Glossary of Dentistry

This glossary offers you understandable, precise and up-to-date explanations of dental terms. For each entry, you will find a further blog post for more in-depth insights. Ideal for patients, dental professionals and anyone who wants to better understand dental contexts.

3D dental scan: Digital data collection for planning and prosthetics

3D X-ray (dentistry): Three-dimensional X-ray for precise diagnostics

A-PRF: Blood concentrate to promote healing from own blood

Advanced PRF: Advanced platelet-rich fibrin for tissue regeneration

Aesthetic dental care: Dental treatments with a focus on aesthetics

Aesthetic dental treatment: Treatments for optimizing the visual appearance of teeth

Aesthetic dentistry: Dental care aimed at improving the appearance of teeth

Aesthetics: Study of beauty, including its application in dentistry

All-ceramic bridge: Bridge made entirely of ceramic, metal-free and aesthetic

All-ceramic crown: Crown made entirely of ceramic, no metal core

All-ceramic implant: Fully biocompatible ceramic dental implant

All-in-one treatment (dentistry): Combined holistic dental treatment in a single session

All-on-4: Tooth replacement on 4 implants for full arch

All-on-6: Full prosthetic restoration on six implants

All-on-8: Tooth replacement on eight implants for stability

Alternative to full denture: Fixed teeth instead of removable denture

Amalgam detoxification: Supportive mercury detoxification after amalgam removal

Amalgam filling: Filling made of mercury alloy, silver-colored

Amalgam removal: Removal of amalgam for preventive health reasons

Amalgam restoration: Holistic removal and replacement of amalgam fillings

Aphthae: Painful small ulcers in the oral mucosa

Artificial tooth roots: Implants as replacement for natural roots

Autologous PRF: Autologous fibrin concentrate to support healing

Bad breath: Unpleasant odor from the mouth

Biocompatible impression: Compatible impression for sensitive patients

Biological dentistry: Biological dentistry using body-friendly methods

Biological impression: Impression using biocompatible materials

Bite splint: Transparent splint to correct bite position

Bleaching: Tooth whitening using chemical agents

Bone augmentation: Medical technique for preserving or building bone

Bone grafting: Restoration of lost jawbone

Broken tooth: Partially damaged tooth due to trauma or decay

Bruxism: Dental term for teeth grinding or clenching

Calculus: Tartar below the gum line

Candida: Yeast fungus causing oral or intestinal infections

Candidiasis: Fungal infection caused by Candida species

Caries: Dental disease caused by acid-producing bacteria

CaviTAU®: 3D ultrasound to assess bone density and inflammation

Cavities: Colloquial term for tooth decay

CBCT (Cone Beam CT): CBCT for 3D imaging of the jaw

CCL5: Alternative name for inflammatory marker RANTES

Ceramic bridge: Fixed dental bridge made of tooth-colored ceramic

Ceramic crown: Tooth crown made of tooth-colored ceramic

Ceramic filling: Tooth-colored, durable ceramic filling

Ceramic implant: Metal-free dental implant made of ceramic

Ceramic inlay: Custom ceramic filling for larger defects

Ceramic inlay filling: Ceramic inlay used to restore natural tooth shape

Ceramic veneered bridge: Bridge with a ceramic veneer for improved aesthetics

Ceramic veneers: Veneers made of ceramic for a natural aesthetic result

Clicking in the jaw: Short clicking noise in jaw movement

Cold sores: Herpes infection with blisters on the lips

Combined prosthesis: Combination of fixed and removable dental restoration

Composite filling: White filling made of composite material

Composite inlay: Custom-made inlay made of composite

Composite restoration: Tooth reconstruction using composite material

Composite veneers: Veneers made of composite resin material

Conventional dentistry: Conventional textbook-based dentistry

Cosmetic dental enhancement: Cosmetic procedures improving the appearance of teeth

Cosmetic dentistry: Dental procedures focusing on visual appeal

Costen’s syndrome: Jaw joint disorder with pain and associated ear symptoms

Craniomandibular dysfunction: Disorder affecting the skull and jaw connection joint

