Dental Terminology Glossary for Clinicians
A quick-reference glossary of clinical, prosthetic and dental-laboratory terms — the shared vocabulary that keeps case communication between a practice and the lab unambiguous.
A reference tool for busy dental professionals — dentists, students and clinical staff. Jump to a letter to find the restorative, anatomical and laboratory terms that come up in day-to-day case work. Bookmark it for the next time a work order uses a term you want to confirm.
A
- Abutment
- A natural tooth or implant-supported component prepared to receive and retain a fixed or removable restoration, such as a crown, bridge retainer, or partial denture clasp.
- Acrylic (Polymethyl Methacrylate / PMMA)
- A biocompatible resin used in the laboratory for denture bases, provisional restorations, custom trays, and milled temporaries, valued for its polishability and ease of chairside adjustment.
- Alveoplasty
- Surgical recontouring and smoothing of the alveolar ridge, commonly performed after extractions to prepare the bone for a denture or other prosthesis.
- Amalgam
- A direct restorative material combining mercury with a silver-tin-copper alloy, used for load-bearing posterior fillings for its strength and durability.
- Anterior
- Referring to the front teeth, the incisors and canines, or the forward region of the dental arch, where esthetics and shade matching are most demanding.
- Apex
- The anatomical tip of a tooth root, where the apical foramen transmits the neurovascular supply into the pulp canal.
- Arch (Maxillary / Mandibular)
- The curved arrangement of teeth within a jaw; the maxillary arch is the upper and the mandibular arch is the lower, articulating together in occlusion.
- Articulator
- A mechanical instrument that holds mounted maxillary and mandibular casts and reproduces the patient's jaw relationships and movements for accurate occlusal fabrication.
- Attachment (Precision / Semi-Precision)
- A mechanical connector retaining a removable prosthesis to fixed abutments; precision types are machined to close tolerances, while semi-precision types are cast from plastic patterns.
B
- Base Metal Alloy
- A dental casting alloy composed chiefly of non-precious metals such as nickel-chromium or cobalt-chromium, valued for high rigidity, thin-section strength, and economy as a PFM substructure.
- Bicuspid (Premolar)
- A premolar; one of the two teeth positioned between the canine and molars in each quadrant, typically bearing two cusps that assist in tearing and grinding food.
- Biocompatibility
- The capacity of a dental material to function in the oral environment without provoking adverse local or systemic effects such as toxicity, inflammation, or allergic reaction.
- Bite Registration
- A record capturing the patient's occlusal relationship, used to mount opposing casts in their correct maxillomandibular position for accurate fabrication of restorations.
- Bite Splint
- A removable acrylic appliance covering the occlusal surfaces of an arch to shield teeth and restorations from parafunctional loads and to stabilize the occlusion.
- Bleaching Tray
- A custom-fabricated flexible tray that holds carbamide or hydrogen peroxide gel against the teeth for at-home vital tooth whitening.
- Bonding
- The micromechanical and chemical adhesion of a restorative material to tooth structure, achieved through etching, priming, and application of an adhesive resin.
- Bridge (Fixed Partial Denture)
- A fixed prosthesis that replaces one or more missing teeth by joining pontics to retainers cemented on adjacent abutment teeth or implants.
- Bruxism
- Involuntary grinding or clenching of the teeth, often during sleep, generating parafunctional forces that wear dentition and fracture restorations.
- Buccal
- Pertaining to or directed toward the cheek; specifically the surface of a posterior tooth that faces the cheek.
C
- CAD/CAM Dentistry
- Computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing used to digitally design restorations from scan data and mill or print them, producing copings, crowns, bridges, and frameworks with high dimensional accuracy.
- Calcification
- Deposition of calcium salts within a tissue; in teeth it describes hardening of dentin or pulp, including pulp canal obliteration that can complicate endodontic access and restorative treatment.
- Calculus
- Mineralized dental plaque, or tartar, firmly adherent to tooth surfaces above and below the gingival margin that must be removed by scaling before restorative impressions or scans.
- Canine (Cuspid)
- The single-cusped tooth at the corner of the arch that provides canine guidance during lateral excursions; its long root and prominent position make it central to occlusal scheme and anterior esthetics.
- Cantilever Bridge
- A fixed partial denture in which the pontic is supported by abutment(s) on only one side, leaving the other end unsupported and increasing leverage on the retainer.
