GlossaryDoes it ever seem like everyone you do business with—from the auto mechanic to the attorney to the tax accountant—uses a secret language to describe what you’re paying for?

You’d like to know what they’re talking about, but you’re afraid to ask. Maybe it’s over your head. Maybe they don’t really want you to know.

This “tech talk” may come naturally to them, but it can make the rest of us pretty uncomfortable. It’s as though every specialist has built a Black Box around himself that transforms every question you ask into an answer in a language you can’t understand.

Our practice doesn’t operate that way. For starters, we want you to know—and to understand—everything. We’re committed to simple, straightforward communication, so if you ever catch us using a word or phrase you don’t recognize, please feel free to ask for clarification!

We consider it an important part of our job to keep you informed, as we want our patients to be the most savvy around on the subject of dental health.

Common Dental Terms into Simple English

  • Carious fissure – start of a cavity
  • Gnathic structure – your jaw
  • Xerostomia – dry mouth
  • Malocclusion – bad bite
  • Mandible – lower jaw
  • Maxilla – upper jaw
  • Oral cavity – inside your mouth
  • Gingivitis – beginning gum disease
  • Bruxism – clenching or grinding of teeth