Crowns and bridges: Fixed tooth replacement to restore dental arches

Damaged tooth: Tooth with structural damage or decay

Dark teeth: Teeth with gray or brown discoloration

Dens sapiens: Latin medical term for wisdom tooth

Dens serotinus: Alternative Latin term for wisdom tooth

Dental aesthetics: Harmonious appearance of the teeth and smile

Dental anxiety: Fear or panic related to dental treatment

Dental calculus: Latin term for dental calculus

Dental ceramic filling: Ceramic filling material for a natural look

Dental filling: Filling material used to treat cavities

Dental hygiene: Professional cleaning and care of the teeth

Dental implants: Artificial tooth roots to support restorations

Dental prevention: Early detection and prevention of oral diseases

Dental prophylaxis: Measures to prevent dental diseases

Dental prosthesis: Artificial replacement for missing natural teeth

Dental reflex zones: Zones on teeth connected to internal organs

Dental trauma: Tooth injury due to mechanical impact

Dental veneers: Veneers specifically designed to improve tooth aesthetics

Dentophobia: Extreme form of dental anxiety

Dentosophy: Therapy to balance jaw function and body alignment

Denture: Prosthetic tooth replacement for lost teeth

Digital impression: Contactless 3D capture of teeth with scanner

Digital volume tomography: 3D X-ray for detailed jaw and tooth imaging

Discolored teeth: Teeth with visible discoloration

Eights (informal dental term for wisdom teeth): Colloquial term for wisdom teeth

Endodontics: Science and treatment of the tooth interior

Environmental dentistry: Dentistry considering environmental medical aspects

Exodontia: Technical term for tooth extraction

Exposed tooth necks: Exposed areas due to gum recession

Extraction: Medical procedure for removing a tooth

Fatty degenerative osteonecrosis of the jawbone: Chronic inflammatory fat breakdown in the jawbone area

FDOK: Fatty-degenerative change in the jawbone

Fear of the dentist: Common term for fear of the dentist

Fetor ex ore: Clinical term for oral malodor

Filling: Material used to restore a dental defect

Fixed dental prosthesis: Tooth replacement fixed permanently in the mouth

Fixed prosthesis on 6 implants: Permanent tooth replacement on six supports

Fixed solution instead of denture: Implant-supported alternative to full denture

Fixed teeth in a day: Tooth replacement with immediate implant placement

Fluoride-free toothpaste: Toothpaste without added fluoride

Full reconstruction with 8 implants: Complete arch replacement using eight implants

Functional splint: Therapy splint to guide jaw movement

General anesthesia at the dentist: Deep sedation for extensive dental procedures

Gingival recession: Recession of the gum from the tooth neck

Gingivitis: Early, reversible stage of gum disease

Gum Disease: Outdated term for periodontitis without inflammation

Gum inflammation: Inflammation of gums, often caused by plaque

Gum recession: Receding gums with exposed tooth necks

Halitosis: Medical term for chronic bad breath

Herbal pain remedies: Herbal remedies for pain management

Herpes: Viral infection with blisters on skin or mucosa

Herpes labialis: Medical term for cold sores

Holistic dental treatment: Dentistry focused on overall body and health

Holistic dentistry: Dentistry considering body, mind, and environment

Home remedies for toothache: Simple, traditional pain relief methods

Immediate implant: Implant placed immediately after tooth extraction

Immediate implant restoration: Tooth replacement directly after implantation

Implant-supported prosthesis: Implant-supported dental prosthesis

Implants: Titanium screws or ceramic bodies for tooth anchoring

Inflamed gums: Redness, swelling, and bleeding of gum margins

Inflammation around the implant: Bacterial infection near the implant site

Inflammation of the periodontium: Lay term for periodontitis

Inflammatory marker RANTES: Chemokine that indicates inflammation in the body

Inlay: Custom filling for small to medium tooth defects

Intraoral scan: Non-contact 3D scan of teeth and jaws

Jaw augmentation: Bone grafting prior to dental implants

Jaw clicking: Clicking sound in the jaw during movement

Jaw complaints: General complaints or pain in the jaw area

Jaw inflammation: Inflammation in the jaw area with pain and swelling

Jaw joint dysfunction: Misregulation of the jaw joint and chewing muscles

Jaw osteitis: Bacterial infection of the jawbone

Jaw pain: General pain in upper or lower jaw

Jawbone inflammation: Chronic inflammation in the jawbone

Lumineers: Ultrathin veneers that require no tooth reduction

Metal filling: Filling made of metallic material like amalgam

Mouth ulcer: Open, painful spot in the mouth area

Mucosal blisters: Small blisters or lesions on the oral mucosa

Myoarthropathy: Disorder of jaw muscles and joints

Myofunctional therapy: Therapy to correct oral muscle imbalances

Natural impression materials: Impression materials without harmful additives

Natural painkillers: Plant-based or natural remedies for pain

Neuralgia-inducing cavitational osteonecrosis: Jawbone lesion with nerve pain and bone loss

