vacuum casting : the casting of a material (i.e., metal, plastic) in the presence of a partial vacuum vacuum investing : the process of investing a pattern within a partial vacuum vacuum mixing : a method of mixing a material such as plaster of paris or casting investment below atmospheric pressure val·ue : the quality […]
GPT Terms – U
UCLA abutment substand: a colloquial term used to describe a dental crown that is attached directly to the implant body by means of a screw without an intervening abutment ultimate strength : the greatest stress that may be induced in a material at the point of rupture—called also ultimate tensile strength ul·tra·vi·o·let: radiant energy of wavelengths […]
GPT Terms – T
ta·ble: a flat surface; a raised horizontal surface—see GUIDE T., OCCLUSAL T. ta·per: in dentistry, the convergence of two opposing external walls of a tooth preparation as viewed in a given plane. The extension of those average lines within that plane form an angle describe as the angle of convergence tech·nic : a detailed procedure in […]
GPT Terms – S
sad·dle n, obs: see DENTURE BASE saddle pontic obs: a pontic with a broad concave facio-lingual area of contact with the residual ridge. It is also know as a ridge lap pontic. This type of pontic is known to be uncleanseable and result in tissue irritation at the area of contact with the ridge mucosa sag·it·tal : […]
GPT Terms – R
RAD: acronym for Radiation Absorbed Dose, a unit of measurement of the absorbed dose of ionizing radiation. The biologic effect of one rad varies with the type of radiation tissue is exposed to—see also GRAY radiation : the emission of electromagnetic waves, such as light, short wave, radio, ultraviolet, or x-rays, or particulate rays such as […]
GPT Terms – Q
Q.D.: every day Q.H.: every hour Q.I.D.: four times a day Q.L.: as much as desired Q.Q.H.: every 4 hours quadrant 1: any of the four quarters into which something is divided by two real or imaginary lines that intersect each other at right angles 2: in dentistry, one of the four sections of the dental […]
GPT Terms – P
pack l: to make into a compact form 2: to completely fill 3: to crowd together 4: to compress—pack·a·bil·i·ty —pack·able pack: any material used to protect tissue, fill space or prevent hemorrhage packing : the act of filling a mold—see DENTURE P. pain : a subjective unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage […]
GPT Terms – O
oblique ridge : the elevation in the enamel that runs obliquely across the occlusal surface of a maxillary molar ob·tun·dent : an agent or remedy that lessens or relieves pain or sensibility ob·tu·ra·tor: 1. a maxillofacial prosthesis used to close a congenital or acquired tissue opening, primarily of the hard palate and/or contiguous alveolar/soft tissue […]
GPT Terms – N
NA: acronym for NAsion; a cephalometric landmark located where the intranasal and nasofrontal sutures meet nano·me·ter : unit of length to measure the wavelength of light. It is equivalent to 1 x 10-9 M or 10 angstroms. 1 nm=1/1,000,000 mm narrative report : a complete description of the clinical findings, diagnosis, and treatment rendered for a given patient nasal […]
GPT Terms – M
mac·ro·glos·sia : excessive size of the tongue mac·ula , mac·ula (1863): a patch of tissue that is altered in color but usually not elevated; usually characteristic of various diseases maintenance dose : the quantity of a drug necessary to maintain a normal physiologic state or a desired blood or tissue level of drug major connector : […]
GPT Terms – L
lab·i·al 1: of or pertaining to the lip 2: toward the lip labial bar: see LABIAL BAR CONNECTOR labial bar connector : a major connector located labial to the dental arch labial flange : the portion of the flange of a denture that occupies the labial vestibule of the mouth labial splint : a device of […]
GPT Terms – K
ka·olin : fine, usually white, clay that is used in ceramics and refractory materials as a filler or extender keep·er : any one of various devices used for keeping something in position—usage: in dentistry, this is usually construed to mean a magnetized alloy attached to one element of a restoration to which a magnet may […]
GPT Terms – J
jacket crown: see CERAMIC CROWN, RESIN CROWN Jackson crib clasp : a one-piece clasp bent to engage the mesial and distal interproximal undercuts in adjacent natural teeth. Usually it was made by hand bending of a straight wire of appropriate dimensions Jackson magnet [Thomas R. Jackson, U.S. dentist]: eponym for permanent magnetic alloy magnets using […]
GPT Terms – I
i·at·ro·gen·ic : resulting from the activity of the clinician; applied to disorders induced in the patient by the clinician I-bar clasp: see CLASP id·io·path·ic : self-originated; of unknown causation idling condyle: see NONWORKING SIDE CONDYLE il·lum·inance 1: density of luminous flux on a surface 2: luminous flux incident per unit area of a surface il·lum·inant : […]