March, 2014 - Dental Vocabulary

Creating beautiful smiles....
March, 2014
	Thank you for showing your confidence in us through the referral of your friends! Visit our web site Basic Dental Knowledge Ever hear all those dental words being thrown around and feel out of the loop? Here is a guide to common dental terms that you may need to know. Cuspid: Your teeth that come to a point (right next to your front teeth) are called cuspids. Sometimes they are called canines as well. Teeth that come to two points are called bicuspids. Molar: Your back teeth behind your bicuspids. Crown: The part of your tooth above the gum. (The visible part of your tooth.) Root: The part of your tooth in your gums. Enamel: The hard surface of your teeth that protects the root of your tooth. Gingivae: Another name for your gums. Pulp: the soft inner structure of your tooth housing nerves and blood vessels. Antiseptic: A chemical that can be applied to your mouth to destroy germs. Aspirator: A straw like vacuum the dentist uses to suck all the saliva from your mouth. Caries: Another name for a cavity. Fluoride: A chemical that hardens your teeth and prevents tooth decay. Labial and Lingual: Anything having to do with your lips or tongue respectively. Mandible: Your lower jaw Tartar: Bacteria on your teeth than can lead to periodontal disease. Plaque: A sticky film that can form on the surface of your teeth that can turn into tartar.   Have a great day! Drs. Michael Carpentier & Grace-Mary Hume
ph: 925-944-5151 - website: http://www.healthysmileswalnutcreek.com