Definitions/Terminology

Complete Denture a removable dental prosthesis that replaces the entire dentition and associated structures of the maxillae or mandible. The restoration of the edentulous arch with a removable prosthesis. Removable Partial Denture any prosthesis that replaces some teeth in a partially dentate arch. It can be removed from the mouth and replaced at will. Ceramic Inlay a fixed intracoronal restoration; a dental restoration, metal free, made outside of a tooth to correspond to the form of the prepared cavity, which is then luted into the tooth. Ceramic Onlay a restoration, which is metal free, that restores the entire occlusal surface and is retained by mechanical or adhesive means. Overdenture a removable partial or complete denture that covers and rests on one or more remaining natural teeth, roots and/or dental implants; a prosthesis that covers and is partially supported by natural teeth, tooth roots and/or dental implants. Fixed Partial Denture "Bridge"-a partial denture that is luted or otherwise securely retained to natural teeth, tooth roots and/or dental implant abutments that furnish the primary support for the prosthesis. Crown to place on the head, as to place a crown on a tooth or tooth substitute; implies fabrication of a restoration for a tooth or tooth substitute.

Complete Crown restoration that covers all the coronal tooth surfaces (mesial, distal, facial/buccal, lingual, and occlusal). An artificial replacement that restores missing tooth structure by surrounding part or all of the remaining structure with a material such as cast metal, porcelain, or a combination of materials such as metal and porcelain. Laminate/Veneer a layer of tooth-colored material that is used to cover an unsightly area of a tooth. Typical indications for veneers include teeth with facial surfaces that are malformed, discolored, abraded, eroded or have faulty restorations. A veneer may cover a portion of the facial surface or the entire facial surface. Other factors such as etiology, occlusion, age, health and oral hygiene of the patient are important considerations. Hybrid Prosthesis a nonspecific term for any prosthesis that does not follow conventional design. Frequently it is used to describe a prosthesis that is composed of different materials, types of denture teeth (porcelain, plastic, composite), variable acrylic denture resins, differing metals, etc. It may refer to a fixed partial denture or any removable prosthesis. Implant any object or material, such as an alloplastic substance or other tissue, which is partially or completely inserted or grafted into the body for therapeutic, diagnostic, prosthetic, or experimental purposes. Implant Abutment the portion of a dental implant that serves to support and/or retain any prosthesis