Understand what happens
in your mouth.
150 terms. Clear answers. Visual models and short films that get straight to the point.
Clear explanations for patients, with an optional learning section for dental trainees and teams.
From A to Z.
150 explanations
Terms beginning with A
6 explanations
AI-generatedAdhesive bonding
How is a filling bonded to a tooth?
Open explanation
AI-generatedAligner attachment
What are the small aligner attachments for?
Open explanation
AI-generatedAngular cheilitis
Why do the corners of the mouth keep cracking?
Open explanation
AI-generatedAphthous ulcers
What are those small, painful sores in the mouth?
Open explanation
AI-generatedApical periodontitis
What becomes inflamed around a root tip?
Open explanation
AI-generatedApicectomy (root-end surgery)
What is removed during an apicectomy?
Open explanationTerms beginning with B
8 explanations
AI-generatedBaby teeth
Why do the first teeth matter?
Open explanation
AI-generatedBad breath
Does bad breath always come from the stomach?
Open explanation
AI-generatedBitewing X-ray
What does a bitewing X-ray show?
Open explanation
AI-generatedBleeding gums
Do bleeding gums always mean periodontitis?
Open explanation
AI-generatedBone augmentation
Why might bone augmentation be needed before an implant?
Open explanation
AI-generatedBrackets / fixed braces
How do small attachments move teeth?
Open explanation
AI-generatedBruxism
Does clenching count as bruxism too?
Open explanationAI-generatedBurning tongue
Why can the tongue burn even when it looks normal?
Open explanationTerms beginning with C
8 explanations
AI-generatedCast-metal partial denture
How does a metal-framework partial denture stay in place?
Open explanation
AI-generatedCeramic implant
What distinguishes a ceramic implant?
Open explanation
AI-generatedChlorhexidine
What can CHX do — and when is it too much?
Open explanationAI-generatedClear aligner
How can clear trays move teeth?
Open explanationAI-generatedComposite
What is a tooth-coloured filling made of?
Open explanation
AI-generatedCone beam CT (CBCT / DVT)
When can a three-dimensional X-ray help?
Open explanationAI-generatedCraniomandibular dysfunction (CMD)
Is CMD the same as teeth grinding?
Open explanation
AI-generatedCrossbite
What is different in a crossbite?
Open explanationTerms beginning with D
26 explanations
AI-generatedDeep bite
When the upper front teeth overlap too far
Open explanation
AI-generatedDental abrasion
What does mechanical tooth wear mean?
Open explanationAI-generatedDental abscess
What is a dental abscess?
Open explanation
AI-generatedDental anxiety
How can I discuss anxiety about an appointment?
Open explanation
AI-generatedDental bridge
How does a bridge support a replacement tooth?
Open explanation
AI-generatedDental chart / tooth numbers
What does tooth “one six” mean?
Open explanation
AI-generatedDental crowding
Why do teeth overlap or stand out of line?
Open explanation
AI-generatedDental crown
Does your own tooth remain beneath a crown?
Open explanation
AI-generatedDental dam
Why is a tooth isolated with a sheet?
Open explanation
AI-generatedDental erosion
How can acids wear away tooth structure?
Open explanation
AI-generatedDental filling
What does a filling do in a tooth?
Open explanation
AI-generatedDental fluorosis
How do fluorosis-related enamel marks develop?
Open explanationAI-generatedDental implant
Which part of a replacement tooth is the implant?
Open explanation
AI-generatedDental mock-up
How can a planned tooth shape be tried out?
Open explanationAI-generatedDental pulp
What does the term “tooth nerve” really mean?
Open explanation
AI-generatedDental sinus tract
What can a small gum 'pimple' mean?
Open explanationAI-generatedDentine
What lies beneath the enamel?
Open explanationAI-generatedDentine hypersensitivity
Why does cold water sometimes cause a sharp pain?
Open explanation
AI-generatedDenture
What does a removable denture replace?
Open explanation
AI-generatedDenture cleaning
How do removable dentures stay clean?
Open explanationAI-generatedDenture reline
What helps when a denture no longer fits?
Open explanationAI-generatedDenture sore spot
Why has a denture started to rub?
Open explanation
AI-generatedDiastema
Is a gap between front teeth a disease?
Open explanationAI-generatedDMFT index
How is experience of tooth decay counted?
Open explanationAI-generatedDry mouth
What is missing when your mouth feels dry?
