Dental Assistant Terminology and Answers 2025
Abutment - ansthe teeth on either side of a missing tooth.
Archform - ansthe shape of the dental arch.
Aspirator - ansa tube like a straw which the dentist and/or assistant put in the mouth to suck up all the saliva.
Bruxism - ansclenching or grinding of the teeth.
Caries - ansanother name for tooth decay.
Class I Malocclusion - ansthe bite is okay, but the teeth are crooked, crowded, or turned.
Class II Malocclusion - ansoverbite
Class III Malocclusion - ansunderbite
Composite Restoration - ansa tooth colored filling.
Cross Contamination - anspassing bacteria, viruses or AIDS indirectly from one patient to another through the
use of improper sterilization procedures, unclean instruments, or "recycling" of orthodontic products.
Crossbite - ansa malocclusion where some of your upper teeth are inside of your lower teeth when you bite
down.
Crowding - ansan orthodontic problem caused by having too many teeth in too small of a space.
, Crown - ansan artificial tooth; an artificial replacement for the covering on a tooth.
Curettage - anssurgical scraping of bacteria from the soft tissue.
Decalcification - ansthe loss of calcium from your teeth.
Dentition - ansthe arrangement of teeth.
Diagnosis - ansthe process of identifying the nature of a disorder.
Diastema - ansthe space between two teeth.
Distal - ansbehind, towards the back of the mouth.
Drift - ansthe unwanted movement of teeth.
Edentulous - ansall teeth are missing in either the upper or lower arch.
Eruption - answhen a new tooth comes in.
Exfoliate - ansto fall out.
Extraoral - ansoutside of the mouth.
Extraoral Photograph - ansfacial photos.
Extrusion - ansthe movement in the direction of eruption.
Abutment - ansthe teeth on either side of a missing tooth.
Archform - ansthe shape of the dental arch.
Aspirator - ansa tube like a straw which the dentist and/or assistant put in the mouth to suck up all the saliva.
Bruxism - ansclenching or grinding of the teeth.
Caries - ansanother name for tooth decay.
Class I Malocclusion - ansthe bite is okay, but the teeth are crooked, crowded, or turned.
Class II Malocclusion - ansoverbite
Class III Malocclusion - ansunderbite
Composite Restoration - ansa tooth colored filling.
Cross Contamination - anspassing bacteria, viruses or AIDS indirectly from one patient to another through the
use of improper sterilization procedures, unclean instruments, or "recycling" of orthodontic products.
Crossbite - ansa malocclusion where some of your upper teeth are inside of your lower teeth when you bite
down.
Crowding - ansan orthodontic problem caused by having too many teeth in too small of a space.
, Crown - ansan artificial tooth; an artificial replacement for the covering on a tooth.
Curettage - anssurgical scraping of bacteria from the soft tissue.
Decalcification - ansthe loss of calcium from your teeth.
Dentition - ansthe arrangement of teeth.
Diagnosis - ansthe process of identifying the nature of a disorder.
Diastema - ansthe space between two teeth.
Distal - ansbehind, towards the back of the mouth.
Drift - ansthe unwanted movement of teeth.
Edentulous - ansall teeth are missing in either the upper or lower arch.
Eruption - answhen a new tooth comes in.
Exfoliate - ansto fall out.
Extraoral - ansoutside of the mouth.
Extraoral Photograph - ansfacial photos.
Extrusion - ansthe movement in the direction of eruption.
