PaxPat Dentistry

A dental receptionist's duties might include all except the following: A Cleaning plaque from patient's teeth B Greeting patients and scheduling appointments C Processing payments and insurance forms D Making phone calls to remind people of appointments

A

When acid destroys tooth enamel, it usually causes:

A cavity

Define Composite

A colloquial term for resin materials used in restorative dentistry. A ___________ is a tooth-colored material often used in place of amalgam.

What is an impacted tooth?

A tooth missing, not able to come through the gums. The dentist will then say, "tooth 32 has not erupted yet". teeth number will not change.

A good option for the primary material for a filling for a front tooth would be:

Composite of acrylic and inorganic materials

Which dental professional might be trained by a dentist instead of a formal educational program? Dental Assistants

Dental Assistants

A dental assistant is responsible for:

Supporting the dentist by preparing the exam room and instruments for each patient

What is Tartar

Tartar is also called calculus. It is made of calcium deposits that accumulate on the teeth.

What is the occlusal?

The bicuspids and molars have a chewing surface called the occlusal. These teeth are numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 (uppers) and 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32 (lowers).

Define Dental Prosthetic

The dental specialty dealing with the needs of patients with missing teeth or with abnormal maxillofacial or oral structures. is the art and science of fabricating artificial replacements for missing or damaged teeth.

How are cavities formed?

The enamel coating on the exterior of the teeth is very hard but can be destroyed by bacteria. If you don't brush your teeth, food left behind on the teeth changes to acid. This is particularly true of sugary foods, such as sodas, candy, and other sweets. When you brush and floss your teeth after eating, the sugar, and other food, is brushed and rinsed away. But if the sugar remains on the teeth, acid forms that attacks the enamel and dissolves the surface of the teeth. As time goes on, this creates a hole in the enamel that extends down into the dentin. This is in the interior of the tooth, where the nerves are, so a deep cavity will hurt.

Which of the following statements about dental health is not true?

The enamel on our teeth protects the dentin from acid erosion

What is the incisal surface?

The front (anterior) teeth have a biting edge that is called the incisal surface. These teeth are numbers 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 (uppers) and 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 (lowers).

What is the procedure for a root canal?

This is a procedure where the entire center of the tooth is hollowed out, along with the decayed tooth area. Then the center of the tooth along with the roots are filled with a rubber material and sealed. If cared for properly after the root canal, the tooth should remain intact for the rest of the patient's lifetime.

Jane has had a root canal. If she takes care of her teeth properly, the tooth treated and sealed during the procedure should remain intact for her lifetime.

True

Define Veneer

a thin layer of tooth-colored material, usually made of porcelain, some other ceramic, or acrylic resin, attached to a prepared tooth surface to modify its shape or color.

What are fillings made of?

composite material that is a mixture of acrylics (plastics) filled with inorganic materials. These materials can include quartz or aluminum, ground up to be very fine particles. These materials give the composite strength and make it long-lasting. Once the decay is removed, the site is first prepared with an acid gel that etches into enamel to hold the filling in place. Another acrylic material, a bonding agent, is applied and becomes hard when it is exposed to light for 20 seconds. Then sections of the composite are applied and exposed to light, until it is completed.

Define Bonding

a. A dental technique in which a material such as plastic or porcelain is attached to the surface of a discolored or damaged tooth. b. The technique of using adhesives to attach orthodontic brackets or other appliances to the teeth.

Define Crown

artificial crown a metal, porcelain, or plastic reproduction of a crown affixed to the remaining natural structure of a tooth. clinical crown that portion of a tooth visible above the gingiva.

How many surfaces does each tooth have?

five surfaces. These surfaces will help identify where the caries (cavity) or restoration (filling) is located on the tooth. In a previous activity, you were shown the names and locations of each tooth.

Define Occlusion

the relation of the teeth of both jaws when in functional contact during activity of the mandible. refers to the process that takes place when your teeth come together and touch

Define Restoration

1. A prosthetic restoration or appliance; a broad term applied to any inlay, crown, bridge, partial denture, or complete denture that restores or replaces lost tooth structure, teeth, or oral tissues. 2. A plug or stopping; any substance (for example, gold, amalgam) used for restoring the portion missing from a tooth as a result of removing decay in the tooth.

Define Bridge

1. a fixed partial denture; see illustration. A _________ is a dental restoration that spans an area that has no teeth, and is connected to natural teeth at each end.

When do children have primary teeth? how many?

20 teeth by the time they are three. baby teeth We start losing primary teeth around six

What is the facial surface?

All teeth have a surface called facial. This is the surface closest to the cheek and lips. You can feel it by rubbing your tongue across the front side of your teeth. Sometimes this surface is referred to as the labial surface for the anterior teeth (centrals, laterals and cuspids) and the buccal surface for the posterior teeth (bicuspids and molars).

What is the lingual?

All teeth have a surface called the lingual. It is on the backside of the tooth and you can feel it by rubbing your tongue on the back of your teeth.

What do dental charts show?

Any repairs that have occurred or work that needs to be done.

How do teeth come in after six?

