What is the dental term for cavity
William Harris
Published Mar 28, 2026
Cavities, also called tooth decay or caries, are caused by a combination of factors, including bacteria in your mouth, frequent snacking, sipping sugary drinks and not cleaning your teeth well.
What is the common terminology for dental cavities?
Caries — Caries is the term dentists use to describe cavities. A cavity is the destruction of your tooth enamel (the hard, outer layer of your teeth) and must be treated by a dentist before more serious problems occur.
What is a periodontist?
A periodontist is a dentist who specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of periodontal disease (a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the gums and bone supporting the teeth also known as gum disease), and in the placement of dental implants.
What is the medical term for a tooth cavity?
caries: tooth decay or “cavities;” a dental infection caused by toxins produced by bacteria. cementum: hard tissue that covers the roots of teeth.What is the medical term for a dentist?
The DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) and DMD (Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry or Doctor of Dental Medicine) are the same degrees. Dentists who have a DMD or DDS have the same education. It’s up to the universities to determine what degree is awarded, but both degrees use the same curriculum requirements.
What is tooth Pericoronitis?
Pericoronitis is swelling and infection of the gum tissue around the wisdom teeth, the third and final set of molars that usually appear in your late teens or early 20s. It is most common around the lower wisdom teeth.
What is the meaning of perio?
: a branch of dentistry that deals with diseases of the supporting and investing structures of the teeth including the gums, cementum, periodontal membranes, and alveolar bone.
Is decay a cavity?
No, tooth decay is not the same as a cavity. However, tooth decay can cause cavities. Tooth decay, or also referred to as dental caries, start as plaque, the sticky film that builds up on your teeth.What is an endodontist do?
Highly trained endodontists (dental specialists) repair tissues inside the tooth in intricate ways. They diagnose and treat complex causes of tooth pain, such as tooth abscess (infection). Endodontists perform root canal treatments and other procedures to relieve pain.
What is a mouth specialist called?Oral surgeons, also called maxillofacial surgeons, are trained to detect, diagnose, and prevent defects and diseases that affect the mouth, jaw, teeth, and gums.
Article first time published onWhat is a periodontist or endodontist?
Periodontists are concerned with the health of gums and treating gum disease and inflammation. On the other hand, Endodontists specialize in tooth roots and oral pain. Patients are most commonly referred to them for a complicated root canal.
What is the meaning of Implantologist?
(im″plan″tol′ŏ-jist) An oral health professional who performs dental implants.
What is the difference between orthodontics and periodontics?
The orthodontist concentrates on the formation or growth of teeth. “Ortho-“ is a prefix meaning “straight.” The periodontist treats the gums, which surround and anchor the tooth.
What is Operculum in dentistry?
An operculum is the name of a piece of gum tissue that lies overtop the biting surface of a tooth. Generally speaking, an operculum occurs when teeth are erupting and, most of the time, will resolve on their own when the tooth erupts fully.
What is erupted wisdom tooth?
The moment the tooth cuts through the gum and shows up between the skin, it is termed erupted wisdom tooth, which means the teeth has emerged from the gum. The erupted tooth may from perfectly in its position as usual, or they could develop partially and/or become crooked.
What is a fully erupted tooth?
However, in the case of partially erupted, or impacted teeth, avoiding gingivitis can be especially challenging. A normal erupted tooth is any tooth that has appeared through the gums and shown itself from the surrounding tissue. Wisdom teeth however, are often partially erupted or impacted.
What is root canal of teeth?
A root canal is a dental procedure involving the removal of the soft center of the tooth, the pulp. The pulp is made up of nerves, connective tissue, and blood vessels that help the tooth grow. In the majority of cases, a general dentist or endodontist will perform a root canal while you’re under local anesthesia.
Can an endodontist do crowns?
The endodontist will open the crown (top) of the tooth and remove the pulp. They will then clean, reshape, and enlarge the root canal — the pathway from the pulp to your jawbone — using small files. They may also apply medicine to the area to stop an infection.
Is an endodontist the same as an oral surgeon?
Endodontics deals strictly with diseases and injuries dealing with the pulp of the tooth. An endodontist is a specialist in root canal treatments and endodontic therapy of all sorts. An oral surgeon, also called a maxillofacial surgeon, specializes in procedures dealing with the mouth, jaw, and even the whole face.
Are all holes in teeth cavities?
Anyone with a hole in a tooth should see a dentist, even if there is no pain. A hole in a tooth is a cavity. As bacteria and acid continue to breach the tooth’s enamel, the cavity grows and tooth decay continues — unless the person receives professional treatment.
Do cavities hurt?
Typically, you will have pain when you have a cavity that’s been untreated. If you get a toothache, it’s time to see the dentist. Don’t put it off. In the early stages of cavities, you might feel pain when you bite down on something you eat like a piece of candy.
Is root canal painful?
During root canal therapy, the pulp is removed, and the inside of the tooth is cleaned and sealed. People fear root canals because they assume they are painful. Actually, most people report that the procedure itself is no more painful than having a filling placed.
What is the difference between dentist and stomatologist?
A Stomatologist is a Dentist specialist in Oral Medicine which is between Medicine and Dentistry. In some countries the Stomatologist studied General Medicine and continue with Oral Medicine specialization.
Can a dentist refer you to a specialist?
Although, generally it would be a general dentist that would ‘refer’ a patient to a specialist, it is not uncommon that patients will sometimes locate a specialist themselves and approach him or her directly. This is particularly common in the field of orthodontics for example.
Do periodontist do fillings?
Routine dental treatments like fillings are usually best handled by an affordable dentist, but if you suffer from advanced gum disease, or you plan to have tooth implants placed, you may need to see a specialist known as a periodontist.
Does periodontist do crowns?
In addition to performing surgical procedures to restore teeth and gums due to severe gum diseases, periodontists also specialize in cosmetic procedures. These treatments help restore a patient’s natural smile: Gummy Smiles — periodontists specialize in lengthening dental crowns and fixing uneven gum lines.
Is a root canal orthodontics?
Orthodontist or Endodontist? Another field of dentistry is Orthodontics. While Endodontics focuses on root canal treatment, Orthodontics deals with straightening the teeth and fix malocclusion problems.
Is an orthodontist a doctor?
An orthodontist can work in a dental office and provide the same care as a dentist. So in this respect, they are quite similar. They are both considered doctors, and deal with the teeth and gums.
What is full form of BDS?
Full form of BDS – Bachelor of Dental Surgery.
Are prosthodontics dentures?
The field of prosthodontics relates to all dental procedures that involve repairing or replacing teeth with prosthetics. This includes things like dental crowns & bridges, dentures, and even dental implants.
What is the difference between prosthodontics and orthodontics?
An orthodontist normally deals with keeping the teeth aligned and improving the way your jaws fit together. … Prosthodontists can repair or replace teeth that have been badly damaged and help prevent your remaining teeth from shifting out of place.