Dental Glossary A–Z

This page is general information and does not replace an examination.

A

Abscess (dental abscess)

A build-up of pus in a tooth or the gum, caused by a bacterial infection. Typical signs include intense toothache, redness, a swollen face or jaw, a bad taste and sometimes a high temperature. A dental abscess does not go away on its own and needs dental treatment ^[9]. Swelling that spreads to the eye or neck, or difficulty breathing or swallowing, is a medical emergency.

Abutment

The connector between an implant and the crown, bridge or denture. Stock abutments are prefabricated; custom abutments are designed for one patient; multi-unit abutments correct implant angles in full-arch cases such as All-on-4.
Read more: Dental implants guide

All-on-4

A full-arch bridge screwed onto four implants in one jaw. The two back implants are often tilted to avoid the sinus or nerve. A CBCT scan and the examination decide whether four are enough.
Read more: All-on-4 guide

All-on-6

The same full-arch principle as All-on-4, but with six implants carrying the fixed bridge in one jaw. Which option suits depends on bone volume, bone quality and bite forces, assessed on a CBCT scan before planning.
Read more: All-on-6 guide

Alveolar bone

The part of the upper and lower jaw that holds the tooth roots. After a tooth is removed, this ridge of bone changes shape and can lose width and height, which can make later implant treatment harder ^[7]. Its volume, measured on a CBCT scan, decides whether an implant can be placed directly or a bone graft is needed first.

Apicoectomy (root-end surgery)

Surgery at the tip of a root: the infected tissue and the root end are removed and the root is sealed. It is considered when infection persists after root canal treatment and re-treatment is not the better option.
Read more: Root canal treatment

B

Bite (occlusion)

The way the upper and lower teeth meet when you close your mouth and chew. A balanced bite spreads chewing forces over many teeth. Before crowns, veneers or implant bridges are fitted, the dentist checks the bite, because a restoration that touches too early or too hard can chip, loosen or make the jaw uncomfortable.

Black triangle

A small dark gap near the gum line between two teeth, where the gum no longer fills the space. It can follow gum recession, bone loss or the shape of the teeth or crowns. Depending on the cause, it may be reduced with composite bonding or a change in crown or veneer shape, usually after any gum problem has been treated first.

Bone graft

Material placed in the jaw to rebuild bone that is too thin or low to hold an implant. Small grafts often go in with the implant; larger ones heal first, about 6 months on average at our clinic.

Bridge (dental bridge)

A fixed replacement for missing teeth. A conventional bridge is cemented onto crowns on the neighbouring teeth; a cantilever bridge is anchored on one side; an implant-supported bridge rests on implants ^[15]. The replacement tooth is a pontic.
Read more: Implant or bridge: decision guide

Bruxism

Repetitive jaw-muscle activity with clenching or grinding of the teeth and/or bracing or thrusting of the lower jaw; experts distinguish sleep bruxism and awake bruxism ^[1]. It can wear and crack teeth and break crowns or veneers. Our crown and bridge guarantees exclude fracture due to bruxism, and patients who grind their teeth must wear the night guard we provide.

C

CAD/CAM

Computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing: the tooth is scanned digitally, the crown, veneer or bridge is designed on screen and then milled or printed. At Ulubey Dental Clinic we scan with a Dentsply Sirona Primescan intraoral scanner and work in a fully digital workflow together with our partner laboratory.

Caries (tooth decay)

Tooth decay: a sugar-driven, biofilm-mediated disease that dissolves enamel and dentine over time ^[5]. Early lesions can be stopped with fluoride and cleaning; a cavity usually needs a filling, deep decay a root canal.

CBCT (cone-beam CT)

Cone-beam computed tomography: a 3D X-ray of the jaw. It shows bone height and width, the nerve canal and the sinus in three dimensions, which a flat panoramic image cannot. Our dentists evaluate CBCT scans when a case needs them, for example to plan implants, a bone graft or a sinus lift.

