Mark O. Finney, DDS
Cosmetic Dentistry
New Brighton, MN
(651) 631-3100
  • Home
  • Welcome
    • Introduction
    • Meet Your Dentist Mark O. Finney
    • Meet Your Dental Team
    • Your First Visit
    • Patient information form
    • Office Tour
    • Financial Policy/Insurance
    • Special Offers
    • What Others Say About Us
    • Privacy Statement
    • Practice Newsletter
    • Patient Daily Reminders
  • Smile-Maintaining Dentistry
    • Dental Implants
    • Gum Disease Therapy
    • State-of-the-Art Oral DNA testing
    • One-Visit Porcelain Crown (CEREC®)
    • More CEREC
    • Night Guard (NTI) and Mouth Guard
    • Fillings / Restorations
    • Dentures/Partial Dentures
    • Permanent Bridges
    • Dental Crowns
    • Tooth Extractions
    • Root Canals
  • Smile-Enhancing Dentistry
    • Invisalign
    • Why Dr. Finney Believes Invisalign will Help YOU
    • More Invisalign!!
    • One-Visit Porcelain Crown (CEREC®)
    • Bonding
    • Porcelain Veneers
    • Teeth Whitening
    • Dental Implants
  • Dental Health
    • Tooth Numbers
    • Brushing and Flossing
    • Periodontal Maintenance
    • Comfort Care
    • Xrays and Thyroid Cancer
    • Oral Cancer Screening
    • Home Instructions
      • Fillings/Restorations
      • Dentures/Partials
      • Bridges
      • Crowns
      • Tooth Extractions
      • Root Canals
    • Dental Specialties
    • Dental Dictionary
  • Kids Dentistry
    • Your Child's First Visit to Our Office
    • Preventive Care
    • Forming/losing teeth- tooth fairy
    • Dental Sealants
    • Mouth Guards
  • Contact
    • Contact Information / Office Map

Dental Health

  • Tooth Numbers
  • Brushing and Flossing
  • Periodontal Maintenance
  • Comfort Care
  • Xrays and Thyroid Cancer
  • Oral Cancer Screening
  • Home Instructions
    • Fillings/Restorations
    • Dentures/Partials
    • Bridges
    • Crowns
    • Tooth Extractions
    • Root Canals
  • Dental Specialties
  • Dental Dictionary

Dental Dictionary

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K

Abscess

A collection of pus. Usually forms because of infection.

Abutment

A tooth or tooth structure which is responsible for anchoring a permanent  bridge or a denture.

Amalgam

A silver filling material containing mercury. Our office does not use amalgam.

Anesthetic

An agent that causes temporary loss of sensation/feeling.

Anterior

The front position.

Apex

The end of the root.

Attrition

Wearing of teeth due to activities such as chewing.

Avulsed

An injury that causes a tooth to be completely knocked out of the mouth.

Bitewing

A kind of dental x-ray taken with the teeth biting together. The main function of this kind of x-ray is to detect cavities between teeth and determine how much bone support is present

Bleaching

Whitening of teeth.

Bridge

A dental appliance  cemented inside the mouth to replace missing teeth.

Bruxism

Teeth grinding.

Canine

The third tooth from the middle front of the jaw. There are four canines and they are the longest teeth in humans.

Canker sore

An ulceration with yellow base and red border in the mouth. It can be caused by trauma or a virus.

Caries

Tooth decay.

Cavity

A hole in the tooth.

Cast

A model of teeth.

Cementation

The process of "gluing" an appliance/prosthesis on the supporting teeth.

Chlorhexidine

An anti-microbial agent available in many forms such as gels and rinses. It is an effective agent in controlling gum diseases.

Clasp

The metal arm extending from a removable partial denture. It helps hold onto natural tooth structure to and provide an anchor for the partial denture.

Cold sore

An ulcer or blister on lip caused by a virus.

Composite

White filling.

Cross-bite

An abnormal bite with the lower teeth aligning toward the check/ lip side more than the upper teeth.

Crown (porcelain/plastic/metal)

A crown is like a "cap" on a tooth. It covers the tooth partially or totally above the gum to restore its function, appearance, and strength.

Decay

An area of the tooth that becomes soft. This is caused by bacteria taking minerals out of the enamel and dentin of the tooth. An infection results and this must be treated.

Dentistry

A branch of medicine that involves diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of any disease concerning teeth, oral cavity, and associated structures.

Dentition

The position, type, and number of teeth in upper and lower jaw.

Denture

An appliance which replaces missing teeth and neighboring structures. There are many different types of dentures (immediate/complete or full/partial/overdenture/temporary) to satisfy different treatment requirements and patient preferences.

Desensitization

A procedure to reduce the sensitivity of teeth.

Diagnosis

The process of identifying dental disease.

Diastema

The space between two adjacent teeth.

Distal

Farthest from the front of the mouth.

Edentulous

Loss of all teeth.

Endodontics

Dentistry specializing in dental pulp (innermost part of a tooth containing nerves and blood vessels)

Eruption

The process of a tooth appearing in the mouth.

Excision

Cutting something off or removing it.

Extruded

When a tooth is partially pushed out of its socket.

Filling

Shaped replacement material used to restore a tooth's function and appearance.

Flipper

A temporary removable denture which replaces missing teeth during treatment

Floss

A thread/tape for cleaning between teeth, where bacteria thrive.

Fluoride Treatment

A mixture containing fluorine (an element known for its ability to strenghten). These treatments are applied to teeth in gels or rinses to strengthen teeth and prevent tooth decay.

Fracture

A break or crack in a tooth that weakens the tooth. Often the fracture extends into the root and damages the pulp.

