Toothspot - All About Teeth

Dental Dictionary Watch your dentist hit the floor by dropping in some 'dental lingo' the next time you go in for a visit! ABSCESS -  a local infection. A  Severe decay, periodontal disease, or trauma are causative  factors. It is characterized by swelling and pain. If an abscess ruptures, it  will be accompanied by sudden relief from pain due to a reduction in pressure. A  foul taste may also be noticed. ABUTMENT - a term used to denote  the teeth on either side of a missing tooth. ACRYLIC RESIN - the  plastic widely used in dentistry to make dentures. ACTIVE ERUPTION - the emergence of the tooth from its position in the jaw. ADHESION - the sticking together of unlike substances ADJUSTMENT - a modification made upon a dental prosthesis after  it has been completed and inserted into the mouth. AEROBIC BACTERIA - bacteria which grow in oxygen rich environments; in the oral cavity the  bacteria are found outside the sulcus. AFFERENT - nerves that  carry sensory me