19 articles
Dental Care for Chronically Ill
Dental Care for Chronically Ill (MeSH D017742): professional dental care for patients with chronic cardiovascular, endocrinologic, hematologic, immunologic, neoplastic, or renal disease, distinct from dental care for disabled persons, with periodontitis-diabetes links and medical-dental integration.
Dental Caries Activity Tests
Dental caries activity tests measure the increment of active caries over time; modern lesion activity assessment relies on visual-tactile criteria, not saliva-based Snyder or lactobacillus tests.
Dental examination
A dental examination is a clinical assessment in which a practitioner inspects the teeth, gums, and oral tissues to detect cavities, gum disease, and other oral conditions.
Dental floss
Dental floss, or dental tape, is a nylon or plastic filament for cleaning between teeth where brushes cannot reach. ADA advises once-daily use; Cochrane finds low-certainty evidence it may reduce gingivitis.
Dental High-Speed Technique
Dental High-Speed Technique is the MeSH-designated category of dental methods using high-speed equipment, chiefly the air-turbine handpiece introduced commercially as the Airotor in 1957, running at roughly 250,000-400,000 rpm for cutting enamel and dentin.
Dental Instruments
Dental instruments: handheld and powered tools (mirrors, scalers, handpieces, endodontic files) for examining and treating teeth; classified critical, semicritical, or noncritical, with heat sterilization and CDC/ADA/ISO standards governing reprocessing.
Dental plaque index
A dental plaque index is a clinical scoring method that quantifies plaque on tooth surfaces, used to assess oral hygiene, monitor treatment, and motivate patients.
Dental Polishing
Dental polishing (MeSH D003775) creates a smooth, glossy surface finish on teeth, dentures, or amalgam restorations using abrasives, rubber cups, or air-polishing powders such as glycine and erythritol; evidence for routine polishing alone is limited.
Dental prophylaxis
Dental prophylaxis is a routine professional tooth cleaning, a scale and polish that removes plaque, tartar, and stain from teeth, distinct from surgical root planing.
Denture Identification Marking
Denture identification marking is the practice of placing a patient's name, ID number, or code on or inside a denture, helping identify disaster victims and preventing loss in hospitals and care homes.
Enamel Microabrasion
Enamel microabrasion is a conservative dental technique developed in the mid-1980s that removes superficial enamel stains, mainly fluorosis and white spot lesions, using hydrochloric acid abrasive slurries, removing 10–200 μm of outer enamel.
Fluoride Treatment
Fluoride treatment: professional or home application of fluoride varnish, gel, foam, mouthrinse, or toothpaste to prevent dental caries; reduces caries about 26-33% in children, varnish safest professional form.
Fluoride varnish
Fluoride varnish is a resin-based topical fluoride preparation, typically 5% sodium fluoride, painted onto teeth to prevent and slow dental caries; it is the only professional topical fluoride agent recommended for children younger than 6.
Mouth Protectors
A mouth protector, commonly called an athletic mouthguard or gum shield, is a removable appliance worn over the teeth to cushion impacts and prevent dental injuries in sports.
Myofunctional therapy
Myofunctional therapy, also called orofacial myofunctional therapy, is a behavioral treatment using repeated tongue, lip, and throat exercises to correct orofacial myofunctional disorder, including tongue thrust and sleep apnea.
Oral hygiene index
The Oral Hygiene Index (OHI) is a clinical dental index introduced by Greene and Vermillion in 1960 that scores debris and calculus on tooth surfaces, giving a total from 0 to 12.
Preventive Dentistry
Preventive dentistry, also called dental prophylaxis, is the branch of dentistry preventing oral disease through fluoride, sealants, silver diamine fluoride, risk-based recall, and community programs, per ADA, WHO, and CDC guidance.
RED study
RED study: Ward's 2007 survey of 301 North American dentists on the recurring esthetic dental (RED) proportion, also called recurrent esthetic dental proportion, in smile design; 57% preferred the 70% RED proportion over naturally occurring anterior tooth width proportions.
Toothbrushing
Toothbrushing, also called teeth brushing, is the act of cleaning teeth with a brush to remove plaque and prevent decay; recommended two minutes twice daily with fluoride toothpaste, soft bristles, manual, or powered.