Framework

The metal skeleton of a removable partial denture which supports false teeth and plastic attachments.

Gingivitis

The start of gum disease which includes bleeding and inflamed (reddened) gum.
 

Impaction

When a tooth can not erupt normally or is stuck underneath another tooth or bone.

Implant

A titanium cylinder placed in the jaw bone to support a dental appliance such as a crown, denture or permanent bridge.

Impression

A mold using a paste-like material to make a tooth model.

Incisal

The cutting edge of front teeth.

Incisor

The four upper and lower front teeth.

Inlay

A restoration (gold, porcelain, or composite) that securely fits in a tooth like a missing puzzle piece. It help restore the normal function, appearance, and strenght of the tooth.

Interproximal

The area between two adjacent teeth.

J

K


L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

Lingual

The side of the tooth towards the tongue.

Mesial

The side of the tooth towards the middle of the mouth.

Molar

The last three upper and lower teeth on both sides of the mouth.

Mouthguard

A device worn in the mouth to prevent injury to teeth and/or jaw during sport events.

Nightguard

A kind of mouthguard worn at night time to allow the jaw to relax and prevent damage to the teeth from clenching and grinding

Occlusal

The biting surface of the back teeth.

Occlusion

How the upper and lower teeth come together.

Onlay

A restoration that covers the entire biting surface of a tooth.

Open bite

When the upper front teeth are not able to contact the opposing lower teeth when the mouth is closed.

Orthodontics

A special field in dentistry involving diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of bite abnormalities.
 

Over bite

A healthy bite where upper teeth extend over lower teeth when they come together.

Overhang

Filling material that hangs over the border of the cavity.

Palate

The roof of the mouth.

Panoramic Radiograph

An x-ray film used to obtain a wide view of upper and lower jaw sand their associated structures.

Perforation

An opening on a tooth or other oral structure.

Periapical

The area surrounding the end of the root of a tooth.

Periodontics

A specialty of dentistry involving diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of gum (periodontal) disease.

Permanent teeth

Adult teeth. The first permanent tooth usually comes in around 6 years of age.

Pin

A piece of "nail-like" metal used to help retain a filling.

Polish

A process to make a tooth, filling or denture smooth and glossy.

Pontic

The false tooth in a permanent bridge used to replace the missing tooth.

Post

Used as a support for reconstructing a broken tooth.

Posterior

Located at the back.

Pre-authorization

An approval from particular authority (usually insurance company) before any action (treatment) is carried out.

Pre-medication

Medication needed before treatment.

Premolar

The two teeth located in front of the molars.

Prescription

A written statement (from a doctor to a pharmacist) about a medication for a patient. The type, amount and directions of use are provided as part of the prescription
 

Primary teeth

Baby teeth.

Prophylaxis/prophy

The procedure of teeth polishing. It also means the prevention of diseases.

Prosthesis

An artificial piece which replaces missing teeth and their associated structures.

Prosthodontics

Dentistry involving prosthesis.

Pulp

The innermost part of a tooth containing nerves and blood vessels.

Pulpectomy

The removal of the whole pulp inside a tooth.

Pulpotomy

The removal of the top part of the pulp inside a tooth.

Q

Radiograph

An x-ray picture.

Recall

Regular checkup and teeth cleaning appointments to optimize oral health and a beautiful smile.

Recementation

Reattaching a crown or bridge.

Restoration

Any shaped replacement material used to restore the normal appearance and function of a tooth or area in the mouth. It can be a filling,  crown, permanent bridge, denture,etc.

Retainer

A plastic mold or wire  used to maintain the position of teeth after orthodontic treatment.  It can be permanent or removable.

Retreatment

The process of revising root canal treatment.

Root

The bottom part of tooth. It anchors the tooth to its supporting bone.

Root canal

The canal inside the root of the tooth which contains nerves and blood vessels.

Root canal treatment

A treatment of the root canal to remove infection.

Root planing

Cleaning the root areas of teeth.

Rubber dam

A non-latex (rubber) sheet that fits around teeth. It isolates the treatment area from the rest of the mouth.

Scaling

Cleaning teeth below the gumline.

Sealant

A thin layer of plastic-like material covering the deep grooves and pits on molars and premolars to prevent decay.

Sedation

Using medication to calm a patient.

Space Maintainer

An appliance to hold the space between teeth.

Splint

An appliance or a material to prevent movement of a mobile part.

Tempromandibular Joint (TMJ)

The joint in front of the ear that links the lower jaw to the upper jaw, which is part of the skull.

Torus

An nonpathologic outgrowth of bone. It usually develops on the roof of the mouth or around the lingual or tongue side of the lower jaw.

U

Veneer

A layer of tooth-colored material (porcelain or composite) that attaches to the front of the tooth. It improves the appearance of the tooth by restoring its shape or color.

Wisdom tooth

The eighth (also the last) tooth from the front of the mouth.

Xerostomia

Dry mouth

Y

Z





Return to top

 

Mark O. Finney, DDS | Dentist New Brighton MN
2459 15th Street Northwest • New Brighton, MN 55112
Phone: (651) 631-3100 • Fax: (651) 631-1728

Dentist Dr. Finney practices family dentistry including dental implants, invisalign, tooth extractions, crowns, fillings, bridges,
TMJ night guards, porcelain veneers & teeth whitening to Arden Hills, Fridley, Columbia Heights, Shoreview, St. Anthony, Blaine & Mounds View MN

home | patient information | treatments | cosmetic treatments | dental health | meet us | contact us | sitemap | disclaimer

Dental Website Design by PBHS 2010©