Teeth Dental Information Adults Children. Dental Care Guide. Dentistry.

Word	Meaning
Pacifier	A rubber teat for babies to suck and bite on.
Paedodontist	A specialist in childrens dentistry.
Palate	The roof of the mouth. Hard palate: The front part of the palate that is bordered by the teeth. It consists of bone covered by a mucous membrane lining. Soft palate: The part of the palate lying behind the hard palate. It is made up of soft tissues without underlying bony support.
Panoramic X-ray	A complete mouth x-ray of all the teeth and jaws recorded on one large film. A panoramic view of the teeth and jaws.
Partial Denture	Removable false-teeth that replace some missing teeth.
Pathology	The study of disease.
Periapical	Refers to the area around the end of a root.
Pericoronitis	An infection around the crown of a tooth.
Periodontal Disease	An infection of the areas around the tooth, which destroys gums and bone. Also called periodontitis or gum disease.
Periodontal Ligament or Membrane	It attaches the root of the tooth to the bone
Periodontal Pocket	An abnormally deep space between gum and tooth.
Periodontics	A dental specialty that attends to diseases of the gum and bone.
Periodontist	A specialist in Periodontics.
Periodontitis or Gum Disease	An infection of the areas around the tooth, which destroys gums and bone.
Periodontium	All the supporting structures around the tooth, i.e. gum, bone and periodontal ligament.
Permanent Teeth	Adult teeth, also called secondary teeth.
Plaque	It is a thin sticky film containing bacteria. It attaches itself to teeth and converts dietary sugar to acid. It causes tooth decay and gum disease.
Pocket	An abnormally deep space between tooth and gum. A periodontal pocket.
Polishing	The professional cleaning and buffing of teeth.
Pontic	The mid section of a dental bridge between the supporting crowned teeth at each end (the abutments).
Porcelain	Porcelain is a ceramic material. Used for veneers, crowns and inlays.
Post-Crown	A replacement crown that is constructed with a post that is cemented into the root of a tooth.
Posterior	Back or behind.
Posterior Teeth	The back teeth.
Premedication	The use of drugs before, and in preparation of, a dental or medical treatment.
Premolar Teeth	These are permanent teeth between the canines and the molars.
Primary Dentition	Another name for first teeth, baby teeth or deciduous teeth.
Primary Teeth	Baby teeth or deciduous teeth.
Prognosis	Prediction or future expectation.
Prophylaxis	The professional scaling, cleaning and polishing of teeth.
Prosthetics	A dental specialty for the replacement of missing teeth, usually using dentures.
Prosthodontist	A dentist specialising in crowns, bridges, implants and dentures.
Pulp	The nerves and blood vessels in a tooth.
Pulp Cap	The covering or capping of a sensitive or exposed nerve in a tooth, with a substance such as calcium hydroxide, that soothes and promotes healing.
Pulp Chamber	The hollow space in the crown of a tooth that houses the nerves and blood vessels.
Pulpectomy	The removal of the pulp.
Pulpitis	The inflammation of the pulp.
Pulpotomy	The removal of the pulp from the pulp chamber only, leaving the pulp in the root canals. Often performed on baby teeth.
Pus	A bad smelling yellow / green liquid, which is composed of dead and decomposing tissue caused by an infection. The contents of an abscess.