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- Abrasion
- Loss of tooth structure caused by a hard toothbrush, poor brushing technique, or Bruxism(grinding or clenching the teeth).
Abscess - An infection of a tooth, soft tissue or bone.
Abutment - The teeth on either side of a missing tooth. Abutments are the part of the bridge used to support the replacement of the missing teeth(pontics).
Adhesive Dentistry - Contemporary term for dental resorations that involve "bonding" of composite resin or porcelain fillings to natural teeth.
Air Abrasion - Removal of tooth structure by blasting a tooth with air and abrasive, a relatively new technology that may avoid the need for anesthetic.
Alveolar Bone - The jaw bone that anchors the roots of teeth.
Amalgam - A most common filling material, also known as "silver fillings," containing mercury(app 50%), silver, tin, copper, and zinc used for fillings.
Analgesia - A state of pain relief; an agent lessening pain.
Anesthesia - Partial of complete elimination of pain sensation; numbing a tooth is an example of local anesthesia.
Anterior Teeth - The six upper or six lower front teeth.
Antibiotic - A drug that stops or slows the growth of bacteria.
ANUG - An acronym for Acute Necrotizing Ulcerative Gingivitis, commonly known as trench mouth or Vincent's disease, aggravated by stress and/or smoking.
Apex - The tip of the root of a tooth.
Apicoectomy - Surgical removal of the root tip to treat a dead tooth.
Arch - The upper or lower jaw.
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