Dental glossary

Dental words, in plain English

Hover or tap underlined words anywhere on our site for a quick definition, or browse them all here.

Showing all 320 terms.

3D face scan X-rays & imaging
A quick, non-contact 3D scan of the face. Combined with a scan of the teeth, it can be used to help plan smile, crown and implant treatment and to show a preview on screen.
3D printing (dental) Materials
Building an object layer by layer from a digital design, using dental resins. In dentistry it can be used for models, surgical guides, splints, night guards and trial dentures.
Abfraction Conditions
Small notches near the gum line, thought to be linked to biting forces.
Abrasion Conditions
Tooth wear caused by something rubbing, such as brushing too hard.
Abutment Crowns, bridges & dentures
The small connector that sits on top of a dental implant and holds the crown in place.
Accreditation Appointments & admin
An independent, voluntary assessment of a health service against national safety and quality standards. Our practice is accredited by QIP against the Dental Practice (Private) standards. Verify on QIP’s public register ↗ (opens in a new tab) (search 6154 or “Myaree”).
Acrylic Materials
A plastic used for dentures, temporary crowns and some splints.
Acrylic denture Crowns, bridges & dentures
A denture with a pink plastic base. Usually simpler and easier to add to.
ADA Schedule Health funds & item numbers
The Australian Schedule of Dental Services and Glossary, published by the Australian Dental Association: the list of item numbers.
Adhesive (Maryland) bridge Crowns, bridges & dentures
A bridge held by thin wings bonded to the back of neighbouring teeth.
AHPRA Appointments & admin
The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, which registers health practitioners with the national boards.
Air polishing (Airflow) Procedures
Cleaning with a fine spray of powder, air and water to remove stains and biofilm.
Air-removal (Helix) test Infection control
A routine test that checks a vacuum steam steriliser removes air well enough for steam to reach inside hollow instruments. A Helix test uses a long, narrow tube with an indicator strip at the end.
All-on-4 style bridge Crowns, bridges & dentures
A full-arch fixed bridge supported by about four implants. Suitability depends on assessment.
Alveolar bone Anatomy
The part of the jawbone that surrounds and supports the tooth roots.
Amalgam Materials
A silver-coloured filling material containing mercury and other metals. Its use is decreasing.
Anaesthesia Anaesthesia & comfort
Loss of feeling, so treatment is more comfortable.
Annual limit Health funds & item numbers
The most your fund will pay for a type of service in a year.
Apex Anatomy
The tip of a tooth root, where nerves and blood vessels enter.
Apicectomy Root canal (endodontics)
Surgery to remove the tip of a root and seal it, when infection persists after root canal treatment.
Appointment Appointments & admin
A booked time to see the dentist or hygienist.
Asiga ULTRA Materials
A dental 3D printer made by Asiga, an Australian company. It can be used to print dental models, implant surgical guides, occlusal splints and night guards from a digital scan.
Attachment Orthodontics
A small tooth-coloured bump bonded to a tooth to help an aligner grip.
Attrition Conditions
Tooth wear from teeth grinding against each other.
Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) Appointments & admin
The rules in the Privacy Act about handling personal information.
Autoclave Infection control
A machine that sterilises instruments with steam under pressure. See also Class B autoclave.
Avulsion Conditions
When a tooth is knocked completely out. For adult teeth, time matters: call straight away.
BDSc / DDS Abbreviations
Dental degrees. BDSc is a Bachelor of Dental Science; DDS is a Doctor of Dental Surgery.
Benefit (rebate) Health funds & item numbers
The amount your health fund pays towards a service you are covered for.
Biofilm Gums (periodontics)
A sticky layer of bacteria, such as plaque, that forms on teeth.
Biopsy Oral surgery
Taking a small sample of tissue to be examined in a laboratory.
Bite adjustment Procedures
Small reshaping of tooth surfaces so teeth meet more evenly.
Bitewing X-ray X-rays & imaging
A small X-ray showing the crowns of upper and lower back teeth, mainly to check for decay between teeth.
Bleeding on probing Gums (periodontics)
Bleeding when the gum is gently measured, a sign of inflammation.
Bonding agent Materials
A liquid that helps fillings and veneers stick to teeth.
