Dental Terminology Whittier, CA

A family dentist is a dentist that helps patients of all ages, from childhood to adulthood. Some dental offices are just for adults or just for children. At Dentists of Whittier, we offer family dentistry services for every stage of life.

A pediatric dentist is a dentist who has special training and professional experience working with children and teenagers.

Sedation dentistry is the use of safe medications that relax the patient or numb the area being worked on. Conscious sedation such as nitrous oxide relaxes the patient and helps them get through the procedure without much anxiety. It’s great for nervous kids and anxious adults. General anesthesia might also be used for dental or oral surgery, which puts a person to sleep entirely.

An orthodontist is a dentist who has a minimum of two extra years of training in orthodontics. Orthodontics is the dental specialty focused on fixing malocclusions, or misalignments, of the teeth, bite, and jaw.

Periodontists are dentists who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of periodontal or gum disease. Your main dentist may also serve as a periodontist.

Periodontal disease is more commonly known as gum disease. It starts off as gingivitis, which means the gums are inflamed. If not treated, gingivitis progresses to periodontitis, which is an active infection of the gums that can cause a lot of problems, from tooth decay to loss of gum tissue, teeth, and bone.

Metal braces are a common way to straighten teeth and consist of metal brackets and wires placed on the teeth. Ceramic braces are clear braces made from natural-looking porcelain ceramic. The brackets are tooth-colored or translucent and the wires are clear, making them much less visible.

Invisalign® clear aligners are also sometimes called clear braces, but they are actually not braces. They consist of custom-molded plastic trays that gently straighten teeth. They are clear and nearly “invisible” when worn.

Once you’ve finished wearing braces or Invisalign® clear aligners, you will need to “retain” the changes. This is done via a dental appliance called a retainer. Sometimes, retainers are used for mild orthodontic alignment issues that don’t require braces in the first place.

Dentures are commonly known as “false teeth” and are typically removable, although some modern dentures are fixed into place.

A fixed bridge or dental bridge is an alternative to dentures. With a bridge, an appliance is secured to the mouth, usually via teeth that are adjacent to the missing teeth. Fixed bridges are not removable.

A dental crown is a cap that covers and strengthens a tooth that has been damaged. Sometimes, crowns are used to conceal discolored teeth, or they may be used as anchors for fixed bridges.

When we need to remove a tooth, it is called an extraction. For example, wisdom teeth are commonly extracted in the late teenage years to make room for nearby teeth.

Dental implants are a secure and permanent tooth replacement option that are implanted in the jaw so that replacement teeth and/or bridges can be affixed. Dental implants are typically made out of titanium alloy but some are also made of a non-metal composite.

A dental filling is a way to strengthen teeth weakened by cavities and protect them from further damage. Modern fillings are typically made from a safe and non-toxic composite resin.

The same composite resin used in dental fillings is used in dental bonding to shape and repair teeth. It can also be used cosmetically to close gaps between teeth, smooth over cracked teeth, and make stained teeth whiter.

Restorative inlays and onlays are dental restorations that are made from porcelain. They are secured over teeth to protect and strengthen them. Porcelain inlays and onlays are typically used instead of a filling as a better way to repair teeth damaged by cavities and tooth decay. An inlay is secured inside the top of the tooth and an onlay is placed on top and over the sides of the tooth. Porcelain inlays and onlays are tooth colored and look like natural teeth.