Fixed Prosthodontics

The Glossary of Prosthodontics

Abrasive: a substance used for abrading, smoothing or polishing.
1. Tending to abrade.
2. Causing irritation.
Abutment: that part of a structure that directly receives thrust or pressure
of a tooth; that portion of dental implant that serves to support and/or
retain a prosthesis.
Adaptation: the degree of fit between a prosthesis & supporting
structures.
Adhesive: sticky.
Adjustment:
1. The act or process of modifying physical parts.
2. A modification made on a dental prosthesis or natural teeth to
enhance fit, function or acceptance by patient.
Alloy: a mixture of two or more metals or metalloids which are mutually
soluble in the molten state, e.g. gold, silver, nickel chrome, & chrome
cobalt alloys.
Anatomic Crown: the portion of the natural tooth that extends coronally
from the cementoenamel junction.
Artificial Crown: a metal, plastic or ceramic restoration that covers three,
or more, axial surfaces & the occlusal surface, or incisal edge, of a tooth.
Aseptic: free from infection; the prevention of contact with
microorganisms.
Asymmetry: absence or lack of symmetry or balance; dissimilarity in
corresponding parts or organs on opposite side of the body.
Attachment: a mechanical device fixation, retention & stabilization of a
prosthesis, e.g. intracoronal* & extracoronal attachments.
1. Female (Matrix).
2. Male (Patrix).
Attrition: the act of wearing or grinding down by friction.
Axial Contour: the shape of a body that is in its long axis.
Axial Reduction: the amount of tooth removed (alteration preparation)
along its long axis.
Axis of Preparation: the planned path line of placement & removal of a
dental restoration.

Bevel: a slanting edge for tooth preparation.

Bite: the act of incising or crashing between the teeth, e.g. bite-block, bite
guard, bite plane, open bite, closed bite, deep bite & cross bite.
Bridge: fixed dental prosthesis.
Bruxism: the parafunctional grinding of teeth.

*
As the name suggests, a matrix component part housed within the coronal tissue of the abutment tooth.

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Bur: a steel or tungsten carbide rotary cutting instrument.

CAD-CAM: acronym for "Computer Aided Design" "Computer Aided

Manufacturer" or "Computer Assisted Machining".
Cantilever Bridge: a fixed dental prosthesis in which the pontic is
cantilevered; retained & supported on only one end by one or more
abutments.
Cast: a life-size likeness of some desired form. It is formed within or is a
material poured into a matrix or impression of the desired form.
Casting: the act of forming an object in a mold.
Cement: to unite or make firm as if by cement; to lute.
Clasp Arm: the part of a removable dental prosthesis around the tooth for
retention & stabilization, e.g. Naly clasp & wrought clasp.
Clinical Crown: the portion of a tooth that extends from the occlusal
table, or incisal edge, to the gingival margin.
Complete Crown: a restoration that covers all the coronal tooth surfaces.
Complete Denture: a removable dental prosthesis that replaces the entire
dentition.
Contact Surface: the region on the proximal surface of a tooth that
touches the adjacent tooth.
Convergence Angle:
1. The taper of the crown preparation.
2. The angle, measured in degrees, formed between opposing axial
walls when a tooth is prepared for a crown.
Coping: a thin covering; furnishing with a cop.
Core: the centre or base of a structure.
Coronal: pertaining to the crown of a tooth.
Crest: the most coronal portion of the alveolar process.
Crown: to place on the head; to place a crown on a tooth or dental
implant.
Custom Tray: an individualized impression tray made from a cast
recovered from a preliminary impression. It's used to make a final
impression.

Dental Arch: the composite structure of the natural teeth & alveolar bone.
Dental Articulation: the contact relationship of maxillary & mandibular
teeth as they move against each other.
Dental Esthetics: the application of the principles of esthetics to the
natural or artificial teeth & restorations.
Dental Implant: a prosthetic device made of alloplastic materials
implanted into the oral tissues.
Dove-Tail: a widened portion of a prepared cavity used to increase
retention and/or resistance.

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Dowel Pin: a metal or plastic pin used in stone casts to remove die
sections & replace them accurately in the original position.
Die: the positive reproduction of the form of a prepared tooth in any
suitable substance.
Die Spaces: an agent applied to a die to provide space for the luting agent
in the finishing casting.

Edge-to-Edge Articulation: articulation in which the opposing anterior

teeth meet along their incisal edges when the teeth are in maximum
intercuspation.
Elastic Impression Material:
Embrasure: the space defined by surfaces of two adjacent teeth. There
are four embrasure spaces associated with each proximal contact area:
"occlusal/incisal, buccal, lingual & gingival".

Ferrule: a metal band or ring used to fit the root or crown of a tooth.
Finish Line: the terminal portion of the prepared tooth, e.g. chamfer,
shoulder, beveled shoulder, feather edgeetc
Fit: to adjust to the correct size or shape; to adapt one structure to another.
Free Gingiva: the part of the gingiva that surrounds the tooth and is not
directly attached to the tooth surface.
Full Denture: complete denture.
Full Veneer Crown: complete crown.

Horizontal Overlap: the projection of teeth beyond their antagonists in

the horizontal plane.

