| Palate
|
The hard and soft tissues
forming the roof of the mouth that separates the oral and
nasal cavities. |
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| Palliative
|
Action that relieves pain
but is not curative. |
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|
| Partial
Denture |
Usually refers to a prosthetic
device that replaces missing teeth; see Fixed Partial Denture
or Removable Partial Denture. |
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|
| Pediatric Dentist |
A dental specialist whose
practice is limited to treatment of children from birth through
adolescence; formerly known as a pedodontist. |
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|
| Pedodontist |
See Pediatric Dentist. |
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|
| Periodontal |
Pertaining to the supporting
and surrounding tissues of the teeth. |
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|
| Periodontal Abscess
|
An infection in the gum
pocket that can destroy hard and soft tissues. |
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|
| Periodontal Disease
|
Inflammatory process of
the gingival tissues and/or periodontal membrane of the teeth,
resulting in an abnormally deep gingival sulcus, possibly
producing periodontal pockets and loss of supporting alveolar
bone. |
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|
| Periodontal Pocket
|
Pathologically deepened
gingival sulcus; a feature of periodontal disease. |
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|
| Periodontist |
A dental specialist whose
practice is limited to the treatment of diseases of the supporting
and surrounding tissues of the teeth. |
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|
| Periodontitis |
Inflammation and loss
of the connective tissue of the supporting or surrounding
structure of teeth with loss of attachment. |
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|
| Plaque |
A soft sticky substance
that accumulates on teeth composed largely of bacteria and
bacterial derivatives. |
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|
| Post |
An elongated projection
fitted and cemented within the prepared root canal, serving
to strengthen and retain restorative material and/or a crown
restoration. |
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|
| Posterior |
Refers to teeth and tissues
towards the back of the mouth (distal to the canines): maxillary
and mandibular premolars and molars. |
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|
| Premedication |
The use of medications
prior to dental procedures. |
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|
| Prophylaxis |
Scaling and polishing
procedure performed to remove coronal plaque, calculus and
stains. |
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|
| Prosthesis |
Artificial replacement
of any part of the body. |
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|
| Prosthodontis |
A dental specialist whose
practice is limited to the restoration of the natural teeth
and/or the replacement of missing teeth with artificial substitutes. |
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|
| Pulp |
Connective tissue that
contains blood vessels and nerve tissue which occupies the
pulp cavity of a tooth. |
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|
| Pulp Cavity |
The space within a tooth
which contains the pulp. |
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|
| Pulpectomy |
Complete removal of vital
and non vital pulp tissue from the root canal space. |
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|
| Pulpotomy |
Surgical removal of a
portion of the pulp with the aim of maintaining the vitality
of the remaining portion by means of an adequate dressing;
pulp amputation. |
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