- Cap (Crown)
- Lay term for a full-coverage restoration that encases the clinical crown of a prepared tooth or implant abutment to restore form, function, and protection.
- Cast (Diagnostic / Master)
- A positive gypsum reproduction of the arch poured from an impression; a diagnostic cast is used for planning and mounting, while a master cast carries dies for fabricating the definitive restoration.
- Cementation
- Luting a restoration to the prepared tooth or abutment with a dental cement, using conventional or adhesive/resin protocols selected according to the restorative material and retention available.
- Centric Relation
- The maxillomandibular relationship in which the condyles are seated in their most superior, anterior position against the articular eminences, independent of tooth contact and used as a reproducible reference for mounting and occlusal reconstruction.
- Ceramic
- An inorganic, nonmetallic restorative material such as feldspathic porcelain, lithium disilicate, or zirconia, valued for esthetics, biocompatibility, and wear behavior in crowns, veneers, and frameworks.
- Clasp
- A component of a removable partial denture that engages an abutment tooth to provide retention, stability, and support, typically with a retentive arm, reciprocal arm, and rest.
- Composite Resin
- A tooth-colored restorative of resin matrix and inorganic filler, light- or dual-cured, used for direct fillings, cores, veneers, and indirect lab-processed restorations.
- Coping
- The inner substructure of a crown, cast or milled in metal, zirconia, or ceramic, that fits the prepared tooth and supports the overlying veneering porcelain.
- Core Buildup
- Restorative material placed to replace missing coronal tooth structure and establish adequate bulk and geometry for retention of a crown, often retained by a post in endodontically treated teeth.
- Crown (Full Coverage Restoration)
- An indirect restoration that completely covers the clinical crown of a prepared tooth or abutment to restore contour, occlusion, and strength in metal, ceramic, or metal-ceramic materials.
- Curing (Light / Heat)
- Polymerizing a resin material into its hardened state by activating the initiator system, most commonly with a curing light for photopolymerization or with heat and pressure for lab-processed resins.
D
- Debridement
- The mechanical removal of plaque, calculus, biofilm, and necrotic or diseased tissue from tooth surfaces or a wound to control infection and promote healing.
- Deciduous Teeth
- The primary dentition of twenty teeth that erupt during infancy and early childhood and are later exfoliated and replaced by permanent successors.
- Demineralization
- The loss of calcium and phosphate mineral from enamel or dentin caused by acids from bacterial metabolism, representing the earliest stage of caries.
- Dental Implant
- A biocompatible titanium or zirconia fixture surgically placed into alveolar bone to osseointegrate and support a crown, bridge, or removable prosthesis.
- Dental Lab Technician
- A trained professional who fabricates crowns, bridges, dentures, and other prostheses from the dentist's prescription, working from impressions or digital scans.
- Dentin
- The mineralized, tubular tissue underlying enamel and cementum that forms the bulk of the tooth and surrounds the pulp chamber and canals.
- Dentition
- The type, number, and arrangement of teeth within the dental arches, classified as primary, mixed, or permanent.
- Denture (Complete / Partial)
- A removable prosthesis replacing missing teeth; a complete denture restores a fully edentulous arch, while a partial denture replaces some teeth and retains natural abutments.
- Diagnostic Wax-up
- A wax mock-up built on mounted study casts to preview proposed tooth form, contour, and occlusion, guiding provisionals, reduction guides, and final restorations.
- Diastema
- A visible space or gap between two adjacent teeth, most commonly seen between the maxillary central incisors.
- Distal
- The surface or direction of a tooth facing away from the arch midline, toward the posterior of the mouth.
- Dry Socket (Alveolar Osteitis)
- A painful postextraction complication in which the blood clot dislodges or fails to form, exposing alveolar bone and delaying healing of the socket.
E
- Edentulous
- Lacking natural teeth, either completely (fully edentulous) or in part (partially edentulous). The edentulous ridge is the residual alveolar bone and overlying mucosa that supports a removable or implant-retained prosthesis.
- Enamel
- The highly mineralized, avascular outer layer of the tooth crown, composed largely of hydroxyapatite. It is the hardest tissue in the body and provides the translucent surface a restoration must optically match.
- Endodontics
- The dental specialty concerned with the dental pulp and periradicular tissues, including root canal therapy, retreatment, and apical surgery to treat pulpal disease and preserve the natural tooth.
- Epithelium
- The avascular cellular tissue lining oral surfaces, including the keratinized gingiva and the junctional epithelium that seals the soft tissue to the tooth or implant abutment.