Bone augmentation Oral surgery
Procedures that build up bone before or during implant placement.
Bone graft Oral surgery
Material placed to rebuild or thicken the jawbone so it can support an implant.
Bone loss Gums (periodontics)
Loss of the jawbone that supports teeth, often from gum disease or after a tooth is lost.
Bridge Crowns, bridges & dentures
A fixed replacement tooth (or teeth) held in place by crowns on the neighbouring teeth.
Bruxism Conditions
Grinding or clenching the teeth, often during sleep.
Buccal Anatomy
The tooth surface facing the cheek.
CAD/CAM Materials
Computer-aided design and manufacturing: your restoration is designed on screen and milled by a machine.
Cancellation policy Appointments & admin
The practice's rules on how much notice to give when changing an appointment.
Canine Anatomy
The pointed "eye teeth" at the corners of the mouth. They have the longest roots.
Cantilever bridge Crowns, bridges & dentures
A bridge supported from one side only.
Caries Conditions
The medical word for tooth decay: damage caused by acids made by plaque bacteria.
Caries detection device X-rays & imaging
A tool, such as near-infrared light, that helps find early decay.
Cavity Conditions
A hole in a tooth caused by decay.
CBCT X-rays & imaging
Cone Beam Computed Tomography – a 3D X-ray that shows bone, nerves and sinuses for safer planning.
Cementum Anatomy
A thin, bone-like layer covering the tooth root that helps anchor it to the jaw.
Ceramic block Materials
A solid ceramic block milled into a crown or onlay by CAD/CAM.
CEREC Procedures
A Dentsply Sirona system that scans, designs and mills ceramic crowns, inlays and onlays, often in one visit.
CEREC MC X5 and MC XL Materials
In-house milling units made by Dentsply Sirona. They shape a crown, inlay, onlay or veneer from a solid block of ceramic or composite using the digital design, so many restorations can be fitted in one visit.
Check-up and clean Procedures
A routine visit for an examination and, if booked, a scale and clean.
Chemical indicator Infection control
A strip or ink on a sterilisation pouch that changes colour when exposed to the conditions needed for sterilisation, such as steam at the right temperature.
Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) Health funds & item numbers
A Medicare program that helps eligible children with the cost of some basic dental care. We lodge eligible CDBS claims through Tyro Health.
Chrome cobalt denture Crowns, bridges & dentures
A partial denture with a thin metal framework, usually lighter and stronger than acrylic.
Claim Health funds & item numbers
Asking your health fund to pay its rebate, often on the spot with Tyro.
Class B autoclave Infection control
A vacuum steam steriliser. It removes air from the chamber in pulses before sterilising, so steam reaches wrapped instruments and hollow items such as handpieces.
Clear aligners Orthodontics
Removable, clear plastic trays that gradually move teeth.
Cold sore Conditions
A blister on or near the lip caused by the herpes simplex virus.
Combined limit Health funds & item numbers
An annual limit shared between several services, so claims for one service reduce what is left for the others.
Composite bonding Procedures
Tooth-coloured resin applied and shaped to repair chips or change the look of a tooth.
Composite resin Materials
Tooth-coloured filling material made of plastic resin and fine glass particles.
Cone beam X-rays & imaging
The cone-shaped X-ray beam used in CBCT to build a 3D image.
Cracked tooth Conditions
A crack in a tooth that can cause sharp pain when biting or releasing.
Cracked tooth syndrome Root canal (endodontics)
Pain when biting or releasing, caused by a crack that may be hard to see.
Crossbite Orthodontics
When some upper teeth sit inside the lower teeth.
Crowding Orthodontics
Not enough space, so teeth overlap or twist.
Crown Crowns, bridges & dentures
A cap that covers and protects the whole visible part of a damaged tooth.
Crown (of a tooth) Anatomy
The part of a tooth you can see above the gum line. Not to be confused with a dental crown (cap).
Crown lengthening Gums (periodontics)
Reshaping gum (and sometimes bone) to expose more tooth.
Cusp Anatomy
A raised point on the biting surface of a tooth.
Deep cleaning (root planing) Gums (periodontics)
Cleaning below the gum line to remove bacteria and tartar from roots.
