ADA Glossary Terms

Referring to the bone to which a tooth is attached.

Compound combining two or more elements with properties not existing in single constituent elements. They are sometimes used to refer to amalgam.

Refers to synthetic material often used for tissue augmentation or replacement.

Belonging to the same species, but genetically different. See graft.

See the definition of permanent dentition.

A secondary treatment in addition to the primary therapy.

Any substance that joins or creates close adherence of two or more surfaces. Intermediate material that causes two materials to adhere to each other.

State in which two surfaces are held together by chemical or physical forces or both with or without the aid of an adhesive. Adhesion is one aspect of bonding.

Use of an acidic chemical substance to prepare the tooth enamel and or dentin surface to provide retention for bonding.

Addition of a test specimen, previously collected by a health care provider, to a laboratory specimen collection; recording of essential specimen identification data in a laboratory-maintained file in chronological order of laboratory specimen acquisition; assignment to the specimen of an identification code.