- Eruption
- The developmental movement of a tooth from its position within the alveolar bone through the mucosa into functional occlusion within the dental arch.
- Esthetics (Aesthetics)
- The clinical and technical objective of reproducing natural tooth form, shade, translucency, and surface texture so that a restoration blends harmoniously with the surrounding dentition and soft tissue.
- Exodontia
- The branch of oral surgery dealing with the extraction of teeth, including surgical removal of impacted, fractured, or non-restorable teeth from the alveolar socket.
- Exostosis
- A benign bony overgrowth projecting from the cortical plate of the maxilla or mandible, such as a torus, which may require reduction before fabricating a well-fitting removable prosthesis.
- Extrusion
- The occlusal or incisal migration of a tooth beyond the occlusal plane, often following loss of an opposing tooth, which reduces restorative space and complicates prosthetic reconstruction.
F
- Facebow Transfer
- The procedure of recording the spatial relationship of the maxillary arch to the hinge axis and transferring it to the articulator, so casts are mounted in the correct three-dimensional orientation.
- Facing
- A tooth-colored veneer of porcelain, composite, or acrylic bonded to the labial surface of a metal or framework restoration to mask the substructure and reproduce natural appearance.
- Framework (Cast Partial)
- The rigid cast-metal substructure of a removable partial denture, comprising the major and minor connectors, rests, and clasp assemblies that provide support, retention, and stability.
- Frenum
- A fold of mucous membrane connecting the lip, cheek, or tongue to the alveolar mucosa. A high or aberrant frenal attachment can dislodge a denture and may need surgical release.
- Full-Mouth Rehabilitation
- The comprehensive restoration of all teeth in both arches, re-establishing occlusion, vertical dimension, function, and esthetics, typically through coordinated crown, bridge, and implant prosthetics.
- Furcation
- The anatomical area where the roots of a multirooted tooth divide from the root trunk. Bone loss into this region, a furcation involvement, complicates margin design and prognosis.
G
- Gingiva
- The keratinized oral mucosa surrounding the teeth and covering the alveolar bone, comprising the free, attached, and interdental portions that form the soft-tissue collar of a restoration.
- Gingivitis
- Reversible inflammation of the gingiva caused by bacterial plaque, characterized by redness, edema, and bleeding on probing, without loss of connective tissue attachment or supporting bone.
- Graft (Bone / Soft Tissue)
- Autogenous, allogeneic, xenogeneic, or synthetic material placed to augment deficient alveolar bone or soft tissue, restoring ridge volume and contour to support implants or prosthetics.
- Guiding Planes
- Two or more parallel axial surfaces prepared on abutment teeth to direct the path of insertion and removal of a removable partial denture and enhance its stability and retention.
H
- Hard Palate
- The bony anterior portion of the roof of the mouth, formed by the palatine processes of the maxillae and the horizontal plates of the palatine bones and covered by keratinized mucosa.
- High-Noble Alloy
- A dental casting alloy containing at least 60% noble metal, of which a minimum of 40% is gold, used for copings, crowns, and metal-ceramic frameworks.
- Hybrid Denture
- A fixed, screw-retained full-arch prosthesis that combines a milled or cast metal framework with acrylic and denture teeth, supported by multiple implants.
- Hyperplasia
- An increase in tissue volume caused by proliferation of normal cells, seen orally as gingival or denture-induced overgrowth resulting from chronic mechanical irritation.
I
- Immediate Denture
- A complete or partial denture fabricated in advance and inserted at the same appointment as the extractions, restoring esthetics and function throughout healing.
- Impression (Digital / Alginate)
- A negative record of the oral tissues captured either digitally with an intraoral scanner or physically with alginate or another material for casting the working model.
- Incisal Edge
- The thin cutting margin along the biting surface of an anterior tooth, formed where the labial and lingual surfaces converge.
- Incisor
- One of the four single-rooted anterior teeth in each arch, characterized by a chisel-shaped incisal edge used for cutting and shearing food.
- Inlay
- An indirect intracoronal restoration cemented into a prepared cavity within the cusps of a tooth, without capping any of the cuspal tips.
- Interproximal
- Pertaining to the surface or space between two adjacent teeth, including the contact area and the gingival embrasure below it.
- Intraoral Scanner
- A handheld optical device that captures three-dimensional digital impressions of the dentition and soft tissues, generating STL or PLY files for CAD/CAM workflows.
