-CCalculus- The scientific term for tartar, which is the accumulation of calcified substance that adheres to the teeth.

Calculus is microscopically porous, and provides a multitude of hiding places for the bacteria that cause gum disease. It should be removed on a

schedule chosen specifically for the individual needs of each patient.

Cantilever Bridge-

A fixed bridge in which the false tooth, or The supporting side, or

pontic, is supported only on one side.

abutments, must be especially strong and well designed, and the bite must be scientifically arranged to minimize leverage forces.

Canker Sore- A painful ulcer that lasts seven to ten days, usually on the looser gum tissue in the softer areas of the mouth. Scientifically known as aphthae, these ulcers can sometimes occur on the tongue, palate, and throat. They can be treated with steroid cream if they are debilitating.

Cementation- The placement of a fixed crown or bridge with a dental cement to assure retention. Cementum - Mineralized connective tissue resembling bone, that covers the roots of teeth. Anchors teeth to the adjacent alveolar bone

via the periodontal ligament. Cementum is avascular and grows slowly, by surface apposition, throughout life.

Cerebral Palsy-

A neurologic condition caused by oxygen

deficiency at some time during the development of a baby. A wide variation in the level of affliction is seen, although the condition is characterized by poor control of motor movements and

overcontracted muscles.

The more severely afflicted CP patients

often have excessive saliva, excessive calculus, and thankfully very few problems with cavities. We find more gum care necessary for these patients than might be expected, as some of their medications also contribute to gum problems.

Cingulum - A bulge or elevation on the lingual surface of incisors or canines. It is the lingual lobe of an anterior tooth and makes up the bulk of the cervical third of the lingual surface. The term is derived from the Latin word for girdle because its convexity mesio-distally resembles a girdle encircling the lingual surface at the cervical third. The cingulum forms the upper border or boundary of the lingual fossa of the incisors

Cleft Lip/Palate- A common craniofacial defect in which the upper lip and nose form incorrectly during embryonic development. antiquity, this condition was referred to as "hare lip". disfigurement and misalignment of the jaws. In

Clefts cause

Clenching- The habit of consciously or unconsciously squeezing the teeth together with extraordinary muscle force.

Cold Sore- The common name for blisters cause by the Herpes Simplex virus, to which 98% of the world's population has been exposed by the age of two. This is a different but similar virus to that which causes genital herpes. Cold sores often occur on the external lip (herpes labialis), and on the gum tissue near the teeth. They last from seven to ten days, and can be treated with antiviral medications when severe.

Compomer- A new material used for cementation of fixed crowns and bridges and also for some restorations. Combines the benefits of composite materials with those of glassionomers.

Composite- The material traditionally used for bonded restorations. Made from an admixture of various glass particles in a polymerized gel-like matrix. This material is generally applied to etched enamel and primed dentin. It is then polymerized with a curing light, a visible blue light which activates a catalyst in the composite and causes it to harden almost instantly. Today's composite bonding

materials are extremely esthetic because of the way the glass particles reflect and refract light similarly to natural enamel.

Conscious Sedation - produced by the administration of certain medications, is an altered level of consciousness that still allows a patient to respond to physical stimulation and verbal commands, and to maintain an unassisted airway.

Cracked Tooth Syndrome- When a tooth has a partial or complete vertical fracture (up the root), a sometimes confusing collection of symptoms may develop. Usually characterized by pain to biting pressure or to the release of biting pressure, patients are often unable to detect which is the problematic tooth, sometimes describing pain on the entire side of the face when chewing. Cold sensitivity often accompanies these symptoms. Cracked teeth are predictably identified by good diagnostic techniques, and are treated by crowning the offending teeth to protect them and stop the pain-producing flexure around the crack.

Craniofacial Team-

A multidisciplinary team of health care

professionals who perform a joint evaluation and build a care plan for patients with craniofacial anomalies, such as cleft lip or palate. The Craniofacial Team consists of plastic surgeons, orthodontists, reconstructive dentists, geneticists, otorhinolaryngologists (ENT's), pediatricians, pediatric anesthesiologists, pediatric neurosurgeons, audiologists, speach pathologists, feeding and swallowing therapists, psychologists, social workers, nurse practitioners, and parent advocates who meet twice monthly to assist these worthy patients.

Crepitation- Grinding or gravelly sounds from within the jaw joint resulting from direct contact of bone against bone with no disc, or cushion, in between. May be with or without associated pain.

Crown - The portion of tooth seen in the mouth In natural tooth

Anatomical Crown: That portion of tooth normally covered by enamel Clinical Crown: That portion of a tooth not covered by supporting

tissues. In Artificial tooth

Abutment Crown: Artificial crown serving for the retention or support

of a dental prosthesis
Artificial Crown: Restoration covering or replacing the major part, or

the whole of the clinical crown of a tooth

Crown Lengthening: A surgical procedure exposing more tooth for restorative purposes by apically positioning the gingival margin and/or removing supporting bone.

Curettage- The act of removing infected tissue from a wound; used commonly in dentistry to refer to the removal of grossly inflammed gum tissue caused be severe periodontal disease. Local anesthesia is used for immediate comfort; generally there is no pain at all afterward.

Cyst - Pathological cavity having fluid, semi-fluid, or gaseous contents, and is not created by accumulation of pus and is frequently, but not always lined by epithelium. It can hollow out the bone in a patient's jaw to a significant extent. They are removed by careful curettage and the missing bone usually regenerates.