Longmeadow Family Dental Care Longmeadow Family Dental Care

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.

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  • Employee benefit plan in which employees select their medical insurance coverage and other nontaxable fringe benefits from a list of options provided by the employer. Cafeteria plan participants may receive additional, taxable cash compensation if they select less expensive benefits.
  • Hard deposit of mineralized substance adhering to crowns and/or roots of teeth or prosthetic devices.
  • A relatively narrow tubular passage or channel.
  • Part of a fixed prosthesis that extends beyond the abutment to which it is attached and has no additional support.
  • A capitation program is one in which a dentist or dentists contract with the programs' sponsor or administrator to provide all or most of the dental services covered under the program to subscribers in return for payment on a per-capita basis.
  • Commonly used term for tooth decay.
  • A cavity caused by caries.
  • The monitoring and coordination of treatment rendered to patients with specific diagnoses or requiring high cost or extensive services. May include complex treatment plans or discussion between multiple practitioners. A process of identifying patients with special health care needs, developing(...)
  • Missing tooth structure. A cavity may be due to decay, erosion or abrasion. If caused by caries; also referred to as carious lesion.
  • Material used under a filling to replace lost tooth structure.
  • Hard connective tissue covering the outer surface of a tooth root.
  • The federal agency responsible for administering the Medicare, Medicaid, State . Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), HIPAA, and the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) programs. CMS is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
  • A standardized, extraoral projection utilized in the scientific study of the measurements of the head.
  • A request for payment under a dental benefit plan; a statement listing services rendered, the dates of services, and itemization of costs. The completed request serves as the basis for payment of benefits.
  • Person or authorized provider who files a claim for benefits. Patient or certificate holder who files a claim for benefits.
  • A form, paper or electronic, used to report dental procedures to a third-party payer in order to file for benefits under a dental benefit program. The paper claim form was developed by the American Dental Association.
  • The intentional manipulation or alteration of facts or procedure codes submitted by a treating dentist resulting in a lower payment to the beneficiary and/or the treating dentist than would have been paid if the manipulation had not occurred.
  • The intentional misrepresentation of material facts concerning treatment provided and/or charges made, in that this misrepresentation would cause a higher payment.
  • Congenital deformity resulting in lack of fusion of the soft and/or hard palate, either partial or complete.
  • The clamping and pressing of the jaws and teeth together in centric occlusion, frequently associated with psychological stress or physical effort.