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 Tuesday - Friday

8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

 1101 Higrove Parkway, Suite 105

Leeds, Alabama 35094
(205) 699-1155
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Dental Terms F-L

F

 
Facial: Pertaining to or toward the face (Buccal, Labial).

 

Filling: Material used to fill cavity or replace part of a tooth.

 

Fissure: A deep ditch or cleft in the surface of the teeth.

 

Floss: see dental floss.

 

Fluoride: A chemical compound used to prevent dental decay, utilized in fluoridated water systems and/or applied directly to the teeth.

 

Frenum: Muscle fibers covered by a mucus membrane that attaches the check, lips and or tongue to associated dental mucous.
 
Frenectomy: The removal of a frenum.

 

G
 
Gingiva: The soft tissue that covers the jawbone.  Also referred to as the gums.

 

Gingivectomy: An inflammation or infection of the gingiva (gum tissue); the initial stage of gum disease.

 

Gingivitis: An inflammation or infection of the gingiva; the initial stage of gum disease.

 

Gingivoplasty: A surgical procedure to reshape or repair the gingiva (gum).

 

Graft: A piece of tissue or synthetic material placed in contact with tissue to repair a defect or supplement a deficiency.

 

Gum: see gingiva.
H
 
Hemisection:  The surgical separation of a multirooted tooth through the furcation area in such a way that the blocked, defective, or periodontally affected root or roots may be removed along with the associated portion of the crown.
 
High noble metal: See metal, classification of.
 
I
 
Immediate denture: A denture constructed for immediate placement after removal of the remaining teeth.
 
Impacted tooth: An unerupted or partially erupted tooth that is positioned against another bone or soft tissue so that total eruption is unlikely.
 
Implant: An artificial device, usually make of a metal alloy or ceramic material that is implanted within the jawbone as a means to attach an artificial crown, denture, or bridge.
 
Incipient: Dental carries in an early stage of development, usually not requiring immediate restorations.
 
Incisal: Pertaining to the cutting edges of incisor and cuspid teeth.
 
Incision and Drain: (I and D) a sweeping incision made through the core of a lesion to allow draining of infection, and removal of any abnormal or unhealthy tissue.
 
Indirect pulp cap: A procedure in which the nearly exposed pulp as covered with a protective dressing to protect the pulp from additional injury and to promote healing and repair via formation of secondary dentin.
 
Inlay: A cast gold filling that is used replace part of the tooth.
 
Interproximal: The area between two adjacent teeth.
 
Intracoronal: The area within a crown of a tooth.
 
Intraoral: The inside of a mouth.

 

L
 
Labial: The area pertaining to or around the lip.
 
Lingual: The area pertaining to or around the tongue.
 
Local Anesthetic: The injection given in the mouth to numb the areas where a tooth or area needs a dental procedure. Often referred to as Novocain.