Dental Jargon Explained

Plain-English translations of common dental terms so you can understand what your dentist is really saying

Dentists sometimes use words that can feel confusing or intimidating. This page translates the most common dental terms into everyday language, so you can feel more confident understanding your treatment options and asking the right questions.

Understanding Your Situation

Diagnosis: What the dentist thinks is wrong with your tooth or mouth, based on their examination, X-rays, and your symptoms.
Prognosis: The dentist's prediction of how things are likely to turn out — for example, how long a tooth or treatment is expected to last.
Preventative: Steps taken to stop problems before they start — like regular cleaning, fluoride, or wearing a night guard to protect your teeth.
Invasive: A treatment that involves cutting, drilling, or removing part of the tooth or gum. The more invasive it is, the more of your natural tooth is changed or lost.
Conservative: The opposite of invasive — a treatment approach that tries to preserve as much of your natural tooth as possible, only doing what is strictly necessary.
Reversible: A treatment that can be undone or changed later without permanent damage to the tooth. Bonding, for example, is usually reversible.
Irreversible: A treatment that permanently changes your tooth and cannot be undone. Crowns and veneers are irreversible because they require removing enamel.

Common Treatments

Filling: A material used to repair a hole (cavity) in a tooth caused by decay. Can be tooth-coloured (composite) or silver (amalgam).
Composite: A tooth-coloured filling material made of resin. Used for fillings and bonding.
Amalgam: A silver-coloured metal filling containing a mix of metal alloys and 50% mercury. Very durable but goes black over time and expands, often leading to cracks in the teeth.
Bonding: Adding tooth-coloured composite material to a tooth to improve its shape, close gaps, or repair chips. Usually conservative and often reversible.
Non-prep veneer (no-shaving veneer): A very thin porcelain shell bonded to the front of a tooth without removing any enamel. Best suited for adding length, closing small gaps, or improving shape when the tooth is already well-positioned. Because no tooth is shaved, the process is potentially reversible.
Minimal-prep veneer: A porcelain shell that requires a small amount of enamel to be shaved away before bonding. This allows the dentist to change the tooth's colour, shape, and alignment more significantly than a non-prep veneer, but the process is irreversible because natural enamel has been removed.
Crown: A cap that covers the entire visible part of a tooth. Used when a tooth is heavily damaged or weakened. Requires more tooth removal than a veneer.
E-max / Lithium disilicate crown: A type of all-ceramic crown made from lithium disilicate glass. Known for excellent aesthetics and translucency, making it a popular choice for front teeth. Strong enough for most situations but may not be ideal for heavy grinders.
Zirconia crown: A very strong all-ceramic crown made from zirconium oxide. Extremely durable and resistant to chipping, making it a good choice for back teeth or patients who grind. Slightly less translucent than E-max but newer versions are improving in aesthetics.
Onlay: A partial crown that covers only the damaged part of a tooth. More conservative than a full crown because less tooth is removed.
Root canal treatment: A procedure to remove the infected or damaged nerve (pulp) from inside a tooth, clean the canals, and seal them. Saves the tooth but it will need a crown or other protection afterwards.
Extraction: Removing a tooth completely. Usually a last resort when the tooth cannot be saved.
Implant: A screw placed into the jawbone to replace a missing tooth root. A crown is then attached on top. Requires surgery and healing time. Most implants are made from titanium, but zirconium (ceramic) implants are also available as a metal-free alternative.
Bridge: A false tooth held in place by crowns on the teeth either side. Replaces a missing tooth without surgery, but requires preparing the neighbouring teeth.
Denture: A removable replacement for missing teeth. Can replace a few teeth (partial denture) or all teeth (full denture).
Post and core: A post placed inside the root of a tooth that has had a root canal treatment, to help support a new crown when very little natural tooth remains.

Orthodontics & Alignment

Orthodontics: Moving teeth into better alignment using braces or aligners. Can improve both appearance and bite function.
Aligners: Clear, removable trays (like Invisalign) that gradually straighten teeth. An alternative to traditional metal braces.
Braces: Fixed metal or ceramic brackets bonded to teeth, connected by wires, used to move teeth into the correct position over time.
Retainer: A device worn after orthodontic treatment to keep teeth in their new position. Usually worn at night long-term.

Gum & Bone Health

Gingivitis: Early-stage gum disease. Gums may be red, swollen, or bleed when you brush. Usually reversible with better cleaning.
Periodontitis: Advanced gum disease where the bone supporting the teeth starts to break down. Not reversible, but can be managed to prevent further loss.
Plaque: A soft, sticky film of bacteria that forms on teeth every day. If not removed by brushing and flossing, it causes decay and gum disease.
Tartar (calculus): Hardened plaque that can only be removed by a dentist or hygienist. Builds up if plaque is not cleaned away regularly.
Bone loss: Loss of the jawbone that supports your teeth, usually caused by gum disease. Can lead to teeth becoming loose.

Dental Conditions

Cavity (caries / decay): A hole in a tooth caused by acid from bacteria breaking down the enamel. Needs a filling to repair.
Pulpitis: Inflammation of the nerve inside a tooth. Can be reversible (nerve may recover) or irreversible (nerve is dying and needs root canal treatment).
Abscess: A pocket of infection, usually at the tip of a tooth root or in the gum. Causes pain and swelling and needs urgent treatment.
Fracture / crack: A break in the tooth structure. Can range from a small crack line to a full split. Treatment depends on how deep it goes.
Erosion: Loss of tooth enamel caused by acid (from diet, reflux, or other sources) rather than bacteria.

X-rays & Scans

X-ray (radiograph): A 2D image of your teeth and bone used to find hidden problems like decay between teeth, bone loss, or infections.
CBCT scan: Cone Beam Computed Tomography — a 3D scan that gives much more detail than a regular X-ray. Used for implant planning, complex root canal treatments, and wisdom teeth assessment.
Panoramic X-ray (OPG): A single wide X-ray that shows all your teeth, both jaws, and the surrounding structures in one image.

Other Terms You Might Hear

Occlusion / bite: How your upper and lower teeth come together when you close your mouth. Problems with your bite can cause pain, wear, and cracking.
Bruxism: Grinding or clenching your teeth, often at night. Can wear teeth down and cause cracks, pain, and headaches.
Night guard / splint: A custom-made plastic guard worn at night to protect teeth from grinding damage.
Enamel: The hard, outer layer of your tooth. Once it is removed or worn away, it does not grow back.
Dentine: The softer layer underneath the enamel. If exposed, it can cause sensitivity.
Cuspal coverage: Protecting the biting edges (cusps) of a tooth with a crown or onlay, usually recommended after root canal treatment to prevent fracture.