Cementation

Fixing a crown, bridge or veneer permanently to the tooth with dental cement or an adhesive resin. Veneers and glass-ceramic crowns are bonded adhesively, which needs a clean, dry field; our veneer cementation protocol describes each step.
Read more: Veneer cementation protocol

Ceramic (zirconia) implant

A dental implant made of zirconia instead of titanium, chosen by some patients who prefer a metal-free option. It is designed to integrate with the bone in the same way as a titanium implant, but the range of shapes and components is narrower. We place ceramic implants when the case is suitable; the choice is made after examination.

Chlorhexidine

An antiseptic used in some mouth rinses and gels to reduce bacteria in the mouth, for example for a limited period after oral surgery. Use it only as your dentist or pharmacist instructs. This glossary does not give any dosing or treatment regimen; follow the written instructions you receive after your own treatment.

Composite

Tooth-coloured resin filling material that is bonded to the tooth and hardened with a curing light. It is used for fillings, composite bonding and composite veneers. Composite can be repaired and added to later, but it is not as stain- or wear-resistant as porcelain ^[16].

Composite bonding

Adding composite resin directly to teeth to repair chips, close small gaps or change their shape, often with little or no removal of enamel. It can be repaired and added to later.
Read more: Composite bonding guide

Crown (dental crown)

A cap covering the whole visible tooth to restore shape, strength and appearance, for example after a fracture or root canal treatment, or on an implant. Our standard crowns are Amann Girrbach Zolid zirconia or IPS e.max.
Read more: Zirconia crowns

Crown lengthening

A gum procedure, with reshaping of the underlying bone where needed, that exposes more of a tooth. It is used so that a crown can be placed on sound tooth structure, or so that a short tooth looks longer. It differs from gum contouring, which reshapes the soft tissue only and leaves the bone untouched.

Curettage (periodontal)

Cleaning of inflamed gum pockets below the gum line under local anaesthesia, removing hardened deposits and inflamed tissue so that the gum can heal and tighten. It is one step in treating periodontitis and is planned per quarter of the mouth (quadrant) after a full gum examination.

D

Deep cleaning (scaling and root planing)

Removal of plaque and tartar above and just below the gum line, followed by smoothing of the root surfaces where needed. It is the basis of gum-disease treatment and of keeping implants healthy.
Read more: Professional teeth cleaning

Dental implant

A small titanium or zirconia screw placed in the jawbone to replace a tooth root. After it has integrated with the bone, it carries a crown, bridge or denture through an abutment.
Read more: Dental implants guide

Dental tourism

Travelling to another country for dental treatment. Key checks are the clinic’s licence and health-tourism authorisation, who will treat you, the written quote and how aftercare works once you are home.
Read more: Is dental treatment in Turkey safe?

Denture

A removable replacement for missing teeth. A complete denture replaces all teeth in a jaw; a partial denture fills gaps; an immediate denture is fitted on extraction day. We make complete and partial removable dentures.
Read more: Implants or dentures

Diastema

A visible gap between two teeth, most often between the upper front teeth. Possible causes include tooth size, a low-attached lip frenum, gum disease or habits. Depending on the cause, it can be closed with orthodontics, composite bonding or veneers, sometimes combined with a frenectomy.

Digital smile design (DSD)

Planning a new smile on photos, video and digital scans before any tooth is touched, so that shape, length and proportions can be discussed first. It is usually followed by a mock-up you can see in your own mouth.
Read more: Smile design or veneers

Dry socket (alveolar osteitis)

A complication after a tooth extraction in which the blood clot in the socket is missing or lost, leaving bone exposed. It is characterised by prolonged moderate to severe pain at the extraction site; most studies report it after 0.5–5% of extractions ^[6]. Pain that gets worse a few days after an extraction needs a dental check.