Immediate Denture: any removable dental prosthesis fabricated for

placement immediately following the removal of natural tooth.
Implant: any object or material, such as alloplastic substance, which is
partially or completely inserted or grafted into the body for therapy, e.g.
implantology.
Impression: a negative copy in reverse of the surface of an object.
Impression Material: any substance used for making an impression or
negative production.
Impression Tray: a device that is used to carry, confine & control
impression material while making an impression.
Inlay: a fixed intracoronal restoration which is then luted into the tooth.
Insertion: placement.
Interference: any tooth contact that interferes with, or hinds, harmonious
mandibular movement.
Investing: the process of covering or enveloping with investment.

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Irreversible Hydrocolloids: e.g. alginate, dental alginate (sol. of alginic

acid).

Jacket Crown: full crown with shoulder finishing line, e.g. ceramic &
resins crowns.

Kennedy Classification:
Class I: a bilateral edentulous area located posterior to the
remaining natural teeth.
Class II: a unilateral edentulous area located posterior to the
remaining natural teeth.
Class III: a unilateral edentulous area with natural teeth located
both anterior & posterior to it.
Class IV: a single bilateral edentulous area located anterior to the
remaining natural teeth, in addition to the modification spaces.

Long Axis: a theoretical line passing lengthwise through the centre of a

body (longitudinal axis).

Median Line: the centre line dividing a body into the right & left.
Mesial Drift: movement of teeth toward the midline.
Metal Ceramic Restoration: porcelain fused to metal restoration.
Metal Collar: a narrow band of highly polished metal immediately
adjacent to the facial/buccal margin on a metal ceramic restoration.

Non-Working-Side: the side of the mandible that moves towards the

median line in a lateral excursion.

Occlusal Adjustment: any alteration of the occluding surfaces of the

teeth or restoration (occlusal correction).
Occlusal Analysis: an examination of the occlusion in which the
interocclusal relations of mounted casts are evaluated.
Occlusal Device: any removable artificial occlusal surface, used for
diagnosis or therapy, affecting the relationship of the mandible to the
maxilla (for occlusal equilibration).
Occlusal Vertical Dimension: the distance measured between two points
when the occluding members are in contact.
Rest Vertical Dimension
Onlay: a restoration that restores one or more cusps & adjoining occlusal
surfaces or entire occlusal surface, and is retained by mechanical or
adhesive means.

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Opaque: the property of the material that absorbs and/or reflects all light
& prevents any transmission of light, e.g. opaque dentin & opaque
porcelain.
Overbite: vertical overlap.
Over Denture: any removable dental prosthesis that covers telescopic
denture & rests on one, or more, remaining natural teeth, the roots of
natural teeth and/or dental implants.
Overjet: horizontal overlap.

Partial Denture: a removable dental prosthesis or a fixed dental

prosthesis that restores one or more, but not all, the natural teeth.
Partial Veneer Crown: a restoration that restores all but one coronal
surface of a tooth, usually not covering the facial surface.
Path of Placement: the specific direction in which a prosthesis is placed
on the abutment teeth or dental implant.
Path of Withdrawal: path of displacement.
Pattern: a form that is used to make a mold.
Pier: an intermediate abutment for fixed dental prosthesis.
Pin: a small cylindrical piece of metal.
Pinhole: a tooth preparation feature used to provide retention &
resistance to displacement (in the dentin).
Pinledge: a partial veneer retains preparation with pinholes.
Pontic: an artificial tooth on a fixed dental prosthesis that replaces a
missing natural tooth.
Porcelain Jacket Crown: all ceramic restoration.
Porcelain Laminate Veneer: a thin bonded ceramic restoration that
restores the facial surface & part of the proximal surfaces of teeth
requiring esthetic restoration.
Porosity: the presence of voids or pores within a structure.
Post & Core Crown: a restoration in which the crown & cast post are
one unit.
Precision Attachment*: patrix= male, matrix= female.

Resin Crown: a resin restoration that restores a clinical crown without a

metal substance, used as temporary crown.
Rest: a projection or attachment, usually on the side of an object seeing
cingulum, incisal, lingual, occlusal.
Retainer: any type of device used for the stabilization or retention of a
prosthesis.

*
E.g. magnets, locking bolts, Stud, Zest anchor, Bar, extracoronal, intracoronal & Ceka attachments.

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Sanitary Bridge, Sanitary Pontic or Hygienic Pontic: a pontic that is

easier to clean because it has a dome-shaped cervical form and does not
overlap the edentulous ridges, there is a space between the pontic & the
edentulous area.
Secondary Crown: telescopic crown.
Shade Guide or shade selection: tooth color selection.
Shell Crown: an artificial crown that is adapted like a shell or cap over
the remaining clinical crown of a tooth. The space between the tooth &
shell is filled with cement.
Space of Donders: eponym for the space that lies above the dorsum of
the tongue & below the hard & soft palates, while the mandible & tongue
are in the rest position.
Splint: a rigid or flexible device that maintains in position a displaced or
movable pat, to immobilize or support.
Splinting: joining of two or more teeth into a rigid unit by means of fixed
or removable restorations or devices.

Three-Quarter Crown: partial veneer crown.

Try-In: trial placement (framework).

Undercut: any irregularity in the wall of prepared tooth that prevents the
seating or withdrawal of coating of a cross-section portion of a residual
ridge or dental arch; that prevents the insertion of a dental prosthesis.

Veneer: a thin sheet of material usually used as a finish.

Working Side: the side toward which the mandible moves in a lateral
excursion.

Zirconia Ceramic Post: a ceramic post used in the restoration of

endodontically treated teeth, especially when a metal post may
compromise esthetics (composite resin used).

Typed By:
Noor Al-Deen M. Al-Khanati

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