Demineralisation Conditions
Loss of minerals from enamel caused by acid. Early stages can sometimes be reversed with fluoride.
Dental abscess Conditions
A collection of pus caused by infection, at the root tip or in the gum. It needs dental care.
Dental anxiety Anaesthesia & comfort
Feeling worried or fearful about dental visits. Tell us so we can help you feel more comfortable.
Dental Board of Australia Appointments & admin
The national board that registers dental practitioners and sets standards.
Dental cement Materials
Material used to fix crowns, bridges and inlays in place.
Dental erosion Conditions
Loss of enamel from acids in food and drink (or reflux), rather than from bacteria.
Dental examination Procedures
A check of teeth, gums, bite, jaw and soft tissues.
Dental hygienist Appointments & admin
A registered practitioner focused on cleaning and gum health.
Dental implant Crowns, bridges & dentures
A small titanium post placed in the jawbone that acts as a replacement tooth root.
Dental trauma Conditions
Injury to teeth, gums or jaws, such as a knocked-out or broken tooth.
Dental unit waterlines Infection control
Tubes supplying water to dental instruments, regularly treated and tested.
Dental X-ray X-rays & imaging
An image of teeth and bone using a small dose of radiation.
Dentine Anatomy
The yellowish layer under the enamel. It contains tiny tubes leading to the nerve, so exposed dentine can feel sensitive.
Dentition Anatomy
The set of teeth in the mouth.
Denture Crowns, bridges & dentures
A removable replacement for missing teeth.
Desensitising treatment Procedures
Products applied to teeth to reduce sensitivity.
Diastema Orthodontics
A gap between two teeth, often the upper front teeth.
Digital smile design Procedures
Software used to plan and preview proposed cosmetic changes before treatment.
Digital X-ray X-rays & imaging
An X-ray captured by a sensor or a reusable imaging plate instead of film, and viewed on a screen.
Distal Anatomy
The side of a tooth furthest from the middle of the front teeth.
Dry mouth (xerostomia) Conditions
Reduced saliva, sometimes caused by medicines or health conditions. It raises the risk of decay.
Dry socket Oral surgery
A painful condition after an extraction when the blood clot is lost from the socket.
DVA dental Health funds & item numbers
Dental care for eligible veterans funded by the Department of Veterans' Affairs. We lodge eligible DVA claims through Tyro Health.
Enamel Anatomy
The hard, shiny outer layer of the crown of a tooth. It is the hardest substance in the body but cannot grow back once lost.
Enamel hypoplasia Conditions
Thin or missing enamel from a problem while the tooth was forming.
Endodontic file Root canal (endodontics)
A fine instrument used to clean and shape root canals.
Endodontics Root canal (endodontics)
Treatment of the inside (pulp) of the tooth, such as root canal treatment.
Enzymatic pre-soak Infection control
A spray, gel or soak containing enzymes, applied to used instruments straight after treatment so blood and saliva don’t dry on and start breaking down before cleaning.
Er:YAG laser Procedures
A laser wavelength that is absorbed by water, letting it gently remove decay and treat tissue.
Estimate (quote) Appointments & admin
A written estimate of fees for planned treatment.
Etching Materials
Preparing the tooth surface with a mild acid gel so materials bond well.
Extraction Oral surgery
Removal of a tooth.
Extras cover Health funds & item numbers
Private health insurance for services outside hospital, including dental.
FDI numbering Abbreviations
The international two-digit tooth numbering system. The first digit is the quarter of the mouth (1 to 4), the second is the tooth (1 to 8) counting from the middle.
Filling Procedures
Material placed in a tooth to repair it after decay or damage is removed.
Fissure Anatomy
The natural grooves on the biting surface of back teeth, where decay often starts.
Fissure sealant Children
A thin protective coating on the grooves of back teeth to help keep out food and bacteria.
Fixed braces Orthodontics
Brackets bonded to teeth and joined by a wire to move them.
Flexible denture Crowns, bridges & dentures
A partial denture made from a flexible nylon-type material.
Fluoride Procedures
A mineral that helps strengthen enamel and resist decay.
Fluoride varnish Children
A concentrated fluoride coating painted on teeth to help prevent decay.
