Glossary
Our glossary features any dental term you need to know, from A to Z. Still confused about something? Give us a call — we’re happy to help.
- AuditAn examination of records or accounts to check their accuracy. A post-treatment record review or clinical examination to verify information reported on claims.
- Autogenous See graft.
- Autogenous GraftTaken from one part of a patient's body and transferred to another.
- Avulsion Separation of tooth from its socket due to trauma. See evulsion.
- Bad Faith Insurance Practices The failure to deal with a beneficiary of a dental benefit plan fairly and in good faith or an activity which impairs the right of the beneficiary to receive the appropriate benefit of a dental benefits plan or to receive them in a timely manner. Some examples of potential bad faith insurance(...)
- Balance Billing Billing a patient for the difference between the dentist's actual charge and the amount reimbursed under the patient's dental benefit plan.
- Barrier MembraneUsually a thin, sheet-like usually non-autogenous material used in various surgical regenerative procedures.
- Behavior ManagementTechniques or therapies used to alter or control the actions of a patient who is receiving dental treatment. Examples include use of a papoose board, education or anxiety relief techniques.
- BeneficiaryA person who is eligible for benefits under a dental benefit contract. See also covered person, insured, and member.
- BenefitThe amount payable by a third party toward the cost of various covered dental services or the dental service or procedure covered by the plan.
- Benefit BookletA booklet or pamphlet provided to the subscriber that contains a general explanation of the benefits and related provisions of the dental benefit program. Also known as a Summary Plan Description.
- Benefit Plan SummaryThe description or synopsis of employee benefits as required by ERISA that is to be distributed to the employees.
- BenignThe mild or non-threatening character of an illness or the non-malignant character of a neoplasm.
- BilateralOccurring on, or pertaining to, both right and left sides.
- Biological MaterialsAgents that alter wound healing or host-tumor interaction. Such materials can include cytokines, growth factor, or vaccines, but do not include any actual hard or soft tissue graft material. These agents are added to graft material or used alone to effect acceleration of healing or(...)
- BiopsyProcess of removing tissue for histologic evaluation.
- Birthday Rule When a dependent child's parents both have dental coverage, this rule states that the primary program (the one which pays first) is the one covering the parent whose month and day of birth falls first in the calendar year. The birthday rule is the most common rule for determining primary v.(...)
- BiscuspidA premolar tooth a tooth with two cusps.
- Bitewing RadiographiInterproximal radiographic view of the coronal portion of the tooth/teeth. A form of dental radiograph that may be taken with the long axis of the image oriented either horizontally or vertically, that reveals approximately the coronal halves of the maxillary and mandibular teeth and portions(...)
- BleachingProcess of lightening of the teeth, usually using a chemical oxidizing agent and sometimes in the presence of heat. Removal of deep seated intrinsic or acquired discolorations from crowns of vital and non-vital teeth through the use of chemicals, sometimes in combination with the application(...)