E

E.max (lithium disilicate)

Ivoclar IPS e.max is a lithium disilicate glass ceramic used for veneers, crowns and inlays. It is more translucent than most zirconia, which suits front teeth, and it is bonded adhesively. We use IPS e.max for E.max veneers and crowns.
Read more: Zirconia vs porcelain crowns

Enamel

The hard, mineral outer layer of the tooth crown. Enamel cannot grow back once it is lost, which is why we keep as much of it as possible when preparing teeth for veneers or crowns. Acid from sugar-fed plaque, acidic drinks and tooth grinding can all wear it away.

Endodontics

The field of dentistry that deals with the pulp and root canals inside the tooth. It includes root canal treatment, re-treatment of a previously treated tooth and apicoectomy, all aimed at keeping the natural tooth.
Read more: Root canal treatment

Extraction (simple, surgical, impacted)

Removal of a tooth. A simple extraction lifts out a fully visible tooth; a surgical extraction needs a small cut in the gum and sometimes removal of bone or sectioning of the tooth; an impacted tooth is blocked under gum or bone, typically a wisdom tooth. Extractions are carried out under local anaesthesia.

F

Filling (composite, MTA pulp capping)

Material that restores a tooth after decay or a fracture is removed. We use tooth-coloured composite. When decay lies close to the nerve, a protective MTA layer (pulp capping) may go under the filling.
Read more: General dentistry

Fit-to-fly letter

A signed English letter from your dentist stating that, from a dental point of view, you are fit to fly after treatment. We provide it on request; it is not an official certificate.
Read more: Flying after dental implants

Fixture (implant fixture)

The part of a dental implant that sits in the bone, the artificial root, as distinct from the abutment and the crown on top. Our implant fixtures carry the manufacturer’s lifetime guarantee, conditional on recommended check-ups. A fixture guarantee does not mean every implant integrates; healing is biological and depends on factors such as smoking, uncontrolled diabetes and gum health.

Flap surgery

A gum procedure in which the gum is gently lifted back under local anaesthesia so that the dentist can clean deep pockets and root surfaces under direct vision, before the gum is stitched back into place. It is used when deep pockets remain after non-surgical cleaning.

Frenectomy

Release or removal of a frenum, the small band attaching the lip or tongue to the gum. It may be considered when a tight frenum pulls on the gum, contributes to a front-tooth gap or restricts the tongue.
Read more: General dentistry

Full-arch

Replacing all the teeth in one jaw with a fixed bridge on implants, for example All-on-4 or All-on-6, or rebuilding all teeth in an arch with crowns. The approach is chosen after a CBCT scan and examination.
Read more: Full-mouth dental implants

G

Gingivitis

Inflammation confined to the gums and caused by dental plaque: red, swollen gums that may bleed on brushing. It is reversible once the plaque biofilm is removed or disrupted ^[3]. Left untreated, gum inflammation is considered the key risk factor for the onset of periodontitis ^[3].

Gum contouring

Reshaping the gum line to correct an uneven or gummy smile by removing a small amount of soft tissue. At our clinic it is done with a scalpel technique. When the underlying bone also needs reshaping, the procedure becomes crown lengthening and is planned individually.

Guided biofilm therapy (GBT)

A cleaning protocol that first stains plaque so it becomes visible, then removes it with air-polishing powder and water (Airflow), using ultrasonic scaling only where tartar remains. We offer it as part of professional cleaning.
Read more: Professional teeth cleaning

Gummy smile

A smile that shows a wide band of gum above the upper teeth. Causes include short or partly covered teeth, a very active upper lip or the shape of the upper jaw. Because the right approach depends on the cause, a gummy smile is examined before any gum contouring or crown lengthening is chosen.

H

Halitosis (bad breath)

Bad breath. Common causes include strong-smelling food and drink, gum disease, holes in the teeth, infection and smoking; some medical conditions such as dry mouth, tonsillitis and acid reflux can also cause it ^[11]. Cleaning the teeth, the tongue and the spaces between the teeth helps; bad breath that persists needs a dental check.

