Dental terminology, decoded for billing teams

A

Abscess

A localized collection of pus caused by infection. In dentistry it is often periapical, near the root tip, or periodontal, in the supporting gum and bone tissues.

Abutment

A tooth, implant component or connector that supports and helps retain a crown, bridge, overdenture or other prosthesis.

Alveolar bone

The part of the jawbone that contains and supports the tooth sockets.

Alveoloplasty

Surgical smoothing or reshaping of the alveolar ridge, often performed to improve healing or prepare the ridge for a denture.

Amalgam

A direct filling material made from a dental alloy that includes silver, tin, copper and mercury.

Anterior teeth

Incisors and canines. In the Universal/National system, permanent anterior teeth are #6–11 and #22–27; primary anterior teeth are C–H and M–R.

Apexification

Endodontic treatment intended to create a hard-tissue barrier at the open root end of an immature tooth with a non-vital pulp.

Apexogenesis

Vital pulp therapy for an immature permanent tooth that helps the root continue to develop.

Apicoectomy

Endodontic surgery that removes the root tip and usually includes sealing the end of the root.

Arch

The upper, maxillary, or lower, mandibular, curve of teeth and supporting ridge.

Areas of the oral cavity

Two-digit claim reporting areas: 00 entire mouth, 01 maxillary arch, 02 mandibular arch, and 10, 20, 30 and 40 for the upper-right, upper-left, lower-left and lower-right quadrants.

Attachment loss

Loss of periodontal support, commonly measured from the cemento-enamel junction to the base of the periodontal pocket.

B

Bitewing

An intraoral radiographic image showing the crowns of upper and lower posterior teeth together, commonly used to evaluate decay between teeth and bone levels.

Bone replacement graft

Natural, synthetic or processed material placed to rebuild or preserve bone, such as after extraction or around periodontal defects.

Bridge (fixed partial denture)

A non-removable prosthesis that replaces one or more missing teeth with pontics attached to retainers on natural teeth or implants.

Bruxism

Grinding or clenching of teeth, which may occur during sleep or while awake.

C

Calculus

Hardened plaque on teeth, also called tartar.

Caries

Tooth decay caused by demineralization of enamel, dentin or cementum from bacterial acids.

CBCT (cone-beam CT)

Three-dimensional imaging of the teeth, jaws and surrounding structures. It may be used for implant planning, endodontics, pathology evaluation, airway assessment and surgical planning when clinically appropriate.

Cementum

The thin, mineralized layer covering the tooth root.

Complete denture

A removable prosthesis replacing all teeth in one arch.

Composite resin

Tooth-colored restorative material that is bonded to the tooth.

Core build-up

Material placed to replace missing tooth structure and provide retention or resistance form for a crown. Benefits depend on the plan and documentation.

Crown

A restoration that covers the visible portion of a tooth; the term also refers to the anatomical part of the tooth above the gumline.

D

Debridement

Removal of plaque, calculus or diseased tissue. Full mouth debridement may be reported with CDT code D4355 when deposits prevent a comprehensive oral evaluation. Verify current CDT guidance and payer policy.

Dentin

The tooth layer beneath enamel and cementum and outside the pulp.

Dentition

The set of teeth present in the mouth: primary, mixed or permanent.

Distal

Away from the midline of the dental arch.

E

Endodontics

The dental specialty focused on the pulp, root canals and tissues around the root tip.

Endosteal implant

A dental implant placed into the jawbone.

Extraction

Removal of a tooth. Common CDT examples include D7140 for routine removal of an erupted tooth and D7210 for surgical removal of an erupted tooth requiring bone removal and/or sectioning; impactions have separate codes. Verify the current CDT manual.

F

Facial

The tooth surface facing the cheeks or lips. On posterior teeth it may be called buccal; on anterior teeth it may be called labial.

Fluoride varnish

A concentrated fluoride coating painted on teeth to help prevent decay. CDT code D1206 is commonly used for topical fluoride varnish; confirm age limits, frequency and medical necessity rules with the plan.

Frenectomy

Surgical removal or release of a frenum, such as a tongue-tie or lip-tie attachment, when clinically indicated.

G

General anesthesia

A drug-induced state in which the patient is not arousable, even with painful stimulation, and requires appropriate monitoring and airway management.

Gingiva

The gum tissue surrounding the teeth.

Gingivitis

Inflammation of the gums without loss of periodontal attachment.

I

Impacted tooth

A tooth prevented from erupting normally by bone, soft tissue, another tooth or lack of space.

Implant-supported crown

A crown retained by an implant or implant abutment. CDT code selection depends on whether the crown is abutment-supported, implant-supported, screw-retained or cemented. Verify the current CDT manual and payer policy before billing.

Incisal

The biting edge of an anterior tooth.

Inlay

An indirect restoration that fits within the contours of the tooth and does not cover the cusps.

Interim therapeutic restoration (ITR)

A temporary or interim restoration used to control decay, often on primary teeth or in community settings. CDT code D2941 is commonly associated with ITR; verify current CDT guidance and plan rules.

L

Lingual

The tooth surface facing the tongue.

Local anesthesia

Loss of sensation in a specific area, typically produced by injection or topical application.

