General, Advanced Cosmetic & Restorative Dentistry
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Finding a Dentist That Speaks Your Language

We want to make sure you are completely comfortable with your treatment, what you are being billed for, and what your insurance company is paying. We know a lot of medical terms get tossed around in the papers you sign, so for your convenience, we put together this list of dental terms and what they mean. Check it out anytime you get a statement from your insurance company and you are not sure what some of the terminology means.

You may have also noticed that when these words appear on our website, a definition will pop up if you roll your mouse over the term. We hope you find this feature useful. By the way, if you come across a term that you think should be added to our glossary, please contact us.

3 Month Recare If you have a history of periodontal disease, we must monitor the health of your gums closely so that we can prevent a recurrence of this destructive infection. We recommend a 3-month plan of care.
Abfraction Abfraction is the commonly seen condition of notching of the teeth near or even under the gum line.
Advantages of Onlays A silver filling restores the part of a tooth that has been lost to decay, but it doesn't add strength to the tooth. This can be a problem when you have a very large cavity or when we must replace a filling. Onlays are a good alternative.
After Restoration After final restorations have been placed, it's important to follow these recommendations to ensure long-term success: Call us if your restorations feel loose so that we can tighten them.
After Root Canal Root canal treatment leaves a tooth brittle and weak. The tooth is weakened because we had to remove the center of it to get at the infected nerve. This leaves only the sides of the tooth for support.
After Surgery After implants have been placed, it's important to follow these recommendations during the healing period: How to care for your new implant.
All-Porcelain Crowns A tooth-colored crown may be made of both porcelain and metal or, thanks to newly available technology, it may be made entirely of porcelain.
Alternatives to Immediate Dentures Some of the alternatives to an immediate denture may be: having periodontal therapy or root canal therapy, or using bridges or partial dentures.
Alternatives to Overdentures Some of the alternatives to an overdenture are: immediate dentures, implants, partial dentures, or delaying treatment.
Alternatives to Single Tooth Extractions When you're thinking about how to treat a problem tooth, you have three options: * Remove it * Save it * Delay treatment.
Amalgam Carefully carved silver fillings are a durable and affordable way to restore teeth that have been damaged by cavities.
Anterior Porcelain We want the entire procedure to be comfortable for you, so the first thing we do is make sure your mouth is thoroughly numb.
Anterior Resins Resin fillings are a great way to restore the teeth in the front of your mouth. Because they bond directly to teeth, we can create a very strong seal. We will match the color of the resin to your teeth.
Arestin One-third of the American population is affected by periodontal disease, a chronic bacterial infection of the gums, teeth, and bone that surrounds the teeth. Arestin®, along with other treatment methods, kills the bacteria associated with adult periodontitis.
Bad Breath Anyone can be affected by bad breath, also called halitosis. And while bad breath can be embarrassing, the good news is that it's usually treatable.
Bone Grafting Sometimes your body needs the assistance of modern science to repair or heal itself. This is the case when you've lost bone from your jaw.
Bridge Diagnosis Placing a bridge after teeth have been lost can prevent a chain reaction of problems that could affect your entire mouth. Teeth need each other for support, and when one or more teeth are lost, bridges are one solution.
Brushing Proper tooth brushing involves four things: a toothbrush with soft bristles, toothpaste with fluoride, the correct angle of brushing, and brushing in a pattern.
Bruxism Grinding and clenching your teeth, called bruxism, can be a response to stress. We can offer a variety of stress-reducing techniques that may be helpful or we might recommend medication to temporarily reduce stress.
CAD/CAM In the past, the process of making an inlay or onlay involved a series of appointments in our office, followed by the fabrication of the restoration in a dental laboratory.
Cavities Plaque, a sticky film of food and bacteria that is constantly forming on your teeth, is the culprit when it comes to tooth decay. Bacteria that naturally exist in plaque break down the starches and sugars in your mouth and cause cavities.
Chewing Tobacco Smokeless tobacco is highly addictive. If you think smokeless tobacco is safer than cigarettes, you should think again. Repetitive use over time can lead to gum disease and other problems.
Core Buildup Fracture or decay can cause a portion of a tooth to break off, and in some cases, there's simply not enough tooth left to place a crown. In this case, core buildup is necessary.
Cracked Tooth Your teeth endure a tremendous amount of biting pressure every day, not only from eating, but also from habits like jaw clenching and nighttime grinding. This can lead to a cracked tooth.