- Investment Material
- A gypsum- or phosphate-bonded refractory material used to form a mold around a wax pattern, withstanding the high temperatures of casting or pressing.
J
- Jaw Relation Record
- A registration of the mandible's positional relationship to the maxilla, capturing the vertical dimension and horizontal (centric) relation used to mount casts on an articulator.
- Jig
- A custom appliance or index, often acrylic, used to record or reproduce a specific jaw position, such as an anterior deprogramming jig, or to verify implant framework fit.
L
- Labial
- Relating to or directed toward the lips; the surface of an anterior tooth facing the lips.
- Laser Sintering
- An additive manufacturing process that fuses metal powder layer by layer with a focused laser to build frameworks such as cobalt-chromium copings and partial denture components.
- Lingual
- Relating to or directed toward the tongue; the surface of a tooth facing the tongue.
- Luting Agent
- A cement used to seat and bond an indirect restoration to the prepared tooth or abutment, filling the marginal gap and providing retention.
M
- Malocclusion
- Misalignment of the teeth or an improper relationship between the maxillary and mandibular arches when the jaws close, classified by Angle into Class I, II, and III.
- Mandible
- The lower jawbone, the only movable bone of the skull, which houses the mandibular teeth and articulates with the temporal bones at the temporomandibular joints.
- Margin (Chamfer / Shoulder)
- The finish line where a restoration meets the prepared tooth; a chamfer is a rounded, curved margin, while a shoulder is a flat ledge cut roughly perpendicular to the axial wall.
- Maryland Bridge (Resin-Bonded)
- A conservative fixed partial denture that replaces a missing tooth with a pontic supported by thin metal or zirconia wings resin-bonded to the lingual surfaces of the adjacent abutments.
- Maxilla
- The upper jawbone, fixed to the skull, which carries the maxillary teeth and forms part of the hard palate, the floor of the orbit, and the nasal cavity.
- Mesial
- The tooth surface oriented toward the midline of the dental arch, following the curvature of the arch anteriorly.
- Milling Machine (Dental)
- A CAD/CAM device that fabricates restorations by cutting or grinding them from prefabricated blocks of zirconia, lithium disilicate, PMMA, wax, or metal.
- Model (Pouring)
- The process of casting dental stone or gypsum into an impression to produce a positive replica of the arch and prepared teeth, yielding the working cast used for fabrication.
- Molar
- A posterior tooth with a broad, multi-cusped occlusal surface used for grinding food; a full adult dentition includes twelve molars, three per quadrant.
- Mouthguard
- A resilient removable appliance that covers the teeth to protect them and the surrounding tissues against trauma during athletic or contact-sport activity.
N
- Nightguard
- A hard or soft occlusal splint worn during sleep to protect teeth and restorations from bruxism and to reduce parafunctional loading on the dentition.
- Noble Metal Alloy
- A casting alloy containing at least 25 percent noble metals such as gold, platinum, and palladium, valued for corrosion resistance and biocompatibility in crowns and copings.
- Non-Precious Metal
- A base-metal casting alloy, typically nickel-chromium or cobalt-chromium, used for copings and frameworks as a high-strength, economical alternative to noble alloys.
O
- Occlusal Surface
- The chewing surface of a posterior tooth, bounded by cusps and fossae, that contacts the opposing dentition during mastication and functional movement.
- Occlusion
- The contact relationship between the maxillary and mandibular teeth when the jaws close, encompassing both static intercuspation and dynamic contacts during functional movement.
- Onlay
- An indirect restoration that covers one or more cusps of a posterior tooth while conserving more sound tooth structure than a full-coverage crown.
- Opaque Layer
- The initial ceramic layer fired over a metal coping in PFM restorations to mask the underlying metal and establish the base shade for subsequent porcelain buildup.
- Orthodontics
- The dental specialty concerned with diagnosing, preventing, and correcting malocclusion and irregularities in the position of the teeth and jaws.
- Overdenture
- A removable denture that seats over and is supported by retained natural tooth roots or implants, improving stability, retention, and preservation of alveolar bone.
P
- Palate
- The roof of the mouth separating the oral and nasal cavities, comprising the bony hard palate anteriorly and the muscular soft palate posteriorly.
- Path of Insertion
- The single direction along which a restoration or removable prosthesis seats onto the prepared teeth or tissues, dictated by taper, undercuts, and guiding planes.
