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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  • Removal of subgingival and/or supragingival plaque and calculus which obstructs the ability to perform an evaluation.
  • The lay term for carious lesions in a tooth decomposition of tooth structure.
  • Having the property of falling off or shedding a term used to describe the primary teeth.
  • Refers to the deciduous or primary teeth in the dental arch.
  • The amount of dental expense for which the beneficiary is responsible before a third party will assume any liability for payment of benefits. Deductible may be an annual or one-time charge, and may vary in amount from program to program. See family deductible.
  • a drug-induced depression of consciousness during which patients cannot be easily aroused but respond purposefully following repeated or painful stimulation. The ability to independently maintain ventilatory function may be impaired. Patients may require assistance in maintaining a patent(...)
  • Prosthesis to be used over an extended period of time.
  • A limited clinical inspection that is performed to identify possible signs of oral or systemic disease, malformation, or injury, and the potential need for referral for diagnosis and treatment.
  • Any organization offering a dental benefit plan. Also known as dental plan organization.
  • Entitles covered individuals to specified dental services in return for a fixed, periodic payment made in advance of treatment. Such plans often include the use of deductibles, coinsurance, and/or maximums to control the cost of the program to the purchaser.
  • The specific dental benefit plan being offered to enrollees by the sponsor.
  • A formal process that defines the standards and requirements for participation in third-party programs. The process verifies professional qualifications in order to allow licensed dentists to provide services to members of these programs.
  • The ongoing relationship between the dentist who is the Primary Dental Care Provider and the patient, which includes comprehensive oral health care, beginning no later than age one, pursuant to ADA policy.
  • A device specially designed to be placed surgically within or on the mandibular or maxillary bone as a means of providing for dental replacement.
  • A plan that financially assists in the expense of treatment and care of dental disease and, in some cases, accidents to teeth.
  • A method of financing the cost of dental services prior to receiving the services.
  • Any device or appliance replacing one or more missing teeth and/or, if required, associated structures. (This is a broad term which includes abutment crowns and abutment inlays/onlays, bridges, dentures, obturators, gingival prostheses.)
  • A legally constituted, not-for-profit organization that negotiates and administers contracts for dental care. Delta Dental Plans and Blue Cross & Blue Shield Plans are such organizations.
  • Hard tissue which forms the bulk of the tooth and develops from the dental papilla and dental pulp, and in the mature state is mineralized.
  • The evaluation, diagnosis, prevention and/or treatment (nonsurgical, surgical or related procedures) of diseases, disorders and/or conditions of the oral cavity, maxillofacial area and/or the adjacent and associated structures and their impact on the human body; provided by a dentist, within(...)