Crown Lengthening A crown (cap) is an excellent way to cover and protect a tooth that has fractured or been damaged by decay or injury. Sometimes it is also used to lengthen a tooth.
Decay Dentistry has come a long way, and we'll use all the technology at our disposal to save your natural teeth. But unfortunately, some situations exist where teeth have been so badly damaged by decay that they cannot be saved.
Denture Care It's important that your dentures, like natural teeth, be kept free from plaque and tartar. This prevents permanent staining and bad breath.
Diabetes Diabetes Diabetes frequently causes blood vessels to thicken and become less elastic, which decreases the flow of oxygen and nutrients to the body's tissues and slows the removal of harmful wastes.
DIAGNOdent Sometimes, it's difficult for us to diagnose cavities, especially in the pits and grooves on the biting surfaces of your back teeth. The DIAGNOdent makes detection much easier.
Digital X-ray Until recently, our only option when taking a dental X-ray was the exposure of a small film packet, which then took between five and ten minutes to develop. We now have digital options, which makes the process much faster.
Dry Socket Dry socket is an infection in your tooth socket after a tooth is extracted. The condition usually develops when a blood clot fails to form in the socket or if the blood clot comes loose.
Esthetic When your bite is altered, or the position of your teeth is changed, it will feel different for a few days. It takes several days for your brain to recognize and adjust to the new conditions.
Esthetic Dentistry Advantages It used to be that we primarily used silver amalgam to restore damaged or decayed portions of your teeth. Unfortunately, amalgam fillings can be unsightly. So we now try to use more esthetic alternatives.
Esthetic Dentistry Bonding With bonding, we can close spaces between teeth, lengthen small or misshapen teeth, or whiten stained or dark teeth. We can shape and color a single tooth, or improve your entire smile.
Esthetic Dentistry Bridges A tooth-colored bridge may be made of both porcelain and metal or, thanks to newly available technology, it may be made entirely of porcelain.
Esthetic Dentistry Crowns A tooth-colored crown may be made of both porcelain and metal or, thanks to newly available technology, it may be made entirely of porcelain.
Extraction Extraction is the act or process of removing a tooth. The initial healing period usually takes one to two weeks; many people experience some swelling within the first 48 hours.
Failing Amalgam Fillings Even when a filling isn't loose or obviously broken, it may still have problems. For a filling to protect your tooth, it has to seal out bacteria. If it is failing at this, it should be replaced.
Failing Crown Even though a crown protects and strengthens your tooth, you can still develop a cavity at the crown's edge, where it meets the tooth.
Fillings If we used anesthetic, your lips, teeth, and tongue may be numb for several hours after the appointment. Avoid chewing anything until the numbness has completely worn off.
Flossing Brushing is a good way to prevent cavities, but it is only half the battle; flossing is just as important! Most cavities start between your teeth, where the bristles of your toothbrush simply can't reach. Dental floss can get into those crevices.
Fluoride The widespread use of fluoride to fight cavities has been the greatest breakthrough in the past 50 years of preventive dentistry. Fluoride can help prevent cavities by actually hardening the outer enamel layer of the teeth.
General Care The success of a dental bridge depends on the health of the adjacent teeth and gums. To care for your bridge, as well as the teeth and gums, follow these procedures.
Gingivectomy Healthy gums that fit tightly against the necks of the teeth are an important part of a beautiful smile. But sometimes the gums grow and extend onto the front surface of the teeth, disrupting the natural balance between the length of the teeth and the height of the gums.
Gingivitis Gingivitis is the earliest, most common form of gum disease. There is usually no pain or discomfort associated with it; in fact, 75 percent of adults in the U.S. have gingivitis, and many aren't even aware of it.
Gold Inlay The size and shape of a gold inlay is similar to that of a filling; both fit snugly inside the cusps of a tooth to replace the decayed part we removed.
Heart Disease Researchers have discovered that you may be at increased risk of developing coronary heart disease and stroke if you suffer from periodontal disease.
How Teeth Decay Our goal is to help you prevent tooth decay and keep your natural teeth for a lifetime. That's why we want you to understand the process of tooth decay, from start to finish.
Immediate Dentures In most cases, loose or painful teeth are caused by advanced periodontal disease. If many of your teeth are loose or painful, it may be too late to save them. Dentures provide a good solution.
Implant Bridge Placing a bridge after teeth have been lost can prevent a chain reaction of problems that could affect your entire mouth.
Importance of Regular Exams Because we're committed to preventive dentistry, we recommend that all of our patients see us at least every six months for a routine cleaning and examination.
