50 Terms Dental Assistants Should Know

As a Dental Assistant, you need to know the proper medical terms for oral anatomy, dental procedures, and even office protocol. Learning this new dental language helps you communicate better with the dentist and the whole dental team. It also helps you translate dental vocabulary into a language more easily understood by your patients. If you’re just starting your Dental Assistant career, this guide of dental terms may come in handy.

Dental Anatomy

One of the first lessons you learn in dental assistant school is the anatomy of the mouth. You might think it’s just teeth and a tongue, but there are many more parts.

1. Incisors: the four most prominent teeth on the top and bottom of your jaw used for cutting food
2. Canines: the pointed teeth located between your incisors and premolars used for tearing and holding food
3. Molars: the set of 12 large, flat teeth located at the back of the mouth and used for grinding and chewing food
4. Premolars: the teeth located between the canines and molars, used for chewing and grinding
5. Dentin: the tissue beneath the enamel that makes up most of your tooth structure
6. Enamel: the hard outer layer of your teeth, protecting them from decay and damage; the strongest substance in the body
7. Palate: the roof of the mouth, separating the oral and nasal cavities
8. Clinical Crown: the visible part of the teeth not covered by gums
9. Anatomical Crown: the entire portion of the tooth, including the enamel and the parts covered by the gums
10. Cementum: calcified connective tissue that covers the roots of the tooth and shares properties with bones

Dental Procedures and Health Issues

There are many oral health issues that a patient could have. These medical terms can help you accurately update the patient’s medical record:

11. Plaque: a film that forms on teeth and causes cavities and gum disease
12. Cavities: tooth decay caused by plaque buildup and bacteria eroding enamel
13. Tooth Erosion: loss of enamel from acidic foods, drinks, or acid reflux
14. Malocclusion: misaligned teeth such as overbite, underbite, or crowding
15. Impacted Tooth: a tooth that hasn’t fully come into its position in the gumline
16. Tooth Abscess: a pocket of pus caused by infection
17. Gingivitis: inflammation and bleeding of the gums
18. Bruxism: teeth grinding that can wear down teeth and cause pain
19. Xerostomia: dry mouth caused by reduced saliva production and can lead to pain and cavities
20. Dry Socket: a blood clot formed in the hole left by an extracted tooth

The terms for dental procedures are also important for clear and accurate insurance billing as the wrong information could result in a denied claim.

21. Dental Charting: the process of mapping out a patient’s mouth
22. Dental Prophylaxis: a thorough cleaning that removes plaque, tartar, and stains from the teeth
23. Dental Radiography: the X-rays taken of the patient’s mouth
24. Root Canal: a procedure to remove infected pulp from the tooth, clean the canals, and seal them to relieve pain and save the tooth
25. Impression: a mold of teeth to create dental prosthesis or orthodontics
26. Crown: a dental cap, usually made of resin, porcelain, or metal, that covers the top of a tooth
27. Dental Prosthesis: the replacement of a tooth or set of teeth
28. Dental Implant: a false tooth that is surgically inserted into the gumline

Part of your job as a Dental Assistant is to help the dentist during exams and procedures. This means you set up the room ahead of time, sterilize the instruments and equipment in between patients, and hand off tools as the dentist calls for them. You need to know the most common dental tools so you hand off the proper instrument.

Dental Tools

29. Autoclave: a device that uses high-pressure steam to clean and sterilize dental instruments
30. Curing Light: a device that emits a blue light that helps resin fillings, sealants, and bonding agents set more quickly
31. Dental Drill: a handheld tool that drills to remove decay and prepare teeth for fillings and implants
32. Dental Elevators and Forceps: instruments used to extract teeth
33. Dental Syringe: a tool with a needle used to inject anesthesia before a dental procedure
34. Saliva Ejector: used to remove saliva, blood, and other debris from a patient’s mouth
35. Dental Scaler: used to remove plaque and tartar from teeth
36. Intraoral Camera: a small device the size of a pen that allows the dentist to take high resolution images inside of a patient’s mouth
37. Periodontal Probe: used to measure the depth of a socket after a tooth has been removed
38. Ultrasonic Cleaner: a machine that uses ultrasound waves to remove plaque and tartar from teeth

Dental Office Protocol

When you aren’t performing clinical duties, you assist with administrative tasks. This includes greeting patients, scheduling appointments, updating patients’ medical records and filling out insurance forms. These terms will help you run a smooth office so the dentist can focus on their patients.

39. HIPAA: The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act governs all areas of medicine, including dentistry. It has provisions that mandate the privacy of patients’ medical information, allows patients to request copies of their medical records, and requires patients to be notified when their data may have been compromised
40. Deductible: the amount of money the patient must pay before their insurance company will step in and cover the costs
41. Co-Payment: the amount of money owed by the patient after the insurance company has paid its portion of the bill
42. Out-of-Pocket Costs: the amount of money the patient will pay for services above the maximum determined for the year by their insurance company
43. Dual Coverage: when a patient has coverage under two insurance plans
44. Flexible Spending Account: an employee reimbursement account used to pay for dental procedures before tax

Dental Industry

As a dental professional, it’s also good to know some industry terms and the different dental specialties. This can help you as you network with professionals or navigate turns in your career.

45. Cosmetic Dentistry: enhances the appearance of teeth, usually through veneers, bonding, and whitening
46. Endodontics: focuses on the inner part of the teeth, including the pulp and dentin
47. Orthodontics: focuses on fixing teeth and jaw issues, usually includes the placement of braces or retainers to realign teeth
48. Periodontics: emphasizes the care and treatment of gums and bones
49. Pedodontics: focuses on the treatment of children’s teeth
50. Restorative Dentistry: helps restore the health and appearance of the teeth and gums, often through the use of crowns, bridges, and fillings

Are you interested in becoming a Dental Assistant? Charter College offers a Certificate in Dental Assisting that can help you prepare for a new career in as few as 10 months. The program is offered through a blended learning format for flexibility and convenience. Call 888-200-9942 or fill out the form to learn more.