As the adult, or permanent teeth develop behind the primary teeth they wear away the roots of the primary teeth causing them to fall out. The permanent teeth start coming in next by adding two bicuspids in each quadrant (one fourth of the mouth). By about 12 or 13 years of age a young person has all of his or her permanent teeth. The exception to this are the third molars, also called wisdom teeth. These normally erupt in the late teens or early 20's at the very back of the mouth. So, with the bicuspids and third molars, adults have 12 additional teeth compared to children, for a total of 32 permanent teeth.

How do the tooth number systems work?

Begin with the third molar (very back tooth of the adult) on the patient;s upper right. That is tooth 1, molar in front is 2. The back molar on the upper left side is number 16. Then, dropping down to the lower jaw, the third molar on the lower left of the patients jaw is number 17. Move from left to right on the bottom jaw until you get to 32 which is the back molar on the bottom right side of the jaw.

What are bicuspids?

Behind the cuspids are the two pre-molars, or bicuspids. They are about the same size as the cuspids ("cusp" refers to the pointed part of the tooth), but have two cusps (points). They both tear food and grind it.

What tissue is teeth made of? not bone

Dentin- a hard, yellowish substance that forms the structure of the tooth Cementum- which is a thin layer of cellular tissue that attaches to ligaments that hold the root of the tooth in place at the jawbone. Below the gum line Above the gum line, the dentin is covered with thin, white enamel. This enamel is the hardest structure in the human body.

Related careers

Dentist Dental Assistant Dental Hygienist Dental Receptionist Periodontist Orthodontist Maxillofacial Surgeon

How often should a person have their teeth cleaned?

Every six months

The filling is applied to the tooth directly on the portion that is decayed. The materials in the filling will kill the bacteria that caused the infection and stop the cavity from eroding deeper into the dentin.

False

Define abutment

In dentistry, a natural tooth or implanted tooth substitute, used to support or anchor a fixed or removable prosthesis.

What is dental pulp?

Inside the tooth is hollow. This space is filled with blood supply and nerves,

How do adult teeth work?

Like a mortar and pestle.

How do molars work?

Moving back along the jaw are the three molars. These are the back teeth that use a grinding motion to chew up food. Compared to other teeth, the molars are larger, rounder, and flatter. They have four or five cusps that form a bowl shape. The cusps of the upper teeth mesh with the bowl of the lower teeth.

Cuspids do?

Next to the incisors are the cuspids, which are sharp and pointed. They are also called canines because they resemble a dog's teeth, like fangs at the corner of the mouth. They are strong and tough, used for tearing food. The roots of the cuspids extend far into the jaw. They also used to be called eye-teeth, possibly because of their location directly under the eyes.

What is Plaque

Plaque is a microscopic film caused by bacteria that forms on teeth, even when people are conscientious about brushing and flossing their teeth. Without removal, this plaque can lead to tooth decay and gum disease.

Which procedure treats tooth decay by sealing the tooth?

Root canal

It is important that the materials for fillings are:

Strong, safe, and long-lasting

What kind of filling is used for molars?

The material for the molars, a regular silver filling, is a combination of silver and a very small amount of mercury; and for the bicuspid, a composite, which is a plastic product. The decayed tooth material is removed and the tooth is shaped to hold the filling tightly

What is the midline?

The other surfaces are identified according to their position in reference to the midline. The midline is an imaginary line located between the two front teeth (centrals) that separate the left side of the mouth and the right side of the mouth.

What is the distal surface?

The surface farthest from the midline towards the back of the mouth is called the distal.

What is the mesial surface

The surface of all teeth closest to the midline is called the mesial surface.

How do incisors work?

The teeth at the front of the mouth are the incisors, four on top and four on the bottom. They are thin and sharp compared to other teeth, more like a blade. Their purpose is to cut through food when you bite. And they work together in the biting action.

How are dental charts recorded?

Using easy to read symbols for dentists to see the condition of the patient's teeth. Each tooth has a number assigned to it.

How are the charts marked?

When a patient has a dental exam, the doctor looks in the patient's mouth and describes out loud what he or she sees. As the different conditions are described, the dental assistant marks the patient's chart with the appropriate symbols. The dentist calls out the tooth number followed by the condition of the tooth.

Wisdom teeth problems

When there is no room for these third molars they can grow sideways causing the other teeth to overlap or they can become infected. In earlier eras, many people were unable to receive good dental care and lost teeth due to decay and disease. The wisdom teeth were valuable in these cases because they could fill in the spaces left when a tooth was lost. However, with access to modern dentistry, many people now retain their teeth and keep them healthy throughout adulthood. As a result, the mouth is already full of teeth when the wisdom teeth try to push their way in. This can cause gum diseases and can lead the person to bite on the gingiva or soft gum tissue, which often still partially covers the wisdom tooth. Also, because they are at the very back of the mouth, these teeth can be hard to keep clean. This can also lead to tooth decay. Dentists often recommend having them removed while the person is still young. It can be easier for young people to heal and it prevents overcrowding, which can cause more problems from occurring later.

Define Periodontist

a dentist who specializes in treating the supporting structures of the teeth gums