Open explanation
AI-generatedDry socket (alveolar osteitis)
Why might pain increase after a tooth is removed?
Open explanationTerms beginning with E
4 explanations
AI-generatedEarly childhood caries
Why do the first teeth need protection?
Open explanation
AI-generatedElectric toothbrush
What does the motor do — and what still needs your hand?
Open explanationAI-generatedEnamel
What protects the visible crown of a tooth?
Open explanation
AI-generatedEnamel hypoplasia
What does too little enamel mean?
Open explanationTerms beginning with F
3 explanations
AI-generatedFissure sealant
What does a fissure sealant cover?
Open explanationAI-generatedFluoride
How does fluoride help prevent tooth decay?
Open explanation
AI-generatedFront tooth injury
What should I do after an injury to a front tooth?
Open explanationTerms beginning with G
7 explanations
AI-generatedGeographic tongue
What do changing patches on the tongue mean?
Open explanationAI-generatedGerman dental treatment and cost plan
How do I read a German treatment and cost plan for tooth replacement?
Open explanation
AI-generatedGingivitis
What becomes inflamed in gingivitis?
Open explanationAI-generatedGlass ionomer cement
What is glass ionomer cement?
Open explanationAI-generatedGum graft
Why is gum tissue transplanted?
Open explanationAI-generatedGum recession
Why does a tooth suddenly look longer?
Open explanation
AI-generatedGummy smile
When more gum shows during a smile
Open explanationTerms beginning with H
2 explanations
Terms beginning with I
9 explanationsAI-generatedImmediate implant placement
Does an immediate implant mean fixed teeth straight away?
Open explanationAI-generatedImmediate loading
Can an implant support a tooth immediately?
Open explanation
AI-generatedImplant abutment
What connects an implant to a dental crown?
Open explanation
AI-generatedImplant-supported bridge
Does every missing tooth need its own implant?
Open explanation
AI-generatedIncreased overjet
What does the horizontal gap between front teeth mean?
Open explanation
AI-generatedInlay
How is an inlay different?
Open explanationAI-generatedInterdental cleaning
How can the spaces between teeth be cleaned?
Open explanation
AI-generatedInterproximal reduction (IPR)
Why is enamel sometimes reduced between teeth?
Open explanation
AI-generatedIntraoral scan
What is a digital impression?
Open explanationTerms beginning with L
3 explanations
AI-generatedLeukoplakia
Why should a persistent white patch be examined?
Open explanationAI-generatedLocal anaesthesia
What does local anaesthesia do?
Open explanation
AI-generatedLoose teeth
Why might a permanent tooth become loose?
Open explanationTerms beginning with M
3 explanations
AI-generatedMandibular advancement device
How can an oral appliance keep the airway more open?
Open explanation
AI-generatedMolar-incisor hypomineralisation (MIH)
Why can newly erupted molars be fragile?
Open explanationAI-generatedMouthwash
When can a rinse support oral care?
Open explanationTerms beginning with O
7 explanations
AI-generatedOcclusal splint
What can a splint do for teeth grinding?
Open explanation
AI-generatedOcclusion
What does the bite mean in dentistry?
Open explanation
AI-generatedOpen bite
Why do some opposing teeth not touch?
Open explanationAI-generatedOral microbiome
What lives inside our mouths?
Open explanation
AI-generatedOral thrush
When is a white coating more than tongue coating?
Open explanation
AI-generatedOrthopantomogram / OPG
What does a panoramic dental X-ray show?
Open explanationAI-generatedOsseointegration
How does an implant join with bone?
Open explanationTerms beginning with P
18 explanations
AI-generatedPartial crown
Why might a tooth not need a full crown?
Open explanation
AI-generatedPeri-implant mucositis
What is soft-tissue inflammation around an implant?
Open explanation
AI-generatedPeri-implantitis
Can tissues around an implant become inflamed?
Open explanation
AI-generatedPeriapical dental X-ray
Why is sometimes just one tooth X-rayed?
Open explanation
AI-generatedPericoronitis
Why do the gums around a wisdom tooth become inflamed?
Open explanation
AI-generatedPeriodontal charting
What does a periodontal chart record?
Open explanationAI-generatedPeriodontal pocket
What does the probe measure at the gums?
Open explanationAI-generatedPeriodontal Screening Index (PSI)
What is the brief gum screening check for?
Open explanationAI-generatedPeriodontitis
Why does periodontitis affect more than the gums?