Health-tourism authorisation (ST-6000)

The Turkish Ministry of Health’s International Health Tourism Authorisation Certificate. Ulubey Dental Clinic holds certificate ST-6000, dated 28.05.2025, is listed on HealthTürkiye and is inspected under the authorisation’s requirements.
Read more: How to verify a dental clinic

I

Immediate loading

Fitting a temporary tooth or bridge on implants straight after placement or within days. It is possible only when the site suits loading and sufficient insertion torque is achieved, so it is never guaranteed in advance.
Read more: Same-day dental implants

Impacted tooth

A tooth that cannot fully come through because it is blocked by another tooth, bone or gum; wisdom teeth are the most common example. An impacted tooth that causes no problems is usually monitored; one that causes pain, infection, decay or a cyst may need to be removed ^[13].

Implant passport

An English-language record of each implant you receive: brand, diameter, length, LOT and REF with the original label stickers, plus tooth positions and short notes, signed by the dentist. Every implant patient receives one.
Read more: Implant brands and originality

Inlay and onlay

An inlay is a laboratory- or CAD/CAM-made filling that is fitted into the cavity of a back tooth and bonded in place. It is used when a cavity is too large for a direct filling to last well but a full crown is not yet needed. An onlay is similar but also covers one or more cusps. We make ceramic inlays and onlays.

Insertion torque

The turning force, measured in newton-centimetres (Ncm), needed to seat an implant in the bone. It is one indicator of how firmly the implant sits at placement (primary stability) and helps the dentist decide whether a temporary tooth can be attached straight away or the implant should heal unloaded first.

Intraoral scanner

A handheld camera that records a 3D digital model of the teeth and gums and replaces most traditional impression trays. We use a Dentsply Sirona Primescan; the scan is used to design crowns, veneers, inlays and implant restorations, and it can be shared with the partner laboratory digitally.

L

Local anaesthesia

An injection that numbs one area of the mouth so that treatment can be done while you are awake. The numbness wears off over the following hours. Tell your dentist about your medicines, allergies and any heart or other medical conditions before any injection, so the anaesthetic can be chosen safely.

M

Maryland bridge

A resin-bonded bridge: a replacement tooth with thin wings that are bonded to the back of the neighbouring teeth, so those teeth need little or no drilling. It is mainly used to replace a single missing front tooth ^[15]. Whether it is suitable depends on the bite and the neighbouring teeth.

Membrane (barrier membrane)

A thin barrier sheet placed over a bone graft to keep gum tissue out while new bone forms. Resorbable collagen membranes dissolve on their own. The collagen membrane we currently use is of porcine (pig) origin; non-porcine membrane and graft alternatives are available on request and chosen by the dentist, so tell us before planning if you prefer to avoid animal-derived materials.

Mock-up

A temporary try-in of a planned smile, made in tooth-coloured resin and placed over your own teeth without drilling, so that you can see and test the new shape and length before treatment. Changes are made at this stage, not after the final veneers or crowns are made.

Monolithic zirconia

Zirconia milled from one solid block, without a veneering porcelain layer that could chip. A recent systematic review reported significantly fewer ceramic fractures and chipping for monolithic zirconia single crowns ^[8].
Read more: Zirconia crowns

Mouth ulcer

A small, painful sore inside the mouth. Most mouth ulcers clear up on their own within one or two weeks. See a dentist or doctor if an ulcer lasts longer than 3 weeks, keeps coming back or looks different from usual ^[10].

N

Night guard

A custom-made splint worn over the teeth at night to protect them, and any crowns or veneers, from grinding and clenching forces. A night guard is included with our veneer treatments, and patients who grind their teeth and have crowns or bridges must wear the night guard we provide.

