Alveolitis (al-vee-oh-LI-tis)
Pain and inflammation resulting from exposed bone associated with the disturbance of a blood clot after extraction of a tooth.
Alveoplasty (al-VEE-uh-plas-tee)
The surgical shaping and smoothing of the margins of the tooth socket after extraction of a tooth, generally in preparation for placement of a prosthesis.
Bone file
Surgical instrument used to smooth rough edges of bone structure.
Chisel
Surgical instrument used for cutting or severing a tooth and bone structure.
Curette (kyoo-RET)
Surgical instrument used to remove tissue from a tooth socket.
Donning
Act of placing on an item, such as gloves; dressing.
Elevator
Surgical instrument used to reflect and retract the periodontal ligament and periosteum.
Excisional biopsy (ek-SIZH-uh-nul BYE-op-see)
Surgical procedure in which tissue is cut from a suspected oral lesion.
Exfoliative (eks-FOE-lee-uh-tiv) biopsy
Diagnostic procedure in which cells are scraped from a suspected oral lesion for analysis.
Forceps (FOR-seps)
Surgical instrument used to grasp and hold onto teeth for their removal.
Hard tissue impaction (im-PAK-shun)
Oral condition in which a tooth is partially to fully covered by bone and gingival tissue.
Hemostat (HEE-moe-stat)
Surgical instrument used to hold or grasp items.
Impacted tooth
Tooth that has not erupted.
Incisional (in-SIZH-uh-nul) biopsy
Section of suspect oral lesion that is removed for evaluation.
Luxate (LUK-sayt)
To dislocate, as a tooth from its socket.
Mallet
Hammer-like instrument used with a chisel to section teeth or bone.
Needle holder
Surgical instrument used to hold the suture needle.
Oral and maxillofacial (MAK-sil-oe-fay-shul) surgeon (OMFS)
Dentist who has specialized in surgeries of the head and neck region.
Oral and maxillofacial (MAK-sil-oe-fay-shul) surgery
Dental surgical specialty that diagnoses and treats conditions of the mouth, face, jaws, and associated areas.
Outpatient
Patient seen and treated by a physician, then sent home for recovery.
Retractor (ree-TRAK-tur)
Surgical instrument used to hold soft tissue away from the surgical site.
Rongeur (raw-ZHUR, RON-gore)
Surgical instrument used to cut and trim the alveolar bone.
Root tip picks
Surgical instrument used for the removal of root tips or fragments from the surgical site.
Scalpel (SKAL-pul)
Surgical knife.
Soft tissue impaction
Oral condition in which a tooth is partially to fully covered by gingival tissue.