Coming in for a dental appointment can be a daunting experience at the best of times, not to mention all the big words being thrown around as part of your treatment. A lot of the time patients can walk away a little confused. At Dental One we aim to break down the jargon and make the process of understanding your oral health as simple as possible.
Bleaching: Cosmetic whitening of teeth.
Bridge: A fixed appliance (prosthesis) that replaces a missing tooth, using the teeth next to the missing tooth as support.
Calculus: Mineralised dental plaque, that has gone hard and is best removed by an oral health professional, commonly referred to as tartar
Canal: The narrow chamber inside the root of the tooth that contains the nerve and blood vessels.
Composites: Tooth coloured filling material.
Crown: Tooth-shaped “cap” that is placed over a tooth — to cover the tooth to restore its shape and size, strength, and improve its appearance.
Dental Implant: A dental implant is a titanium cylinder placed in the bone of the upper or lower jaw, which a crown attaches to, in order to replace the function and look of a natural tooth. Whether you have lost one or more teeth due to decay or an accident, we can help you feel confident and get you smiling again with natural looking dental implants.
Dentures: A removable plate or frame holding one or more artificial teeth.
Edentulous: Having lost all of the natural teeth
General dentist: Primary care provider for patients in all age groups who take responsibility for the diagnosis, treatment, management and overall coordination of services to meet patients’ oral health needs
Gingivitis: Reversible inflammation of gum tissue.
Malocclusion: Misalignment of teeth and or jaws
Mouthguards: An appliance used to protect teeth from injury during sport
Occlusal surface: The chewing surface of the tooth
OPG X Rays: A panoramic or wide view x-ray of the lower face, which displays all the teeth of the upper and lower jaw on a single film.
Oral Cavity: The mouth
Oral Hygiene: The process of maintaining cleanliness of the teeth and gums.
Orthodontics: A branch of dentistry dealing with irregularities of the teeth and their correction, as by means of braces and retainer
Overbite: A vertical overlap of the front teeth
Periodontal disease: Inflammation and irritation of the gums and their supporting structures which, if left untreated, can cause the jawbone to deteriorate and teeth to become loose over time.
Plaque: bacterial colonies which have matured and attack teeth, causing dental decay.
Porcelain veneers: Ultra-thin shells of porcelain bonded to the front of the tooth to improve cosmetic appearance.
Composite veneers: Resin material bonded to the front of the tooth to improve aesthetics
Restorative dentistry: Process of restoring missing, damaged or diseased teeth to normal form and function, performed by general dentists
Fissure Sealant: Resin coating used to protect teeth from decay, mainly in children.
Third molars: Wisdom teeth
TMD temporomandibular disorder: Problems relating to your temporomandibular joint which include locking of the jaw, frequent headaches, sore jaw muscles, and painful clicking of the jaw
TMJ: Temporomandibular joint
Root canal: A procedure in which the nerve and pulp are removed and the inside of the tooth is cleaned and sealed.
Dental One Specific Terms
NO GAP Policy
At Dental One we provide General dental services for patients with Dental insurance at no out of pocket cost. This means that we will bill your health care provider directly (via HICAPS) and where a full benefit is provided you will not have to pay any additional amount towards your treatment. Examinations, Cleans, Fillings, X-rays and non-surgical extractions.
Child Dental Benefits Schedule
The Commonwealth Child Dental Benefits Schedule provides assistance for basic dental treatment over a two-year period for eligible 2–17 year old’s.
- 2-17 year olds are eligible if they receive Family Tax Benefit A or other relevant Australian Government payments
- Treatment is bulk billed through Medicare
- Eligible children pay $0 – no out of pocket costs
- No wait list – your child will have the next available appointment
OPG X Rays
A panoramic or wide view x-ray of the lower face, which displays all the teeth of the. Dental One is currently one of the only dental clinics in Melbourne offering OPG X Rays.
For more information on your treatment or to book an appointment contact Dental One on 13 000 66 427 (13 000 NO GAP)
