Dental Conditions & Diagnoses
Cavities, gum disease, wear, infection and the other diagnoses that appear on a chart — what each one actually means.
26 conditions terms, A-Z
- Abfraction — Wedge-shaped notches at the gumline caused by tooth flexing under bite stress.
- Abscess — A dental abscess is a pocket of pus caused by a bacterial infection in or around a tooth, often resulting in throbbing pain, swelling, and fever.
- Ankylosis — Fusion of a tooth root directly to the surrounding jawbone.
- Bruxism — Bruxism is the involuntary grinding or clenching of teeth, most often during sleep, that can wear down enamel and cause jaw pain or headaches.
- Calculus — Dental calculus, commonly called tartar, is hardened plaque that has mineralised on tooth surfaces and can no longer be removed by brushing or flossing alone.
- Caries — Dental caries, commonly called tooth decay or cavities, is the destruction of tooth enamel caused by acid-producing bacteria in dental plaque.
- Diastema — A diastema is a visible gap or space between two teeth, most commonly between the two upper front teeth (midline diastema).
- Dry Mouth — A condition where the salivary glands do not produce enough saliva, also called xerostomia.
- Dry Socket — A painful complication after extraction where the protective blood clot is lost.
- Edentulous — Describes a person or jaw with no remaining natural teeth.
- Erosion — Dental erosion is the irreversible loss of tooth surface caused by chemical (acid) dissolution rather than bacterial decay.
- Fluorosis — A cosmetic change in tooth enamel caused by excessive fluoride intake during tooth development.
- Gingivitis — Gingivitis is the earliest, reversible stage of gum disease, characterised by red, swollen gums that bleed easily during brushing or flossing.
- Halitosis — Halitosis is the medical term for chronic bad breath, most often caused by sulphur-producing bacteria on the tongue, gum disease, or dry mouth.
- Hyperdontia — A condition where a person develops more teeth than normal.
- Hypodontia — Hypodontia is the developmental absence of one or more teeth (excluding wisdom teeth). It is one of the most common dental developmental anomalies.
- Impacted Tooth — A tooth that fails to erupt fully into the dental arch.
- Oral Cancer — Malignant growth in the lips, tongue, cheeks, floor of the mouth, or throat.
- Periodontitis — Periodontitis is an advanced, irreversible form of gum disease in which inflammation destroys the bone and connective tissue that hold teeth in place, eventually leading to tooth mobility and loss.
- Plaque — Dental plaque is a soft, sticky biofilm of bacteria that constantly forms on teeth and is the primary cause of cavities and gum disease.
- Pulpitis — Pulpitis is inflammation of the dental pulp, usually caused by deep decay, trauma, or repeated dental procedures. It can be reversible (treated by removing the cause) or irreversible (requiring root canal or extraction).
- Receding Gums — Gum recession is the gradual loss of gum tissue around a tooth that exposes the root surface, increasing sensitivity and risk of decay.
- Sensitivity — Tooth sensitivity (dentin hypersensitivity) is short, sharp pain triggered by cold, hot, sweet, or acidic stimuli when exposed dentin tubules transmit fluid movement to the nerve.
- Tartar — Tartar, also called calculus, is hardened plaque that has mineralised onto teeth and can only be removed by a dental professional with scaling instruments.
- TMJ Disorder — TMJ disorder (temporomandibular disorder) refers to a group of conditions affecting the temporomandibular joint and the muscles that control jaw movement, causing pain, clicking, and limited motion.
- Xerostomia — Xerostomia is the medical term for chronic dry mouth caused by reduced or absent saliva flow, often as a side effect of medications, certain diseases, or radiation therapy.
About conditions terminology
Most dental terminology patients encounter describes a condition: something a clinician has found and named.
Each entry explains the condition in everyday language and how it is usually detected and treated.