Glossary

The connecting element between implants and prosthetics that penetrates the soft tissue between the jawbone and the oral cavity.

Aluminum oxide (Al2O3); amphoteric oxide of aluminum. A densely sintered ceramic material that is used for dental prostheses.

The bone surrounding the root of the tooth; loss of this bone is typically associated with severe periodontal disease.

The highest portion of alveolar bone.

Any material, natural or man-made, that comprises whole or part of a living structure or biomedical device which performs, augments, or replaces a natural function.

Computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing.

Computer software and hardware used for the precision design and manufacture of dental esthetic and prosthetic products.

Imaging method employing digital geometry processing to generate a three-dimensional image of the internal features of an object from a large series of two-dimensional X-ray images taken around a single axis of rotation.

The base or substructure of a crown or bridge; can be formed from ceramic materials or metals. To this structure, a dental technician applies a veneering layer to match the shape and color of the patient’s other teeth.

Any dental procedure carried out primarily to improve a dental patient’s appearance.

A prosthetic structure for replacing one or more missing teeth; can be supported using adjacent natural teeth or implants.

Tooth-shaped cap that fits over an existing tooth or implant abutment to replace the natural tooth for functional or esthetical reasons.

A device designed to replace a missing tooth’s root.

A thin, all-ceramic shell, custom-made to fit over a discolored or chipped tooth. Procera Laminates are Nobel Biocare dental veneers made from Procera Alumina.

A removable set of artificial teeth. Dentures may be partial, that is, replacing only a section of teeth, or full, which would replace the entire upper or lower sections of teeth. Dentures are most often created by a prosthodontist.

The highly calcified covering over the outside of the tooth. It is the hardest substance in the body.

Pre-planning of an entire implant surgery treatment. From the planning, a surgical template is generated that guides implant location and placement with predictability. Nobel Biocare offers NobelGuide for guided surgery solutions.

Connection of a final or temporary restoration on a dental implant (provided it demonstrates sustained initial stability), prior to the completion of the healing process.

Experimentation in a controlled environment outside of a living organism.

Experimentation done in or on the living tissue.

A condition that makes a particular treatment or procedure advisable. The opposite of indication is contraindication.

A custom-made filling cemented into the tooth. See also Onlay.

A surgery technique in which a minimal amount of soft tissue and bone is affected.

Trauma, or damage, to the head and neck region of the body. Can be caused by accident, genetic disorder, cancer and/or cancer treatment.

The back teeth that are designed for grinding food before swallowing.

Condition of being toothless to at least some degree; it is the result of tooth loss. Loss of some teeth results in partial edentulism, while loss of all teeth results in complete edentulism. Adjective: edentulous.

Standardized industrial processes that use CAD/CAM dentistry to create individualized dental prosthetics.

Dental implant and abutment integrated into one piece.

An inlay extended to cover the cusps for protection of the tooth, leaving more natural tooth than a crown.

That part of dentistry comprising the diagnosis and surgical treatment of diseases of the oral cavity and jaws.

The direct structural and functional connection between living bone and an inert surface.

Dental implant with a cylindrical body.

A removable appliance (prosthesis) that replaces some of the teeth in either the upper or lower jaw, as opposed to a full denture, which replaces all the upper or lower teeth.

The soft tissue surrounding the coronal part of the implant pillar.

The study relating to the neck of a tooth and the surrounding tissues and their diseases, such as periodontitis.

Dental crowns and bridges with a metal coping, to which the porcelain veneering layer is applied.

Of, or relating to, products and procedures for enhancing remaining, or replacing missing teeth.

The connecting, supporting, and surrounding tissue around natural teeth and dental implants. Healthy soft tissue is an important factor in the esthetics of a smile.

The establishment and long-term maintenance of soft tissue health and esthetics.

Dental implant with a conical body.

Common biomaterial used for implants. Its biocompatible properties enable it to be used in prostheses inserted during surgery. The ability of titanium to establish direct contact with bone tissue is well-documented.

TiUnite is a titanium-oxide biomaterial which is formed on the surface of a titanium implant. In an electrochemical process, the implant surface grows and a porous structure is formed. The resulting surface, TiUnite, is highly crystalline. TiUnite is not a typical rough surface but rather a textured and porous surface.

Dental implant with either an internal or external prosthetic connection.

Yttria-stabilized zirconium oxide (Y-TZP zirconia); a densely sintered ceramic material used for dental prostheses.