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| Attachment Level: | This is a numerical measure of the attachment of periodontal ligament which is determined generally by combining a pocket depth measurement of gingival recession. Attachment level is considered one of the most important measures of disease progress or treatment success. | |
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| Calculus: | Also called tartar. The hard mineral deposit on teeth. | |
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| Cementum: | Located at the root of the tooth, cementum serves as the anchor for the ligaments that join the tooth to the boney tooth socket. It softest part of the tooth structures. | |
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| Chlorine Dioxide: | Cl02 is a chemically reactive oxidant with powerful bactericidal properties, and has been successfully employed as a deodorizing and bleaching agent: also for water disinfection. | |
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| Curettage: | The removal of damaged or diseased tissue from the inside periodontal pocket. | |
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| Debridement: | Treatment of bacterial infection by removing irritants (calculus) from the periodontal pocket so as to allow healing adjacent tissues. | |
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| Gingival Margin: | Area of gingiva closest to the tooth surface commonly referred to the “gumline”. | |
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| Gingiva: | The dense tissue surrounding the teeth and covering the alveolar bone, commonly referred to as the gums. | |
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| Gum Line: | The space between the tooth (including root) and gum tissue. | |
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| Halitosis: | Offensive odor of the breath commonly called bad breath or oral malodor caused by local and metabolic conditions, poor oral hygiene, periodontal (gum) disease due to Volatile Sufur Compounds (VSCs). | |
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| Immune response: | The body’s natural defense against bacterial assault, the immune response can also destroy alveolar bone in its attempt to destroy bacteria. | |
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| Interdental: | Between the teeth. | |
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| Oral Malodor: | Offensive odor of the breath due to Volitile Sulfur Compounds (VSCs) from the breakdown of protein by bacteria on the tongue and tooth surfaces. The products formed by these bacteria are sulfur-based foul smelling gases. | |
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| Papilla: | Refers to the “v” shaped gum tissue between individual teeth. | |
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| Periodontal: | Of or pertaining to the tissue and bone that support teeth. | |
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| Periodontal Abscess: | Acute infection of the gingival tissues surrounding an individual tooth typically involving bone loss, pain, bleeding, severe redness swelling of the affected area. | |
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| Periodontal Disease: | Disease of the supporting structure of the tooth. | |
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| Periodontal Ligament: | The fibers, which suspend the tooth in the boney socket. The periodontal ligament is attached at one end to the cementurm and at the other end to the alveolar bone. | |
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| Periodontal Probe: | An instrument to measure periodontal pocket depth around the teeth. The instrument is placed between the tooth and gum and a millimeter measurement is taken. | |
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| Periodontitis: | A form of periodontal disease resulting in destruction of alveolar bone. | |
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| Plaque: | A colorless, sticky film of bacteria in a protein matrix that constantly forms on the teeth. The main factor in causing dental caries and periodontal disease when allowed to remain over a period of time. | |
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| Plaque attached: | Bacterial plaque which is attached too hard tooth surfaces and can be removed only by mechanical means (instrumentation, hygiene aids such as toothbrushes, floss etc.). | |
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| Restorations: | Any replacements for tooth lost tooth structure or teeth; for example, bridges, fillings, crowns and implants. | |
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| Scaling: | Professional removal of hard deposits from the teeth. | |
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| Sulcus: | A space or trough lined by mucous membrane. | |
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| Supragingival: | The area above the gingival margin. | |
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| Volatile Sulfur Compounds (VSCs): | Are a family of gases (hydrogen sulfide (H2S), methyl mercaptan (CH3SH), and dimethyl Sulfide (CH3SCH3), produced from decaying organic matter which are the primarily constituents of halitosis. | |
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