NICO: Chronic fatty inflammation in the jawbone

Night guard: Splint to protect against teeth grinding

Nitrous oxide at the dentist: Sedative to reduce anxiety and pain

No-prep veneers: Veneers applied without prior tooth preparation

Nocturnal bruxism: Bruxism or clenching during sleep

Non-metal implant: Implant without any metal components

Occlusal splint: Plastic splint to relieve jaw and muscles

Oil chewing: Oil is chewed in the mouth to bind bacteria

Oil cleansing: Traditional oil rinsing for detoxification and oral hygiene

Oil pulling: Oil rinsing for detox and oral hygiene

Oil swishing: Alternative term for oil pulling involving saliva binding

One-stage implant: Single-stage implant with immediate restoration

Onlay: Overlay filling for covering larger tooth defects

Oral bacteria: Bacteria that affect oral health

Oral fetor: Latin term for foul mouth odor

Oral flora: Totality of microorganisms in the mouth

Oral herpes: Oral and labial herpes infection

Oral microbiome: Bacterial community in the oral cavity

Oral surgery: Surgical procedures in the oral cavity

Oral thrush: Candidiasis of the oral mucosa

Oral yeast infection: Candida infection with coating and burning in the mouth

Ozone in dentistry: Use of ozone for tissue regeneration and sterilization

Ozone therapy: Ozone treatment for disinfection and healing

Pain in the jaw: Sensation of pain in the jaw

Pain in the jaw joint: Discomfort when opening or chewing

Partial and full denture: Partial or complete removable dental prosthesis

PDC (Professional Dental Cleaning): Abbreviation for professional dental cleaning

PEEK prosthesis: Tooth replacement made of lightweight, metal-free polymer

Peri-implantitis: Inflammation around a dental implant

Periodontitis: Inflammation of the periodontium with bone loss

Periodontitis diagnostics: Diagnostics to identify and assess gum disease

Plastic filling: Malleable filling material that hardens inside the tooth

Platelet-rich fibrin: Blood-derived product with growth factors for healing

Porcelain crown: Older term for ceramic crown

Prevention: General measures for maintaining health

Professional dental cleaning: Deep dental cleaning by a specialist

Prophylaxis: Prevention of diseases, especially through hygiene

Prosthodontics: Dental specialty for prosthetics and restoration

RANTES: Inflammatory messenger often found in jawbone lesions

Removable dental prosthesis: Removable dental prosthesis for cleaning

Resin inlay: Inlay made of tooth-colored composite resin

Root canal treatment: Treatment of inflamed or dead dental nerves

Sedation with nitrous oxide: Gentle calming during dental treatment

Silver filling: Colloquial term for amalgam filling

Sinus floor elevation: Surgical elevation of the sinus floor

Sinus lift: Lifting the sinus floor for bone augmentation

Suprastructure: Suprastructure on implants to hold restorations

Tartar: Hard deposits on teeth from plaque mineralization

Tartar buildup: Hard buildup from saliva on teeth

Teeth clenching: Persistent strong clenching of teeth

Teeth grinding: Unconscious teeth grinding, often at night

Teeth in a day: Immediate implant placement and tooth restoration

Telescopic/bar-retained denture: Denture type with double crowns or bar attachments

Temporomandibular dysfunction: Jaw joint disorder causing muscle and movement pain

Temporomandibular pain: Pain in the temporomandibular joint area

Third molars: Anatomical term for wisdom teeth

TMD (Temporomandibular disorder): Functional disorder of the jaw joint and chewing muscles

TMD diagnostics: Diagnostics for detecting TMJ disorders

TMD splint: Splint to relieve jaw joint disorders

TMJ clicking: Joint clicking in the lower jaw area

TMJ disorder: TMJ-related symptoms or disorders

TMJ pain: Pain in the jaw joint area

Tooth bleaching: Whitening of discolored teeth using bleaching agents

Tooth decay: Bacterial destruction of hard tooth substance

Tooth discoloration: Dark or yellowish changes in tooth color

Tooth extraction: Extraction of a tooth from the jaw

Tooth fracture: Fracture of a tooth, usually from trauma

Tooth whitening: Cosmetic whitening of the teeth

Treatment under anesthesia: Dental procedure under general anesthesia

Ultrasound diagnostics (dentistry): Painless imaging to visualize soft tissue

Veneers: Thin shells for aesthetic dental veneering

Wisdom teeth: Last permanent molars in the dental arch

We are here to assist you

If you have questions about our treatment concepts, please feel free to contact us.