Dental glossary — terms beginning with Z

Dental prosthesis, a replacement for lost teeth; gaps are closed again with artificial crowns, bridges or dentures.

Tooth extraction, the removal of a tooth.

Gum, covers the jawbone and encloses the neck of the tooth.

Neck of the tooth, connects the crown with the root and is enclosed by the gum.

Crown of the tooth, the visible part of the tooth projecting into the mouth.

Dental care, caries is caused by acids that attack the enamel and create a cavity. These acids form when bacteria in the mouth digest food residues. Sugar in particular acts as a binder by which bacteria attach themselves to the teeth. Together with food residues and constituents of saliva this forms dental plaque, and it is in and beneath the plaque that acid is mainly produced. Regular, thorough dental care is necessary to prevent decay. There are various ways to remove plaque: toothbrush and toothpaste, interdental brushes, an oral irrigator, dental floss, dental chewing gum, and in addition a professional preventive appointment at the dentist once or twice a year.

Enamel, the outermost layer of the crown of the tooth.

Calculus, deposits on the teeth. It encourages disease of the tooth-supporting structures, so removing it is an important measure in preventing and treating gum inflammation. periodontosis

Tooth root, the invisible part of the tooth, anchored in its socket in the jawbone. jawbone

Teeth, a tooth is made up of the crown and the root, joined by the neck. The crown projects from the gum and together with the other crowns forms the dentition. It consists of dentine covered with enamel. The transition from crown to root is formed by the neck, which is surrounded by the gum. The root, lying within the jawbone, consists of dentine and cementum. Every tooth has a pulp chamber containing the gelatinous pulp. Nerves and vessels enter the pulp through an opening at the tip of the root and supply the tooth.

Cyst, an enclosed cavity in the tissue lined by an epithelium with a thin soft-tissue envelope and filled with a fluid such as tissue fluid, blood or pus.