P | Dental Dictionary

• palate - hard and soft tissues that form the roof of the mouth, separating the oral and nasal cavities
• palatal expander - orthodontic device used to widen the upper jaw
• palliative treatment - treatment for the purpose of pain relief only
• panoramic radiograph (x-ray) - radiograph that includes the full upper and lower teeth and jaws as a single flattened image, used for diagnostic purposes
• partial denture - prosthetic device that is used to replace one or more missing teeth, but not the full upper or lower set, may be fixed or removable, also known as a bridge
• pediatric dentist - dental specialist focusing on the dental treatment of infants, children, and adolescents
• pediatric dentistry - dental specialty that focuses on preventive care and treatment for infants, children, and adolescents, including care for special needs patients
• periapical (PA) - area at the end of a tooth root
• pericoronal - area around the crown of a tooth
• peri-implantitis - inflammation of the tissue surrounding a dental implant
• periodontal - refers to the tissues that surround and support the teeth
• periodontal disease - includes gingivitis and periodontitis, inflammation of the periodontal tissues, may include the development of periodontal pockets, bone loss, and tooth loss can be treated but not cured
• periodontal surgery - surgery to treat diseased gum tissue in the mouth
• periodontal pocket - a feature of periodontal disease, pocket-like deformity in the gums at the tooth line
• periodontics - dental specialty focusing on placement of dental implants and the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases that affect the tissues that surround and support the teeth
• periodontist - dental specialist who focuses on placement of dental implants and the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases that affect the tissues that surround and support the teeth
• periodontitis - inflammation of the periodontal tissues, may include the development of periodontal pockets, bone loss, and tooth loss, can be treated but not cured
• permanent teeth - the second and final set of teeth, also known as adult teeth, usually 32 in total
• plaque - soft, sticky substance that can accumulate on teeth, generally made up of food debris and bacteria
• pontic - prosthetic tooth, part of a partial denture/bridge
• post - thin rod that may be inserted into tooth root following root canal treatment, provides support for the tooth structure
• preventive dentistry - aspect of dentistry that focuses on the promotion of good oral hygiene habits to protect oral health and reduce or prevent the development of oral health issues
• prophylaxis - professional cleaning to remove plaque, calculus, and surface stains from tooth structures, helps to prevent tooth decay and periodontal disease
• prosthodontics - dental specialty focusing on the use of prosthetic tooth replacement and restoration of natural teeth
• prosthodontist - dental specialist focusing on the use of prosthetic tooth replacement and restoration of natural teeth
• pulp - connective tissue inside the tooth, contains nerves and blood vessels
• pulp cap - medicated covering placed over the small exposed area of pulp to aid in healing
• pulpectomy - complete removal of tooth pulp
• pulpitis - inflammation of pulp tissue, a common cause of toothaches
• pulpotomy - removal of diseased portion of the pulp, leaving healthy pulp tissue intact