Fluorosis Conditions
White or brown marks on enamel from too much fluoride while teeth were forming.
Fotona LightWalker Procedures
A dental laser system using Er:YAG and Nd:YAG wavelengths for many hard and soft tissue treatments.
Fractured tooth Conditions
A broken tooth, from a small chip to a split.
Frenectomy Oral surgery
Release or removal of a tight frenum, such as a tongue-tie.
Frenum Anatomy
A small fold of tissue, for example under the tongue or inside the upper lip.
Full (complete) denture Crowns, bridges & dentures
A denture that replaces all the teeth in one jaw.
Furcation Gums (periodontics)
The area where the roots of a multi-rooted tooth divide. Gum disease here is harder to clean.
GA Abbreviations
General anaesthetic.
Gap Health funds & item numbers
The part of the fee you pay after your health fund rebate.
General anaesthetic Anaesthesia & comfort
Medicines that put you to sleep for treatment, done in hospital or a day surgery.
General dentist Appointments & admin
A registered dental practitioner who provides a wide range of care.
Geographic tongue Conditions
Harmless, map-like patches on the tongue that change over time.
Gingiva (gums) Anatomy
The pink soft tissue that covers the jawbone and seals around the necks of the teeth.
Gingivectomy Gums (periodontics)
Removal of some gum tissue, for example to treat overgrowth.
Gingivitis Gums (periodontics)
Early, reversible gum inflammation – often red, puffy or bleeding gums.
Glass ionomer cement (GIC) Materials
A tooth-coloured material that releases fluoride, often used in children or near the gum line.
Gold crown Materials
A crown made from a gold alloy. Very durable, but not tooth-coloured.
GP Abbreviations
General practitioner (your doctor).
Gross decontamination Infection control
The first step of instrument reprocessing: removing or loosening heavy soiling, such as blood and saliva, straight after use, usually with an enzymatic pre-soak.
Guided implant surgery Oral surgery
Placing implants with a custom guide made from a 3D plan.
Gum disease Gums (periodontics)
Infection and inflammation of the gums and supporting bone: gingivitis and periodontitis.
Gum graft Gums (periodontics)
A procedure that adds gum tissue where gums have receded.
Gum line Anatomy
Where the gum meets the tooth. Plaque often collects here.
Gum recession Gums (periodontics)
Gums pulling back from the teeth, exposing roots.
Gutta-percha Root canal (endodontics)
A rubber-like material used to fill root canals.
Halitosis Conditions
Bad breath. Often linked to the tongue, gums or dry mouth.
Hand hygiene Infection control
Washing hands or using hand rub before and after patient care.
Happy gas (nitrous oxide) Anaesthesia & comfort
Breathed through a small nose mask to help you feel relaxed. You stay awake.
Healing abutment Oral surgery
A small cap on an implant that shapes the gum while it heals.
Health fund Health funds & item numbers
A private health insurer. Extras cover can help pay for some dental care.
Imaging plate X-rays & imaging
A thin, reusable plate used instead of film for small X-rays. A scanner reads the image from the plate so it can be viewed on screen, then the plate is cleared for reuse.
Immediate denture Crowns, bridges & dentures
A denture fitted on the day teeth are removed.
Immediate implant Oral surgery
An implant placed on the same day as an extraction, when suitable.
Impacted tooth Oral surgery
A tooth that is stuck and cannot come through fully, often a wisdom tooth or canine.
Implant-retained denture Crowns, bridges & dentures
A denture that clips onto dental implants for extra stability.
Impression Crowns, bridges & dentures
A mould of the teeth, now often replaced by a digital scan.
In-chair whitening Procedures
Whitening done at the practice in one visit, with a stronger gel and gum protection.
Incisal edge Anatomy
The biting edge of a front tooth.
Incisor Anatomy
The thin, flat front teeth used for cutting food. Adults have eight.
Infection control Infection control
Steps that prevent the spread of infection, such as sterilising instruments and cleaning surfaces.
Inferior alveolar nerve Anatomy
The nerve running through the lower jaw that gives feeling to the lower teeth, lip and chin.
Infiltration Anaesthesia & comfort
An injection near a tooth that numbs a small area.
