ADEX Dental Hygiene key terms

A thin, nonkeratinized band of epithelial cells that attaches the gingiva to the tooth at the base of the sulcus. It forms the seal separating the oral environment from underlying connective tissue and bone.

Mineralized tissue covering the root surface. It anchors periodontal ligament fibers to the tooth and, when exposed by recession or attachment loss, is softer than enamel and easily abraded by instruments.

Fibrous connective tissue between root cementum and alveolar bone. It suspends the tooth, absorbs occlusal force, carries nerves and blood vessels, and its fibers embed in both cementum and bone.

The portion of the maxilla or mandible that surrounds and supports tooth roots. It remodels with tooth function and infection, so changes in its height and density help judge periodontal disease.

A bacterium that colonizes tooth surfaces, ferments dietary sugars into acid, and builds sticky glucans. It is strongly associated with the beginning of dental caries on pits, fissures, and smooth surfaces.

Medications that relieve pain, fever, and inflammation by blocking cyclooxygenase enzymes and prostaglandin production. In dentistry they are used for postoperative pain but can increase bleeding and interact with anticoagulants.

A gingival sulcus deepened by disease, measured from the gingival margin to the point where tissue still attaches to the tooth. Depths of 4 mm or more with bleeding usually signal active inflammation.

The distance in millimeters from the cementoenamel junction to the base of the sulcus or pocket. It shows how much supporting attachment has been destroyed and measures periodontal disease severity.

A sign of gingival inflammation produced when a periodontal probe is gently swept along the sulcular lining. Its presence suggests active disease; its consistent absence suggests periodontal stability.

Loss of attachment and supporting bone in the space where the roots of a multirooted tooth divide. It is graded by severity and makes plaque control difficult because the area is hard to reach.

Nonsurgical periodontal therapy that removes deposits from crown and root surfaces and smooths rough root cementum. It is often done by quadrant, sometimes with local anesthesia, and followed by re-evaluation of healing.

Antibiotics given before a dental procedure to prevent infection at a distant site, such as a prosthetic joint or damaged heart valve. It is reserved for specific high-risk patients under current guidelines.

Smoking or smokeless tobacco is a major modifiable risk factor for periodontal disease. It reduces gingival blood flow and immune response, masks bleeding, and slows healing after periodontal therapy.

An apical shift of the gingival margin that exposes the root surface. Causes include aggressive brushing, periodontal disease, thin tissue type, and orthodontic movement; it can lead to sensitivity and root caries.

A structured community of bacteria embedded in a sticky polysaccharide matrix that adheres to teeth and restorations. If left undisturbed it matures into a more harmful flora that causes caries and gingivitis.

Mineralized plaque that adheres firmly to teeth and restorations. It is covered by a layer of living biofilm, cannot be removed by brushing, and requires professional scaling.

Loss of calcium and phosphate from tooth mineral when acid lowers plaque pH. It creates porosity in enamel or dentin and, if repeated without repair, progresses to a carious lesion.

Restoration of lost mineral into demineralized tooth structure, mainly by calcium and phosphate from saliva and fluoride products. It can arrest early lesions and is supported by fluoride, hygiene, and dietary control.

An opaque, chalky area on enamel caused by subsurface demineralization beneath an intact outer surface. It is an early, non-cavitated carious lesion that can often be arrested by remineralization.

A concentrated fluoride preparation, usually 5% sodium fluoride, painted onto teeth. It clings to the surface, extends fluoride contact time, and is used for caries prevention and root sensitivity in higher-risk patients.

A structured review of disease indicators and risk factors such as past caries, diet, fluoride exposure, saliva, and bacteria. It predicts future decay and guides preventive and restorative decisions.

The plaque pH at which tooth mineral starts to dissolve, about 5.5 for enamel and slightly higher for root cementum and dentin. It explains why frequent sugar exposures raise caries risk.

The measurement from the gingival margin to the base of the sulcus or pocket, taken with a periodontal probe at several sites around each tooth. It is charted to detect and monitor periodontal disease.

A six-category scale classifying a patient's overall health before treatment, from healthy to moribund. It helps the clinician decide whether treatment modification, medical consultation, or referral is needed.

Measurements of blood pressure, pulse, respiration, temperature, and sometimes oxygen saturation. Taken before treatment, they give a baseline and identify patients who need referral or a modified appointment.

An injection near the mandibular foramen that numbs the inferior alveolar nerve, usually with the lingual and sometimes the buccal nerve. It is used for mandibular posterior teeth and requires accurate landmarks.

A drug, usually epinephrine, added to local anesthetic solutions to narrow blood vessels. It slows drug absorption, lengthens anesthesia, reduces bleeding, and lowers the risk of local anesthetic toxicity.

The largest amount of a drug, such as a local anesthetic, that can be given safely, often stated as milligrams per kilogram of body weight. It is calculated before injection to prevent overdose.

A lingering abnormal sensation such as tingling or numbness after anesthesia should have worn off. It is an uncommon injection complication, usually from nerve trauma, and often resolves over weeks to months.

A rare condition in which hemoglobin cannot carry oxygen properly, causing cyanosis and shortness of breath. It is linked to topical benzocaine and to prilocaine, especially in young children.

As Low As Reasonably Achievable: the principle that radiation exposure should be minimized while still obtaining needed diagnostic information, using correct technique, shielding, and only necessary exposures.

An intraoral image showing the crowns and crestal bone of upper and lower teeth on one receptor. It is the standard view for finding interproximal caries and early bone loss.

Describing a structure that looks dark on a radiograph because it absorbs little of the x-ray beam. Caries, pulp, soft tissue, and air appear radiolucent next to enamel and metal.

An intraoral method that aims the central ray perpendicular to an imaginary line bisecting the angle between the tooth's long axis and the receptor. It is used when a paralleling device cannot be placed.

Infection-control practices applied to every patient regardless of diagnosis: hand hygiene, gloves, masks, eye protection, gowns, and safe handling of sharps and contaminated items.

A process that destroys all microorganisms, including bacterial spores, on instruments, usually by steam autoclave, dry heat, or chemical vapor. Effectiveness is checked with indicators and spore testing.

A patient's voluntary agreement to treatment after understanding the diagnosis, proposed care, alternatives, risks, and consequences of refusing. The discussion and the patient's decision must be documented.