- Periapical
- Pertaining to the tissues surrounding the apex of a tooth root, including the periodontal ligament and alveolar bone; a common site of endodontic pathology.
- Periodontitis
- Inflammatory disease of the tooth-supporting tissues causing progressive destruction of the periodontal ligament and alveolar bone, resulting in attachment loss and eventual tooth mobility.
- Permanent Dentition
- The set of 32 adult teeth that succeeds the primary dentition, comprising the incisors, canines, premolars, and molars of each quadrant.
- PFM (Porcelain Fused to Metal)
- A restoration with a cast metal coping veneered in feldspathic porcelain, combining the strength of a metal substructure with a tooth-colored ceramic surface.
- Plaque
- A soft, adherent biofilm of bacteria and salivary glycoproteins that accumulates on tooth surfaces and, if left undisturbed, mineralizes into calculus.
- Pontic
- The artificial tooth of a fixed bridge that replaces a missing tooth, suspended between the retainer crowns and shaped to contact the residual ridge.
- Porcelain
- A dental ceramic of feldspar, quartz, and kaolin fired to a glasslike state, used to fabricate esthetic tooth-colored crowns, veneers, and bridge facings.
- Posterior
- Pertaining to the back teeth, the premolars and molars, or to structures located toward the rear of the dental arch.
- Post and Core
- A restoration in which a post cemented into an endodontically treated root canal retains a core buildup that forms the foundation for a crown.
- Preparation (Prep)
- The reduction and shaping of a tooth to create space and retentive form for a restoration, as well as the resulting prepared tooth itself.
- Prognosis
- The clinician's prediction of the probable course and outcome of a tooth, restoration, or treatment, typically graded from good to hopeless.
- Prosthesis
- An artificial device that replaces missing teeth or oral structures, either fixed, such as a crown or bridge, or removable, such as a denture or partial.
- Prosthodontics
- The dental specialty concerned with the diagnosis, planning, and fabrication of restorations and prostheses that replace missing or damaged teeth and associated oral tissues.
- Provisional Restoration (Temporary)
- An interim crown or bridge worn while the definitive restoration is fabricated, protecting the preparation and maintaining function, esthetics, and tissue contour.
- Pulp
- The soft connective tissue within the pulp chamber and root canals, containing the tooth's nerves, blood vessels, and odontoblasts.
Q
- Quadrant
- One of the four sections of the dentition formed by dividing each arch at the midline, each containing the teeth from the central incisor to the third molar.
R
- Radicular
- Pertaining to the root of a tooth. A radicular restoration, such as a post-and-core or dowel, engages the root canal space to retain a coronal buildup.
- Reline (Hard / Soft)
- Resurfacing the tissue-fitting side of a denture base with new material to re-adapt it to the ridge; a hard reline uses rigid acrylic, a soft reline a resilient liner.
- Resilient Attachment
- A precision or semi-precision attachment that permits limited vertical or hinge movement of a removable prosthesis, distributing load between the abutments and the residual ridge.
- Resin
- A polymeric material, typically acrylic (PMMA) or composite, used for denture bases, provisional restorations, custom trays, and milled or printed prosthetic components.
- Rest (Occlusal / Lingual)
- A rigid extension of a removable partial denture framework that seats in a prepared recess on an abutment to provide vertical support; occlusal on posteriors, lingual or cingulum on anteriors.
- Retainer
- A component that holds a prosthesis in place: the abutment restoration of a fixed bridge, a direct or indirect retainer of an RPD, or an appliance maintaining teeth in a corrected position.
- Ridge Augmentation
- A surgical or prosthetic procedure that rebuilds deficient alveolar bone or soft tissue to restore ridge height and width for implant placement or improved prosthetic support.
- Root Canal Therapy
- Endodontic treatment that removes inflamed or necrotic pulp, then cleans, shapes, and obturates the canal system to retain the tooth.
- Root Planing
- A closed periodontal procedure that smooths root surfaces to remove residual calculus and contaminated cementum, promoting reattachment of the periodontal tissues.
S
- Scaling
- Mechanical removal of plaque, calculus, and stain from supragingival and subgingival tooth surfaces using hand or ultrasonic instruments.
- Shade Guide
- A standardized set of tabs representing tooth colors used to select and communicate the shade of a restoration, most commonly the VITA Classical or 3D-Master systems.
- Sintering
- A high-temperature firing process that fuses a milled zirconia or metal framework into a fully dense, final-strength restoration, accompanied by predictable dimensional shrinkage.