M

Malocclusion

Misalignment of the teeth or jaws.

Mandible

The lower jaw.

Maxilla

The upper jaw.

Mesial

Toward the midline of the dental arch.

Moderate sedation

A drug-induced depressed level of consciousness in which the patient responds purposefully to verbal commands, with or without light tactile stimulation.

MRONJ

Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw: exposed or probeable jawbone that does not heal as expected and is associated with certain antiresorptive or antiangiogenic medications.

N

Night guard (occlusal guard)

A removable appliance intended to protect teeth from grinding or clenching. CDT codes D9944–D9946 may apply depending on the guard type and arch; verify the current CDT manual and payer policy.

O

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)

Repeated partial or complete collapse of the upper airway during sleep. OSA is diagnosed by a physician; ICD-10-CM G47.33 identifies obstructive sleep apnea. Dental teams should not diagnose OSA for medical billing purposes.

Occlusal

The chewing surface of posterior teeth.

Occlusal orthotic device

An appliance used for temporomandibular disorder or occlusal therapy. CDT code D7880 may apply for an occlusal orthotic device; confirm current CDT guidance and plan requirements.

Onlay

An indirect restoration that covers one or more cusps.

Oral appliance therapy (OAT)

Treatment of obstructive sleep apnea with a custom mandibular-advancement appliance. For Medicare, HCPCS E0486 is used for a custom-fabricated oral appliance for OSA only when requirements are met, including physician diagnosis, applicable LCD L33611 criteria and DMEPOS enrollment. Commercial medical plans may use different rules.

Orthodontics

The dental specialty focused on correcting tooth and jaw alignment.

P

Panoramic image

An extraoral radiographic image showing both jaws and the teeth in one view. CDT code D0330 is commonly used; verify current CDT guidance and payer frequency limits.

Partial denture

A removable prosthesis replacing some, but not all, teeth in an arch.

Periapical image

An intraoral radiographic image showing the whole tooth and the bone around the root tip.

Periodontal maintenance

Ongoing therapy after active periodontal treatment. CDT code D4910 is commonly used; plans vary on frequency, history requirements and documentation.

Periodontal pocket

A deepened space between the gum and tooth, often associated with inflammation and attachment loss.

Periodontitis

Inflammatory disease that destroys the supporting tissues and bone around teeth.

Pontic

The artificial replacement tooth in a bridge.

Post and core

A post placed in an endodontically treated canal with a core build-up to help support a crown.

Posterior teeth

Premolars and molars.

Primary dentition

The 20 baby teeth, labeled A–T in the Universal/National system.

Prophylaxis

Preventive removal of plaque, calculus and stain from tooth surfaces. CDT examples include D1110 for adults and D1120 for children; confirm current CDT guidance and plan limits.

Prosthodontics

The dental specialty focused on replacing missing teeth and restoring oral function.

Pulp

The soft tissue inside the tooth containing nerves, blood vessels and connective tissue.

Pulpotomy

Removal of the coronal portion of the pulp while preserving the vitality of the remaining root pulp when clinically appropriate, commonly performed in primary teeth.

Q

Quadrant

One quarter of the mouth: upper right, upper left, lower left or lower right.

R

Radiograph

An X-ray image used to evaluate teeth, bone and surrounding structures.

Reline

Resurfacing the tissue side of a denture to improve fit.

Root canal therapy

Endodontic treatment that removes diseased or injured pulp, cleans and shapes the canals, and fills them. CDT codes D3310–D3330 are commonly used by tooth type; verify the current CDT manual.

Root planing

Smoothing the root surface to remove calculus and contaminated cementum; it is part of scaling and root planing therapy.

S

Scaling and root planing (SRP)

Non-surgical periodontal therapy performed below the gumline. CDT codes D4341 and D4342 are commonly used depending on the number of teeth treated in the quadrant; charting, radiographs and narrative support are often required.

Sealant

A resin coating placed in pits and fissures to help prevent decay. CDT code D1351 is commonly used for sealants; payer age, tooth and frequency rules vary.

Silver diamine fluoride (SDF)

A medicament applied to a caries lesion to help arrest decay. CDT code D1354 is commonly used for interim caries arresting medicament application; confirm current CDT guidance and plan policy.

Space maintainer

An appliance that holds space for an erupting permanent tooth after early loss of a primary tooth.

Supernumerary tooth

An extra tooth. In the Universal/National system, permanent supernumerary teeth may be reported with numbers 51–82; primary supernumerary teeth are commonly identified by the primary letter followed by “S.”

T

Teledentistry

Delivery or coordination of dental care using telecommunications. CDT code D9995 is commonly used for synchronous teledentistry and D9996 for asynchronous teledentistry; benefits and state rules vary.

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ)

The joint connecting the mandible to the skull.

TMD

Temporomandibular disorders: conditions involving the jaw joint, chewing muscles and related structures.

Tooth numbering (Universal/National)

The system most often used on US dental claims: permanent teeth 1–32, starting at the upper-right third molar, and primary teeth A–T.

V

Veneer

A thin facing bonded to the front surface of a tooth, often made of porcelain or composite resin.

X

Xerostomia

Dry mouth, which may be related to medications, radiation therapy, systemic disease or reduced salivary flow.