Indirect Resin An indirect resin is a custom-crafted, white-plastic restoration that is bonded in place to restore a damaged tooth.
Infective Endocarditis Infective endocarditis is a disease that can damage the valves and tissues of the heart. When bacteria enter the bloodstream and pass through the heart, they can cause infective endocarditis in patients.
Intraoral Camera While X-rays provide valuable information that we can't get from any other source, they can't show you everything that's going on in your mouth. The intraoral camera allows us to see so much more.
Invisalign Braces used to be the only way to straighten teeth affected by malocclusion (a bad bite). But now, we have a system called Invisalign that allows us to straighten your teeth without using the brackets and wires.
Large Cavity We can usually restore small cavities with fillings. However, when a large portion of your tooth has been damaged by decay, we'll need to remove a significant amount of the tooth.
Low Birth Weight What is periodontal disease? The main cause of periodontal disease, also called gum disease, is the accumulation of plaque. Plaque is the sticky film of food and bacteria that forms constantly on your teeth.
Lower Jaw Implants If you have a lower denture, you probably know how hard it can be to eat comfortably. When lower teeth are lost, the bone in the jaw continually recedes. Implants are a good alternative.
Lower Partial A lower partial denture can be a good way to replace missing teeth. When you save your remaining teeth and have a partial denture, you’ll chew better, look better, and have a healthier mouth.
Micro-Dentistry The widespread use of fluoride has made the surface of teeth so hard that the process of dental decay has actually changed.
Nutrition and Health Keeping your teeth and gums beautiful, healthy, and strong is about more than just brushing, flossing, and avoiding sweets. Good nutrition also plays a large role in your dental health.
Overdentures Loose or painful teeth are usually caused by periodontal disease. If many of your teeth have become loose or painful, it may be too late for us to save all of them. However, removing some of your teeth and replacing them with an overdenture may be a good solution.
Periodontal Disease Periodontal disease is an infection of the teeth, gums, and the bone that surrounds the teeth. Most people who have periodontal disease aren't even aware of it, because it's rarely painful.
Periodontal Homecare How to care for your teeth when you have periodontal disease You probably learned to keep your teeth plaque-free when you were a child.
Periodontal Surgery Before your surgery, you were given an anesthetic to ensure your comfort. This anesthetic typically leaves your lips, teeth and tongue feeling numb after the appointment.
Periostat Periodontal disease is an infection of the teeth, gums, and the bone that surrounds the teeth. It's caused by specific bacteria that live in the spaces between the teeth and gums, called pockets.
Permanent Bridge Now that we've placed your permanent bridge, it's important to follow these recommendations to ensure its success.
Permanent Bridge Now that we've placed your permanent bridge, it's important to follow these recommendations to ensure its success: Call our office if your bite feels uneven or if you have persistent sensitivity or discomfort.
Permanent Crown Now that we've placed your permanent crown, it's important to follow these recommendations to ensure its success.
Permanent Onlay Now that we've placed your permanent onlay, it's important to follow these recommendations to ensure its success: Call our office if your bite feels uneven or if you have persistent sensitivity or discomfort.
PFM Crowns When a front tooth needs a restoration, sometimes it's best to use a porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) crown. We might also choose a PFM crown to restore a tooth when a large filling has failed.
Porcelain Inlay The size and shape of a porcelain inlay is similar to that of a filling; both fit snugly inside the cusps of a tooth to replace the decayed part we removed.
Porcelain Onlay A porcelain onlay is fabricated to fit your tooth precisely and is bonded tightly in place to strengthen and protect the damaged tooth. Like a crown, an onlay covers and protects the tooth's biting surface.
Post & Core Sometimes, when a tooth has broken off due to fracture or decay, there's simply not enough of your natural tooth remaining to place a crown.
Posterior Gold We want the entire procedure to be comfortable for you, so the first thing we do is make sure your mouth is thoroughly numb. We then use the handpiece to shape the tooth and remove any decay.
Posterior Porcelain We want the entire procedure of getting a crown to be comfortable for you, so the first thing we do is make sure your mouth is thoroughly numb.
Posterior Resins Resin fillings are a great way to restore your back teeth. Because they bond directly to teeth, they provide the added strength that damaged teeth need to withstand frequent biting pressure.
Power Whitening New breakthroughs in light-activated gels and high intensity lights now make it possible to achieve a whiter, brighter smile -- right here in our office.
