Dental Procedure Terms
From a simple filling to a full-arch surgical case — the procedures clinicians perform, described step by step.
16 procedures terms, A-Z
- Air Abrasion — Air abrasion is a minimally invasive technique that uses a stream of fine particles (usually aluminium oxide) propelled by compressed air to remove decay or prepare a tooth surface without a drill.
- Apicoectomy — An apicoectomy is a minor surgical procedure to remove the tip of a tooth's root, along with any surrounding infected tissue, when a conventional root canal has failed.
- Bonding — Dental bonding is a procedure in which a tooth-coloured composite resin is applied to a tooth and hardened with a curing light to repair chips, close gaps, or improve appearance.
- Bone Graft — A dental bone graft is a procedure that adds volume and density to the jaw in areas where bone has been lost, typically to support a future dental implant.
- Crown Lengthening — A surgical procedure that exposes more tooth structure by reshaping gum and bone.
- Extraction — A dental extraction is the removal of a tooth from its socket in the jawbone, performed when a tooth cannot be saved by restoration or root canal therapy.
- Filling — A dental filling is a restoration that replaces tooth structure lost to decay, fracture, or wear, restoring the tooth's shape and function.
- Frenectomy — A frenectomy is the surgical removal or modification of a frenulum — a small fold of tissue that connects the lip, cheek, or tongue to the gums or floor of the mouth.
- Full Mouth Debridement — A preliminary cleaning to remove heavy plaque and tartar buildup so a proper exam and cleaning can follow.
- Orthognathic Surgery — Corrective jaw surgery that repositions the upper or lower jaw to fix skeletal bite problems.
- Prophylaxis — A routine professional cleaning to remove plaque, calculus, and stains.
- Pulpotomy — Removal of the inflamed pulp from the crown of a tooth, leaving the root pulp intact.
- Root Canal — A root canal is a treatment that removes infected or inflamed pulp from inside a tooth, then cleans, fills, and seals the root to save the tooth from extraction.
- Scaling — Scaling is the professional removal of plaque and calculus (tartar) from the surfaces of the teeth, both above and below the gum line, using hand instruments or ultrasonic scalers.
- Scaling and Root Planing — A deep cleaning procedure that removes plaque and tartar from below the gum line and smooths root surfaces.
- Sinus Lift — A sinus lift is a surgical procedure that adds bone to the upper jaw in the area of the molars and premolars by lifting the floor of the maxillary sinus, in preparation for dental implants.
About procedures terminology
Procedure names are the part of a treatment plan patients most want translated.
These definitions describe what happens during each procedure and which conditions it treats.