ala (wing) of the nose to the ear meatus
(center)
alginate - ✔✔seaweed, agar-based elastic impression material
allograft - ✔✔human bone graft from a person other than the patient
allopexia - ✔✔deficiency of hair, baldness
alloy - ✔✔a mixture of metals
COPYRIGHT © 2025 BY OLIVIA WEST, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
2025 Questions and Answers
Abducens - ✔✔sixth cranial nerve, used for lateral eye sense and movement
Abfraction - ✔✔loss of tooth surface in the cervical area, caused by tooth grinding
compression forces
Abnormal labial frenum - ✔✔enlarged or thick labial frenum that may cause diastema
abrasion - ✔✔an injury in which skin is scraped away; wearing away of a tooth surface
from abnormal causes
abscess - ✔✔collection of pus
absorption - ✔✔transfer of drug substance from the administration site by body fluids
abutment - ✔✔natural tooth or teeth prepared to hold a bridge retainer in place
accessory - ✔✔auxiliary; eleventh cranial nerve assisting with spinal movements
acetaminophen - ✔✔drug used as an aspirin replacement in children
acid etchant - ✔✔material to prepare cavity margins for retention of the bonding and
restorative materials
acidifier - ✔✔a chemical ingredient that maintains the required acidity of the fixer and
stop-bath solutions
COPYRIGHT © 2025 BY OLIVIA WEST, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
, acidity - ✔✔condition of being sour; makes litmus paper red
acquired pellicle - ✔✔little skin; thin covering on teeth, plaque
acrylic - ✔✔synthetic resin material used in fabrication of appliances
activate - ✔✔to adjust an appliance so that it will exert effective force on the teeth and
jaws
activator - ✔✔substance that reacts with the initiator to start polymerization
acute - ✔✔sharp or severe
acute radiation exposure - ✔✔radiation resulting from a massive, short-term, ionizing
dose, such as an accidental exposure or explosion of radiation material
addiction - ✔✔compulsive, uncontrollable dependence on a drug
adenoid - ✔✔lymphatic tissue found in the nasopharynx area
adentitis - ✔✔inflammation of the glandular tissue
adjunctive orthodontics - ✔✔procedures necessary to correct or restore function
adrenocorticosteroids - ✔✔byproducts from the adrenal cortex; drugs to treat inflamed
conditions, allergies, and emergencies
ala-tragus line - ✔✔imaginary line from the ala (wing) of the nose to the ear meatus
(center)
alginate - ✔✔seaweed, agar-based elastic impression material
allograft - ✔✔human bone graft from a person other than the patient
allopexia - ✔✔deficiency of hair, baldness
alloy - ✔✔a mixture of metals
COPYRIGHT © 2025 BY OLIVIA WEST, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
