Dental Office Prothesart,Dental Practice,Dentist in Venice ITALY.

Calcium:
Chemical element needed for healthy teeth, bones and nerves.

Calculus:
Hard residue, commonly known as tartar, that forms on teeth due to inadequate plaque control. Calculus teeth often are stained yellow or brown.
Calculus is microscopically porous, and provides a multitude of hiding places for the bacteria that cause gum disease. See page

Canine:
This is another name for the cuspids.

Canker Sore:
This is a painful ulcer that lasts seven to ten days. Usually it is found on the looser gum tissue in the softer areas of the mouth. Scientifically known as aphthae, these ulcers can sometimes occur on the tongue, palate and throat.

Cantilever Bridge:
Fixed bridge that attaches to adjacent teeth only on one end. The supporting side, or abutments must be especially strong and well designed. The bite must be scientifically arranged to minimize leverage forces.

Cap:
common term for dental crown. See page

Caries:
Another word for tooth decay or cavities. See page

Cast or Model:
Reproduction of structures made by pouring plaster or stone into a mold.

Cavitron:
Dental tool that uses high frequency ultrasonic waves to clean teeth. See page

Cellulites:
Soft tissue infection causing extensive hard swelling, a potentially dangerous condition requiring immediat attention.

Cementum:
Hard tissue that covers the roots of teeth.

Central:
The two upper and two lower teeth in the very center of your mouth.

Ceramics:
Compounds of a metal and oxygen formed of chemically and bio-chemically stable substances that are strong, hard, brittle and inert nonconductors of thermal and electrical energy.

Chart:
Log of dental or medical records.

Cheek retractors:
These are small plastic pieces used to draw back your lips and cheeks so the orthodontist can more easily see your teeth.

Clasp:
Device that retains a removable partial denture to stationary teeth.

Cleaning:
Removal of plaque and calculus (tartar) from teeth,generally above the gum line. See page

Clenching:
The habit of consciously or unconsciously squeezing the teeth together with extraordinary muscle force. See Bruxism

Cold Sore:
The common name for blisters cause by the Herpes Simplex virus. The cold sore often occur on the external lip and on the gum tissue near the teeth. They can be treated with antiviral medications when severe.

Composite Resin:
Material composed of plastic with small glass or ceramic particles that is usually cured with filtered light or chemical catalyst. See page

Conscious Sedation:
A state in which patients are awake and can breathe and swallow on their own but are less aware of what is taking place. See page

Cosmetic (Aesthetic) Dentistry:
This is the branch of dentistry which deals with the appearance of the teeth. The treatments performed have to enhance the appearance. See page

Cracked Tooth Syndrome:
When a tooth has a partial or complete vertical fracture (up to the root). The unpleasant symtomes are the following: Pain to biting pressure or to the release of biting pressure. It is often hard for the patient to detect which is the problematic tooth. Sometimes it seems that it is the entire side of the face which is causing pain while chewing.

Crepitation:
Grinding or gravelly sounds from within the jaw joint resulting from direct contact of bone against bone with no disc, or cushion in between. It can be with or without associated pain.

CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation): Artificial procedure employed by a rescuer after cessation of breathing or heart stoppage.

Crossbite:
Reverse biting relationship of upper and lower teeth also known as underbite, as in Class III malocclusion (prognathic jaw). See page

Crowding:
An orthodontic problem caused by having too many teeth in two small of a space.
See page

Crown:
The portion of a tooth above the gum line. Also, a dental restoration covering all or most of the natural tooth. See page

Curettage:
Removal of diseased tissue from a periodontal pocket. See page

Cusp:
Mound on posterior teeth.

Cuspal:
The chewing or tearing points of the cuspids, bicuspids and molars

Cuspid or Canine:
The pointy teeth just behind the laterals. These teeth have one cuspal (or point).

Cyst:
A soft or hard tissue sac filled with fluid. It can form around an impacted or diseased tooth. The cyst can hollow out the bone in a patient's jaw to a significant extend. In general they are removed by careful curettage and the missing bone usually regenerates.