B | Dental Dictionary

• band - metal ring cemented in place around a tooth to allow brackets to attach to the teeth
• banding - orthodontic process of fitting and cementing bands to teeth
• base - insulating substance used beneath restorations to protect tooth pulp from changes in temperature
• benefit - payment for covered dental services by a third-party insurer
• benign - a term used to indicate mild, non-threatening, or non-malignant
• bicuspid - tooth located in front of the molars and behind cuspids
• bilateral - term meaning both right and left sides are indicated
• biopsy - the removal of a small amount of tissue for examination and/or testing
• bioinert - material property indicating it causes no physical reaction, such as inflammation or immune response
• bite/occlusion - physical relationship between upper and lower teeth when closed
• bleaching - whitening of the teeth, generally using a chemical oxidizing agent and/or laser treatment
• block injection - anesthetic placed to cause numbness over a large area of the jaw and mouth
• block graft - bone graft stabilized with screw, generally used to correct a large bone defect
• bond - mechanical or chemical adhesion connecting two surfaces, orthodontic appliance seal
• bonding - the process of attaching brackets to teeth for braces or restoring teeth with composite resin to repair tooth color or shape
• bone atrophy/resorption - loss of bone in the jaw, commonly caused by periodontal disease
• braces - orthodontic devices used to reposition teeth over time to correct misalignment, generally consisting of brackets and archwires
• bracket - ceramic or metal piece cemented to the tooth to hold an archwire for orthodontic treatment
• bridge/partial denture - a dental prosthetic device used to replace one or more missing teeth, generally attaches to surrounding teeth or implants for support
• bruxism - involuntary grinding of the teeth, usually while sleeping, often causing tooth wear, sensitivity, headaches, and jaw pain
• buccal - referring to or toward the cheek