Precision Partial A partial denture replaces missing teeth and restores a person's bite. Traditional partial dentures use clasps to hold them in place.
Primary Teeth Extractions When things go right, baby teeth fall out on their own without any special attention. The permanent teeth, which lie right below the gums, come in directly underneath the baby teeth. If this process doesn't happen naturally, extraction may be necessary.
Problems with Dentures Some people believe that their dental problems will be over if they simply have their teeth removed and replaced with dentures. However, dentures may not always be the best answer.
Root Planing Routine cleanings in our office remove plaque and tartar that exist on your teeth above the gum line, but sometimes, especially if you don't floss regularly, plaque, tartar and bacteria toxify. Root planing and scaling is one of the most effective ways to treat gum disease before it becomes severe.
Sealants Sealants are a clear or white plastic that is placed in the grooves of the biting surfaces of back teeth, which are usually very difficult to keep clean. Sealants cut down the incidence of cavities drastically.
Single Tooth Extractions People are sometimes anxious when they have a tooth removed; fear of the unknown is often the cause for this anxiety. We'd like you to know about the steps we take when we extract a tooth.
Single Tooth Implants Whenever you lose a tooth, the biting forces change on the teeth next to the space, causing them to shift. A single tooth implant could solve this problem.
Smoking and Periodontal Disease It's common knowledge that smoking has been linked to both lung and heart disease. To add to this, recent studies have shown that tobacco use is likely one of the most significant risk factors in periodontal disease.
Snoring As many as 50 percent of adults have a snoring problem. Snoring is the sound that the soft tissues in your mouth and throat make as air passes through them, causing them to vibrate.
Teeth Whitening We offer many alternatives to meet your needs and brighten your smile. Three types of teeth whitening technologies are available.
Temporary Bridge Now that we've placed a temporary bridge, it's important to follow these recommendations to ensure the success of your final restoration: Call us if your temporary bridge comes off.
Temporary Crown Now that we've placed a temporary crown, it's important to follow these recommendations to ensure the success of your final restoration: Call us if your temporary crown comes off.
Temporary Onlay Now that we've placed a temporary onlay, it's important to follow these recommendations to ensure the success of your final restoration: It's common and not a problem for a small portion of your temporary onlay to wear away.
The Goal of Esthetic Dentistry The goal of cosmetic dentistry is to transform an average smile into a terrific smile! To accomplish this goal, we analyze every aspect of a smile and then offer solutions to correct the problem.
The Hygienist A dental hygienist is a highly trained and licensed oral health professional who provides you with educational, clinical, and therapeutic services to enhance your oral and overall health.
Tongue Piercing Body piercing is possibly the fastest growing form of self-expression today, and tongue and lip piercing seem to be among the most popular.
Tooth Extraction The roots of your teeth are encased in sockets in your jawbone and are held in place by ligaments. When your teeth and gums are healthy, the bone comes up high against the necks of your teeth.
Toothbrush Abrasion Toothbrush abrasion is caused by improper brushing. As strange as it may seem, teeth and gums are fragile tissues. Improper brushing can cause destructive problems.
Ultrasonic Scaling Periodontal disease, an infection of the teeth, gums, and bone that surrounds the teeth, is the number-one cause of adult tooth loss.
Ultrasonic Scaling Periodontal disease, an infection of the teeth, gums, and bone that surrounds the teeth, is the number-one cause of adult tooth loss.
Upper Jaw Implants Some people just aren't able to comfortably wear an upper denture. It doesn't stay in place, it gags them when they talk or chew, or it hurts constantly. An implant is a good alternative.
Upper Partial An upper partial denture can be a good way to replace missing teeth. When you save your remaining teeth and have a partial denture, you'll chew better, look better, and have a healthier mouth.
Veneers A veneer is a thin shell of porcelain or plastic that is bonded to a tooth to improve its color and shape. A veneer generally covers only the front and top of a tooth.
White Fillings Until recently, silver amalgam was the material most often used to restore decayed portions of your teeth, especially back teeth. However, these are not very attractive, but we can now offer you better-looking alternatives.
Wisdom Teeth Your last molars, called the third molars or wisdom teeth, typically begin to come in (erupt) during the late teen years or early twenties.
Worn Fillings If a small filling wears out, and most of your natural tooth is still intact, it's usually safe to replace it with another filling.
"Dr. Calderone has been my dentist for over 25 years. He’s earned my confidence and loyalty by consistently delivering quality dental and cosmetic care." David K.
Deltona, FL