Open explanationAI-generatedPeriodontium
What holds a tooth in the jaw?
Open explanation
AI-generatedPlaque / biofilm
What is the soft coating on teeth?
Open explanation
AI-generatedPost and core
What is a post in a root-filled tooth for?
Open explanation
AI-generatedPrecision-attachment denture
How does a denture attach to a precision attachment?
Open explanation
AI-generatedProfessional dental cleaning
What does professional dental cleaning involve?
Open explanationAI-generatedPulp necrosis
What does a “dead tooth nerve” mean?
Open explanation
AI-generatedPulp sensibility / cold test
What does a tooth’s cold response tell us?
Open explanationAI-generatedPulpitis
What becomes inflamed in pulpitis?
Open explanationAI-generatedPulpotomy
Can part of the dental pulp be preserved?
Open explanationTerms beginning with R
11 explanations
AI-generatedRadicular cyst
What is a cyst at a tooth root?
Open explanation
AI-generatedRDA value
How abrasive is a toothpaste?
Open explanationAI-generatedRemineralisation
Can early mineral loss be reversed?
Open explanationAI-generatedResin infiltration
How can an early decay lesion be infiltrated?
Open explanation
AI-generatedRetainer
Why do straightened teeth not simply stay straight?
Open explanation
AI-generatedRoot canal filling
What does a root canal filling seal?
Open explanation
AI-generatedRoot canal retreatment
Why might root canal treatment be repeated?
Open explanationAI-generatedRoot canal treatment
Does the tooth root stay in place?
Open explanation
AI-generatedRoot caries
Can an exposed tooth root develop decay?
Open explanationAI-generatedRoot cementum
Is root cementum a natural part of a tooth?
Open explanation
AI-generatedRoot resorption
What does loss of tooth-root tissue mean?
Open explanationTerms beginning with S
7 explanations
AI-generatedSaliva
Why is saliva more than water?
Open explanationAI-generatedSecondary caries
What does decay at a filling margin mean?
Open explanation
AI-generatedSinus lift
What is lifted during a sinus lift?
Open explanation
AI-generatedSleep apnoea
When might snoring mean something more?
Open explanation
AI-generatedSpace maintainer
When should a baby tooth’s space be preserved?
Open explanation
AI-generatedSports mouthguard
How does a mouthguard protect during sport?
Open explanationAI-generatedSupportive periodontal therapy / follow-up
Why does care continue after treatment?
Open explanationTerms beginning with T
21 explanations
AI-generatedTartar
Why does soft dental plaque harden?
Open explanation
AI-generatedTeething
What helps when the first teeth emerge?
Open explanation
AI-generatedTelescopic denture
How does a telescopic denture stay in place?
Open explanationAI-generatedTemporary restoration
What is a temporary dental restoration for?
Open explanationAI-generatedTemporomandibular joint (TMJ)
How does the lower jaw move?
Open explanationAI-generatedThumb and pacifier sucking
When can sucking habits affect the bite?
Open explanationAI-generatedTongue coating
What does a coating on the tongue mean?
Open explanation
AI-generatedTooth avulsion
A tooth is completely knocked out – what matters now?
Open explanation
AI-generatedTooth decay
Does tooth decay always mean a cavity?
Open explanation
AI-generatedTooth discolouration
Is the colour on the tooth or inside it?
Open explanationAI-generatedTooth extraction
What does removing a tooth involve?
Open explanationAI-generatedTooth fracture
What does a broken tooth mean?
Open explanation
AI-generatedTooth luxation
Why is a tooth in a different position after an accident?
Open explanationAI-generatedTooth replacement
Why can a new molar appear without a loose tooth?
Open explanationAI-generatedTooth rescue box
How can a knocked-out tooth be protected?
Open explanationAI-generatedTooth root
What lies beneath the visible tooth crown?
Open explanation
AI-generatedTooth whitening
How is the natural tooth colour lightened?
Open explanationAI-generatedToothache
What can pain tell us — and what can it not?
Open explanationAI-generatedToothbrushing technique
How do all tooth surfaces get clean?
Open explanationAI-generatedToothpaste
What makes a toothpaste suitable?
Open explanationAI-generatedTrismus
Why will the mouth not open properly?
Open explanationTerms beginning with U
2 explanations
Terms beginning with V
1 explanation
Terms beginning with W
2 explanationsTerms beginning with X
1 explanationTerms beginning with Z
1 explanationNo matching entry. Try another search term or topic.