A

Anesthesia

General Anesthesia:
A controlled state of unconsciousness, accompanied by a partial or complete loss of protective reflexes, including loss of ability to independently maintain airway and respond purposefully to physical stimulation or verbal command, produced by a pharmacological or non-pharmacologic method or combination thereof.

Intravenous Sedation/Analgesia:
A medically controlled state of depressed consciousness while maintaining the patient’s airway, protective reflexes and the ability to respond to stimulation or verbal commands. It includes intravenous administration of sedative and/or analgesic agent(s) and appropriate monitoring.

Local Anesthesia:
The loss of pain sensation over a specific area of the anatomy without loss of consciousness.

Non-Intravenous Conscious Sedation:
A medically controlled state of depressed consciousness while maintaining the patient’s airway, protective reflexes and the ability to respond to stimulation or verbal commands. It includes administration of sedative and/or analgesic agent(s) by a route other than IV; and appropriate monitoring.

Regional Anesthesia:
A term used for local anesthesia. See Local Anesthesia.

Oral 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.

Anxiety-Free Dentistry
Th type of Dentistry that can be achieved thru the use of Oral Conscious Sedation.

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C

Caries
commonly used term for tooth decay.

Cavity
Decay in tooth caused by caries; also referred to as carious lesion.

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E

Evaluation

Periodic Oral Evaluation:
An evaluation performed on a patient of record to determine any changes in the patient’s dental and medical health status since a previous comprehensive or periodic evaluation. This may require interpretation of information acquired through additional diagnostic procedures.

Limited Oral Evaluation:
Problem focused: an evaluation limited to a specific oral health problem. This may require interpretation of information acquired through additional diagnostic procedures. Definitive procedures may be required on the same date as the evaluation. Typically, patients receiving this type of evaluation have been referred for a specific problem and/or present with dental emergencies, trauma, acute infection, etc.

Comprehensive Oral Evaluation:
Typically used by a general dentist and/or a specialist when evaluating a patient comprehensively. It is a thorough evaluation and recording of the extra-oral and intra-oral hard and soft tissues. It may require interpretation of information acquired through additional diagnostic procedures. This would include the evaluation and recording of the patient’s dental and medical history and a general health assessment. It may typically include the evaluation and recording of dental caries, missing or unerupted teeth, restorations, occlusal relationships, periodontal conditions (including periodontal charting), hard and soft tissue anomalies, etc.

Comprehensive Periodontal Evaluation:
Typically includes evaluation of periodontal conditions, probing and charting, evaluation and recording of the patient’s dental and medical history and general health assessment. It may include the evaluation and recording of dental caries, missing or unerupted teeth, restorations, occlusal relationships and oral cancer screening.

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I

Intra-oral
Inside the mouth.

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L

Lingual
Pertaining to or around the tongue; surface of the tooth directed toward the tongue; opposite of facial.

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O

Occlusal
Pertaining to the biting surfaces of the premolar and molar teeth or contacting surfaces of opposing teeth or opposing occlusion rims.

Occlusion
Any contact between biting or chewing surfaces of maxillary (upper) and mandibular (lower) teeth.

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P

Periodontal
Pertaining to the supporting and surrounding tissues of the teeth.

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R

Root Canal
The portion of the pulp cavity inside the root of a tooth; the chamber within the root of the tooth that contains the pulp.

Root Canal Therapy
The treatment of disease and injuries of the pulp and associated periradicular conditions.

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S

Scaling
Removal of plaque, calculus, and stain from teeth.

Sedation Dentist
A sedation dentist is a dentist who has completed advanced training and is certified to administer oral sedatives to help patients achieve their dental needs through an anxiety free experience andt has been properly Certified and Trained in administering Oral Conscious Sedation.

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U

Unerupted
Tooth/teeth that have not penetrated into the oral cavity

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