Inlay / onlay Crowns, bridges & dentures
A custom-made filling that fits into (inlay) or over (onlay) part of a back tooth.
Instrument reprocessing Infection control
The full cycle that makes a reusable instrument safe to use again: cleaning, disinfection, inspection, packaging, sterilisation, recording and storage. In Australia it is guided by AS/NZS 5369:2023.
Instrument tracking Infection control
Recording which sterilised instrument pack was used for which patient.
Interproximal Anatomy
The area between two neighbouring teeth.
Interproximal reduction (IPR) Orthodontics
Removing a tiny amount of enamel between teeth to create space.
Intraoral camera X-rays & imaging
A small camera that shows close-up images of teeth on a screen.
Intraoral scanner X-rays & imaging
A small wand camera that takes a 3D digital impression – no goopy moulds.
Intrinsic discolouration Conditions
Colour change within the tooth, for example after injury or from some medicines.
Invisalign Orthodontics
A brand of clear aligner system.
Irrigation Root canal (endodontics)
Rinsing root canals with disinfecting solutions.
Item 011 (example) Health funds & item numbers
An example of an item number: a comprehensive oral examination. Your quote lists the items for your treatment.
Item 114 (example) Health funds & item numbers
An example of an item number: removal of calculus (tartar). Ask us which items apply to you.
Item number Health funds & item numbers
A code from the Australian Dental Association's schedule that describes a dental service, used for fees and health fund claims.
IV sedation Anaesthesia & comfort
Sedation given through a vein, usually by a sedation-trained practitioner or specialist.
LA Abbreviations
Local anaesthetic.
Laser gum therapy Gums (periodontics)
Using a dental laser to help treat gum disease in some cases.
Lateral cephalogram X-rays & imaging
A side-view skull X-ray used in orthodontic planning.
Leukoplakia Conditions
A white patch in the mouth that can't be rubbed off. It should be checked.
Lifetime limit Health funds & item numbers
The most your fund will ever pay for a type of service (often orthodontics) while you hold the cover.
Lingual Anatomy
The tooth surface facing the tongue.
Lithium disilicate (e.max) Materials
A strong glass-ceramic used for natural-looking crowns, onlays and veneers.
Local anaesthetic Anaesthesia & comfort
Medicine that numbs a small area of your mouth during treatment.
Loyalty limit Health funds & item numbers
A higher annual limit some funds give after you have held the same extras cover for a set number of years. Steps differ between funds and products.
Malocclusion Orthodontics
Teeth or jaws that don't meet in the usual way, such as crowding, overbite or crossbite.
Mandible Anatomy
The lower jawbone.
Maxilla Anatomy
The upper jawbone.
Maxillary sinus Anatomy
An air space above the upper back teeth. Its position matters when planning upper implants.
Medical history Appointments & admin
Information about your health and medicines that helps keep treatment safe.
Medicare Health funds & item numbers
Australia's public health scheme. It covers little routine dental care for adults. We lodge eligible Medicare and CDBS claims through Tyro Health.
Mesial Anatomy
The side of a tooth closest to the middle of the front teeth.
MI (minimal intervention) Abbreviations
Minimal intervention dentistry: preventing problems and keeping as much natural tooth as possible.
Milling unit Materials
A machine that carves a dental restoration from a solid block of material to match a digital design.
Mixed dentition Children
The stage, roughly ages 6 to 12, when a child has both baby and adult teeth.
Molar Anatomy
Large back teeth with broad biting surfaces for grinding food.
Molar incisor hypomineralisation (MIH) Children
Soft, chalky enamel on the first adult molars and sometimes incisors. These teeth can be sensitive and decay easily.
Mouth ulcer Conditions
A painful sore inside the mouth. One that lasts more than two weeks should be checked.
Nerve block Anaesthesia & comfort
An injection that numbs a larger area, such as half the lower jaw.
New patient Appointments & admin
Someone visiting the practice for the first time.
Night guard Crowns, bridges & dentures
A custom mouthguard worn at night to protect teeth from grinding or clenching.
NSQHS Standards Infection control
The National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards, used to accredit health services in Australia.
Occlusal splint Crowns, bridges & dentures
A hard acrylic appliance worn over the teeth, often for grinding or jaw problems.