O

Osseointegration

The process by which jawbone grows into close contact with the implant surface and anchors it. We plan about 3 months for it, and about 6 months on average with bone grafting or an open sinus lift.
Read more: Osseointegration explained

Overdenture

A removable denture that clips onto implants or attachments, so it is more stable than a conventional denture but can still be taken out for cleaning. It is often weighed against a fixed full-arch bridge.
Read more: Implants or dentures

P

Panoramic X-ray

A single X-ray that shows all the teeth, both jaws, the jaw joints and the sinuses in one image. We take a panoramic X-ray for every patient as a basis for diagnosis, and it is also one of the documents for the yearly guarantee check-up.

Passive fit

In full-arch implant bridges, a framework that seats on all implants without strain before any screw is tightened. A poor fit can put stress on screws, implants and bone, which makes fit a key quality point in full-arch work.
Read more: Passive fit in full-arch implants

Peri-implantitis

A plaque-associated inflammation of the tissues around an implant with progressive loss of supporting bone ^[2]. Its earlier stage, peri-implant mucositis, shows bleeding on gentle probing ^[2]. Regular cleaning and check-ups help prevent both.
Read more: Dental implant failure

Periapical X-ray

A small X-ray that shows one to three teeth from the crown to the root tip, together with the bone around them. It shows root canals and the area around the root tip in more detail than a panoramic image. We take periapical X-rays in the clinic when they are needed.

Periodontitis

An inflammatory disease of the tissues that support the teeth, in which gum attachment and bone are lost, pockets form and teeth can become loose. Since the 2017 classification it is described by stage, based on severity and complexity, and by grade, based on the rate of progression ^[4]. It needs professional treatment and regular maintenance.

PMMA temporary

A temporary crown or bridge made of PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate), a strong acrylic resin. It is worn while the final crowns are made or while implants heal; in All-on-4 and All-on-6 cases the fixed temporary bridge fitted after surgery is usually PMMA.

Pontic

The artificial tooth in a bridge that replaces the missing tooth and is carried by the crowns or implants on either side. Its underside is shaped so that it can be cleaned with floss or interdental brushes, because food and plaque collect under a bridge just as they do around natural teeth.

Post and core

A post placed in the root canal of a root-treated tooth, with a core built around it, to hold a crown when too little natural tooth is left. The remaining root must be strong enough to carry it.
Read more: Root canal treatment

PRGF (Plasma Rich in Growth Factors)

A preparation made from the patient’s own blood in a closed kit and applied to surgical sites such as extraction sockets or graft areas. We use the BTI Endoret PRGF system. Note the name: PRGF is a specific protocol and is not the same as PRF.

Primary stability

How firmly an implant is anchored in the bone immediately after placement, before osseointegration begins. It depends on bone quality, implant design and surgical technique, and is assessed through insertion torque; we also measure implant stability. Sufficient primary stability is a precondition for immediate loading.

Pulp

The soft tissue in the centre of the tooth that contains nerves and blood vessels. When decay reaches the pulp, root canal treatment may be needed, and sometimes a tooth that cannot be saved is removed ^[14]. An infected pulp can lead to a dental abscess ^[14].

R

Receding gums (gum recession)

The gum line moves away from the crown of the tooth and exposes part of the root. Causes include gum disease, brushing too hard and thin gum tissue. Exposed roots can be sensitive and are more vulnerable than enamel, so recession should be examined to find and treat its cause.

Resorbable suture

A stitch that the body breaks down on its own, so it does not need to be removed. Resorbable sutures are used, for example, after smaller implant procedures, so the wound can heal without a separate appointment to take the stitches out, which helps when you are flying home after treatment.

