D | Dental Dictionary

  • DDS – Doctor of Dental Surgery, this degree is equivalent to DMD
  • debridement – removal of plaque and calculus that is interfering with proper evaluation
  • debanding – removal of cemented orthodontic bands from teeth
  • debonding – removal of cemented orthodontic brackets from teeth
  • decay – the destruction of tooth structure
  • deciduous teeth – also known as “baby” or “primary” teeth, these first teeth generally arrive between the ages of birth and 3 and will fall out later as permanent teeth begin to erupt in their place
  • dental implant – small cylinder, generally titanium, implanted into the upper or lower jawbone to anchor a dental appliance or restoration
  • dentin – the hard inner layer of the tooth, just beneath the enamel, forms the bulk of the tooth structure
  • dentistry – medical field characterized by the evaluation, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases and disorders of the teeth, mouth, gums, jaws, and other oral and maxillofacial areas by a trained and certified professional
  • dentition – the arrangement of teeth within the mouth
  • denture – set of one or more prosthetic teeth
  • diagnostic cast – impression used to aid in planning treatment
  • diagnostic imaging – photographs or radiographs taken for the purpose of diagnostic evaluation
  • diastema – the space between two adjacent teeth
  • discectomy – removal of intra-articular disc from a joint
  • displaced tooth – tooth that has grown or shifted into an incorrect placement within the mouth
  • distal – part of the tooth furthest from the center of the arch
  • DMD – Doctor of Medical Dentistry, this degree is equivalent to DDS
  • dressing – medicines, bandages, or other materials applied to a wound to promote healing
  • dry socket – painful localized inflammation of a tooth socket after extraction, caused by infection or loss of the blood clot needed for proper healing
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