Occlusal surface Anatomy
The biting or chewing surface of a back tooth.
Occlusion Anatomy
How your upper and lower teeth meet when you bite.
OHT Abbreviations
Oral health therapist.
Onlay Crowns, bridges & dentures
A custom-made restoration that covers one or more cusps of a back tooth.
Open bite Orthodontics
When front teeth don't meet when biting together.
OPG Abbreviations
Orthopantomogram: a panoramic X-ray of all the teeth and jaws.
OPG (panoramic X-ray) X-rays & imaging
A single wide X-ray showing all the teeth and both jaws.
Oral cancer Conditions
Cancer in the mouth or lips. Dentists check soft tissues at routine exams.
Oral health therapist Appointments & admin
A registered dental practitioner who provides check-ups, cleans and preventive care.
Oral sedation Anaesthesia & comfort
A medicine taken by mouth before treatment to help you relax. You need someone to take you home.
Oral surgery Oral surgery
Surgical procedures in the mouth, such as removing impacted teeth.
Oral thrush Conditions
A yeast infection causing white patches in the mouth.
Orthodontics Orthodontics
Moving teeth and guiding jaw growth to improve the bite and alignment.
Osseointegration Crowns, bridges & dentures
The process of the jawbone bonding to a dental implant as it heals.
Overbite Orthodontics
How far the upper front teeth overlap the lower front teeth vertically.
Overjet Orthodontics
How far the upper front teeth stick out in front of the lower teeth.
Ozonated water (aqueous ozone) Infection control
Tap water with dissolved ozone, made on site by a generator. At our practice it is used as part of cleaning instruments, before they go through the washer-disinfector and steriliser. Ozone breaks back down into oxygen and water. It is one step in the process, not a replacement for sterilisation.
Ozone water Infection control
Water treated with ozone, used in some cleaning systems.
Palatal Anatomy
The surface of an upper tooth facing the roof of the mouth.
Palate Anatomy
The roof of the mouth: hard at the front, soft at the back.
Partial denture Crowns, bridges & dentures
A denture that replaces some teeth, held by clasps or attachments.
Payment plan Health funds & item numbers
A way to spread the cost of treatment over time. Ask us what is available.
Peri-implantitis Gums (periodontics)
Inflammation and infection around an implant, similar to gum disease.
Periapical lesion Root canal (endodontics)
An area of inflammation or infection at the root tip, often seen on X-ray.
Periapical X-ray X-rays & imaging
A small X-ray showing a whole tooth, including the root tip.
Pericoronitis Oral surgery
Inflamed gum around a partly erupted tooth, often a wisdom tooth.
Periodontal Gums (periodontics)
Relating to the gums and the bone that supports your teeth.
Periodontal ligament Anatomy
Tiny fibres that hold a tooth in its socket and cushion it when you bite.
Periodontal maintenance Gums (periodontics)
Regular cleaning visits to keep gum disease under control.
Periodontal pocket Gums (periodontics)
A deepened space between gum and tooth caused by gum disease.
Periodontal probing Gums (periodontics)
Measuring the depth of the gum pockets with a fine ruler-like instrument.
Periodontitis Gums (periodontics)
Advanced gum disease that can damage the bone supporting the teeth.
Permanent teeth Anatomy
Adult teeth. Most adults have 32, including wisdom teeth.
Pit Anatomy
A small dip in the enamel, often where grooves meet. Pits can trap food and plaque.
Plaque Conditions
A sticky film of bacteria that forms on teeth every day.
Polish Procedures
Smoothing and cleaning tooth surfaces to remove stains and plaque.
Pontic Crowns, bridges & dentures
The false tooth in a bridge.
Porcelain Materials
A ceramic used for crowns and veneers, valued for its tooth-like look.
Porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) Materials
A crown with a metal inner layer and porcelain outside.
Post and core Crowns, bridges & dentures
A post placed in a root-treated tooth to help hold a crown.
PPE (personal protective equipment) Infection control
Gloves, masks, eyewear and gowns worn to protect patients and staff.
Preferred provider Health funds & item numbers
A practice with an agreement with a health fund that may affect your rebate.
Premolar Anatomy
Teeth between the canines and molars, with two cusps, used to crush and tear food.