Root canal treatment

Treatment that removes inflamed or infected pulp from inside the tooth, cleans and shapes the canals and seals them, so that the tooth can be kept. A crown is often advised afterwards.
Read more: Root canal treatment

S

Screw-retained vs cemented

Two ways to fix a crown or bridge to an implant. Screw-retained work can be removed through a small access hole; cemented work has no hole but is harder to retrieve. Implant position and aesthetics decide.
Read more: Dental implants: before treatment

Shade guide (VITA A1–D4, bleach shades)

Reference tabs used to match tooth colour, such as the VITA classical A1–D4 scale. Bleach shades sit beyond the natural tabs: VITA’s are 0M1–0M3; BL1–BL4 are Ivoclar’s. A digital measurement can complement it (see VITA Easyshade).
Read more: Tooth shade guide

Sinus lift (closed and open)

Raising the maxillary sinus floor and adding bone graft so an implant can be placed in the upper back jaw. A closed lift works through the implant site; an open (lateral) lift uses a small side window.
Read more: Sinus lift guide

Smile design

Planning the shape, size, colour and position of the front teeth as a whole, in relation to the face, lips and gums, before choosing veneers, crowns, bonding or whitening, so the result suits the face.
Read more: Smile design

Surgical guide

A 3D-printed template, designed from a CBCT scan and a digital model, that guides the drill to the planned implant position, angle and depth. We use a surgical guide when the case needs it; the guides are printed at our partner laboratory.

T

Temporary crown

A provisional crown worn while the final crown is being made. It protects the prepared tooth and keeps your appearance and bite stable in the meantime. In our digital workflow, temporaries are usually ready within 2–3 hours. Temporaries during the treatment visit are included in the price of the treatment.

Ti-base

A titanium base bonded under a zirconia or ceramic implant crown, giving a precise metal connection to the implant while the visible part stays tooth-coloured. At our clinic the standard abutment and the Ti-base are included in the implant price.

TMJ / TMD

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) connects the lower jaw to the skull just in front of the ear. Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) affects jaw movement and can cause pain around the jaw, ear and temple, clicking, headaches or difficulty opening the mouth fully; it is not usually serious and generally gets better on its own ^[12].

Turkey teeth

A media term for crowns or veneers that look too large, too white and too uniform, sometimes after healthy teeth were filed down for them. It describes a result to avoid, not a treatment.
Read more: Turkey teeth: the honest truth

V

Veneer

A thin shell bonded to the front of a tooth to change its colour, shape or length. Types include porcelain or E.max, zirconia and composite veneers. Ceramic veneers usually need some enamel removal, which is not reversible ^[16].
Read more: Veneers

VITA Easyshade

A digital spectrophotometer that measures tooth colour objectively instead of relying on the eye alone. When choosing a shade we use VITA Easyshade together with cross-polarised photography, and we also take into account your remaining natural teeth, skin tone, the white of the eyes and age.

W

Whitening (in-office and home trays)

Lightening natural tooth colour with a peroxide gel, in the clinic, at home with custom trays, or both. We use Philips Zoom with custom home trays, or Opalescence Boost in a single in-clinic session. Whitening is for adults only.
Read more: Teeth whitening

Wisdom tooth

The third molar at the back of each jaw, which usually comes through in the late teens or early twenties. When there is not enough space it may stay impacted and cause pain, gum infection, decay or a cyst; a wisdom tooth that causes no problems is usually left in place and monitored ^[13].

Written quote

The itemised treatment plan and price we send before you travel. It is valid for 30 days, and unless the treatment plan changes after the examination, the written price does not change.
Read more: Dental treatment prices

Z

Zirconia (Zolid)

Zirconium dioxide, a very strong white ceramic used for crowns, bridges and implant bridges. Our standard zirconia is Amann Girrbach Zolid, made at our partner laboratory; Ivoclar IPS e.max ZirCAD Prime is available on request.
Read more: Zirconia vs porcelain crowns

Zygomatic implant

A very long implant anchored in the cheekbone (zygoma), used in some cases of severe bone loss in the upper jaw when regular implants and grafting are not possible. Zygomatic implants are not performed at our clinic; this entry is general information only.