- Soft Palate
- The muscular, mobile posterior portion of the palate that seals the nasopharynx during swallowing and speech and defines the posterior extent of a maxillary denture.
- Space Maintainer
- A fixed or removable appliance that preserves the arch space of a prematurely lost primary tooth, preventing drift of adjacent teeth until the permanent successor erupts.
- Splinting
- Joining two or more teeth or implants into a rigid unit, through connected restorations or a bonded splint, to distribute occlusal load and stabilize mobile units.
- Sprue
- The channel through which molten metal or pressed ceramic flows into the mold cavity during casting or pressing; the term also refers to the wax or plastic pattern forming that channel.
- Stone (Dental / Die)
- A gypsum product (calcined calcium sulfate) poured into an impression to form a working cast; high-strength die stone yields precise, abrasion-resistant dies for restoration fabrication.
- Sublingual
- Located beneath the tongue; the sublingual region of the mandibular floor influences lingual flange extension and border form of a lower denture.
- Sulcus
- The shallow groove between the free gingival margin and the tooth surface; its depth is measured during periodontal probing and guides margin placement for restorations.
- Supragingival
- Situated coronal to the gingival margin, above the gumline. A supragingival crown margin is more accessible for impression-taking, finishing, and hygiene.
- Suture
- A stitch or material used to approximate soft tissue after a surgical procedure; also the fibrous articulation between adjacent bones of the skull.
T
- Temporary Restoration
- A provisional crown, bridge, or inlay placed to protect a prepared tooth and maintain function, esthetics, and position while the definitive restoration is fabricated.
- Thermoforming
- A process that heats a thermoplastic sheet and adapts it over a model under vacuum or pressure to fabricate appliances such as clear aligners, nightguards, and bleaching trays.
- Titanium Abutment
- A machined stock or custom titanium component that attaches to an implant fixture and supports the final restoration, valued for its strength and biocompatibility.
- Torus (Palatinus / Mandibularis)
- A benign bony overgrowth on the midline of the hard palate (palatinus) or the lingual mandible (mandibularis) that often requires relief or surgical removal before denture fabrication.
- Translucency
- The degree to which light passes through a restorative material, a key optical property for reproducing natural enamel and achieving lifelike ceramics.
- Trauma
- Physical injury to teeth or surrounding oral structures from an external force, including fracture, luxation, intrusion, or avulsion.
- Treatment Plan
- A sequenced, documented outline of the diagnostic findings and procedures required to restore a patient to oral health, function, and esthetics.
U
- Undercut
- An area lying apical to the height of contour that blocks the path of insertion; it requires blockout for fixed work or can provide mechanical retention for removable prostheses.
V
- Veneer
- A thin layer of porcelain or composite bonded to the facial surface of a tooth to modify its shade, shape, or alignment.
- Vertical Dimension of Occlusion (VDO)
- The vertical height of the lower face measured between two reference points when the posterior teeth are in maximum intercuspation.
- Vestibule
- The space between the lips or cheeks and the teeth and alveolar ridges, bounded peripherally by the mucobuccal fold.
W
- Wax Elimination (Burnout)
- The controlled heating of an invested wax pattern in a furnace to vaporize the wax, leaving a hollow mold ready to receive cast metal or pressed ceramic.
- Wax Pattern
- A precise wax replica of a restoration used to establish contour, margins, and occlusion before investing and casting or pressing into the definitive material.
- Working Model
- An accurate cast, typically poured in die stone from the final impression, on which the restoration is designed and fabricated.
X
- Xerostomia
- The subjective sensation of dry mouth caused by reduced or absent salivary flow, which raises caries risk and can compromise denture retention and comfort.
Z
- Zirconia
- A high-strength ceramic (zirconium dioxide) used for copings, crowns, bridges, and implant components, prized for its fracture resistance and biocompatibility.
Related dental resources
About this glossary
Using the Dental Terminology Glossary
When a term on a work order, shade note, or technician call is ambiguous — margin design, occlusal scheme, material names, or lab process words like sintering or path of insertion. A shared definition keeps the prescription and the bench aligned so you are not describing the same thing two different ways.
Yes. Clinical and anatomical entries sit next to laboratory vocabulary — coping, sprue, investment, layering, framework try-in, and the processes behind how a restoration is actually made. Use it to translate between chairside language and what production needs on the ticket.
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