PRF Oral surgery
Platelet-Rich Fibrin – made from a small sample of your own blood and used to support healing.
Primary teeth Children
Baby teeth. Children usually have 20, which start falling out around age 6.
Primescan X-rays & imaging
An intraoral scanner made by Dentsply Sirona. It captures a 3D digital impression of the teeth and gums without impression putty, and is used with CEREC to design same-day crowns, inlays and onlays.
Privacy policy Appointments & admin
How a practice collects, uses, stores and shares your personal information.
Private Health Information Statement (PHIS) Health funds & item numbers
A standard government summary of a health insurance product, published on privatehealth.gov.au.
Prosthodontics Crowns, bridges & dentures
The area of dentistry dealing with crowns, bridges, dentures and implants.
Pulp Anatomy
The soft tissue in the centre of a tooth, containing nerves and blood vessels.
Pulp capping Root canal (endodontics)
Placing a protective material over the pulp to help it heal.
Pulpectomy Root canal (endodontics)
Removing all of the pulp from a tooth.
Pulpitis Root canal (endodontics)
Inflammation of the pulp. It can be reversible or may need root canal treatment or extraction.
Pulpotomy Root canal (endodontics)
Removing part of the pulp, often in baby teeth, to keep the tooth.
QIP Abbreviations
Quality Innovation Performance, an organisation that accredits health services. Verify on QIP’s public register ↗ (opens in a new tab) (search 6154 or “Myaree”).
Radiation dose X-rays & imaging
The amount of radiation from an X-ray. Dental X-rays use low doses and are taken only when needed.
RCT Abbreviations
Root canal treatment.
Rebase Crowns, bridges & dentures
Replacing the whole base of a denture while keeping the teeth.
Rebate Health funds & item numbers
The amount your health fund pays towards a treatment.
Recall Appointments & admin
A reminder to come back for your next check-up.
Records request Appointments & admin
Asking for a copy of your dental records, as allowed under privacy law.
Records retention Appointments & admin
How long a practice must keep health records. We keep adult records for 7 years after the last visit, and children's records until age 25 (or 7 years, whichever is later), then securely destroy them. See data-request.html to tell us your preference.
Referral Appointments & admin
A letter sending you to a specialist or other health professional.
Relapse Orthodontics
Teeth moving back towards their old position after treatment.
Reline Crowns, bridges & dentures
Resurfacing the fitting side of a denture so it fits the gums better.
Restoration Procedures
Any treatment that repairs or replaces tooth structure, such as a filling, crown or onlay.
Retainer Orthodontics
An appliance that holds teeth in position after orthodontic treatment.
Root Anatomy
The part of a tooth below the gum that sits in the jawbone. Front teeth usually have one root; molars two or three.
Root canal (anatomy) Anatomy
The narrow channel inside a root that contains the pulp.
Root canal retreatment Root canal (endodontics)
Redoing a previous root canal treatment that has not healed.
Root canal treatment Root canal (endodontics)
Cleaning, disinfecting and sealing the inside of a tooth to save it when the nerve is infected or damaged.
Root planing Gums (periodontics)
Smoothing root surfaces below the gum line after removing tartar.
Rubber dam Root canal (endodontics)
A thin sheet that isolates a tooth during treatment to keep it clean and dry.
Saliva Anatomy
Spit. It washes away food, neutralises acids and helps repair early enamel damage.
Salivary glands Anatomy
Glands in the cheeks, under the jaw and under the tongue that make saliva.
Scale and clean Gums (periodontics)
Professional removal of plaque and hardened tartar from teeth.
Schedule fee Health funds & item numbers
A fee level a health fund sets for an item number. Some fund benefits are a percentage of this fee rather than of the dentist's charge.
Shade matching Crowns, bridges & dentures
Choosing a colour so a restoration blends with nearby teeth.
Simple extraction Oral surgery
Removing a visible tooth without cutting the gum.
Single-use items Infection control
Items used once and thrown away, such as needles and some tips.
Sinus lift Oral surgery
Adding bone under the sinus to make room for upper back implants.
Smile makeover Procedures
A plan that may combine several treatments to change the look of your smile.
Socket Oral surgery
The hole in the jawbone where a tooth sits.
Socket preservation Oral surgery
Placing graft material in a socket after an extraction to help keep bone volume.
Specialist Appointments & admin
A dentist with extra registered training in one area, such as orthodontics or oral surgery.
Sports mouthguard Crowns, bridges & dentures
A custom guard that helps protect teeth during contact sports.
Staining Conditions
Discolouration of teeth on the surface (from tea, coffee, smoking) or within the tooth.
Standard precautions Infection control
Infection-control steps used for every patient, every time.
Sterilisation Infection control
A process that kills all microorganisms, including bacterial spores, on reusable instruments. In dental practices this is usually done with pressurised steam in an autoclave, after the instruments have been cleaned.
Sterilisation pouch Infection control
A sealed paper-and-plastic pouch that instruments are packed in before sterilisation. It keeps them sterile until it is opened at your appointment.
Surgical extraction Oral surgery
Removing a tooth that is broken or not fully through, sometimes with a small cut in the gum.
Surgical guide Oral surgery
A custom template that helps place implants in the planned position.
Sutures Oral surgery
Stitches. Some dissolve on their own; others are removed after about a week.
Take-home whitening Procedures
Whitening at home with custom trays and a gel supplied by your dentist.
Tartar (calculus) Gums (periodontics)
Hardened plaque that can only be removed by a dental professional.
Teeth whitening Procedures
Lightening the colour of natural teeth with a bleaching gel.
Teething Children
When baby teeth come through the gums, which can cause sore gums and dribbling.
Temporary crown Crowns, bridges & dentures
A short-term crown worn while the permanent one is made.
Temporary filling Root canal (endodontics)
A short-term filling between appointments.
Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) Conditions
Problems with the jaw joint or chewing muscles, such as pain, clicking or limited opening.
Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) Anatomy
The hinge joint in front of each ear that connects the lower jaw to the skull.
Titanium Materials
A strong, biocompatible metal used for most dental implants.
TMJ Abbreviations
Temporomandibular joint (the jaw joint).
Tongue-tie Children
A short, tight frenum under the tongue that may limit movement.
Tooth decay Conditions
Damage to tooth structure caused by acid from plaque bacteria feeding on sugars.
Tooth mobility Gums (periodontics)
A loose tooth. Adult teeth should not move noticeably.
Tooth sensitivity Conditions
A short, sharp pain with cold, hot, sweet or air, often from exposed dentine.
Topical anaesthetic Anaesthesia & comfort
A numbing gel put on the gum before an injection.
Torus Anatomy
A harmless bony lump on the palate or inside the lower jaw.
Treatment plan Appointments & admin
A written outline of recommended treatment, options, stages and estimated fees.
Tyro Health funds & item numbers
The payment system we use. Tyro terminals take EFTPOS and card payments and handle on-the-spot health fund claiming, and Tyro Health Online sends digital quotes and invoices you can pay online.
Tyro Health Health funds & item numbers
Tyro's online claiming service, which we use to lodge eligible Medicare, CDBS and DVA claims and to send digital quotes and invoices.
Ultrasonic cleaner Infection control
A tank of cleaning solution that uses high-frequency sound waves to loosen debris from instruments, including from joints and serrations, before disinfection and sterilisation.
Underbite Orthodontics
When the lower front teeth sit in front of the upper front teeth.
Universal numbering Abbreviations
A US tooth numbering system from 1 to 32. Australian dentists usually use FDI.
Veneer Crowns, bridges & dentures
A thin, tooth-coloured shell bonded to the front of a tooth to improve its look.
Waiting period Health funds & item numbers
The time you must hold cover before you can claim for some services.
Washer-disinfector Infection control
A machine that automatically cleans instruments and then disinfects them with hot water (thermal disinfection), before they are packaged and sterilised.
White spot lesion Conditions
A chalky white patch on enamel, often an early sign of decay.
Wisdom tooth Anatomy
The third molar, usually appearing between about 17 and 25, if at all.
Zirconia Materials
A very strong, tooth-coloured ceramic used for crowns and bridges.

General information only. Item numbers shown are examples from the Australian Dental Association’s schedule; your written estimate lists the items for your own treatment.

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