Introduction to Dental terminology, word making, prefixes, sufixes

1. Introduction to Dental Terminology
Dr. Yumna Shaheen Ali
Lecturer

2. Locate the
Dental Word

3. Locate the Dental Word
• Dental words are arranged and listed alphabetically
in dictionaries or glossary listings
• When in doubt about the spelling or meaning of an
abbreviation or an acronym, it is best to spell out the
word or look it up in a dictionary, glossary and office
manual

4. Locate the Dental Word
• Some examples of abbreviations are:
– ALARA: As Low As Reasonably Achievable
– ANUG: Acute Necrotizing Ulcerative Gingivitis
– CDA: Certified Dental Assistant
– CAT: Computer Assisted Tomography
– DDS: Doctor of Dental surgery

5. • FFD: Film Focus Distance
• HIV: Human Immunodeficiency Virus
• HVE: High Volume Evacuation
• MPD: Maximum Permissible Dose
• OD: Once Daily
• BD: Bis in die (twice a day)
• TD: Thrice Daily
• QD: Four times a day

6. Homonyms
• Some words are very similar in sound and spelling
but different in meaning
• Some common homonyms used in dentistry are:
– DIE: Tooth or bridge pattern used in
prosthodontics
– DYE: coloring material, used to indicate plaque,
cracks in tooth

7. Pronounce and
Analyze the
Dental Word

8. Die Dye

9. • Facial: Related to the face
• Fascial: Related to fibrous membrane on muscle
• Suture: Area or line where two bones unite
• Suture: Stitching
Homonyms

10. SUTURE SUTURE

11. Homonyms
• Auxilliary: Helping hand, such as dental assistant
• Axillary: Underarm site, used to measure
temperature
• Esthetics: Pertaining to beauty
• Aesthesia: Loss of pain sensation

12. Prefix, Root and Suffix
• A Prefix is the first building block of a word division
that begins a term
• A Root provide basic foundation for the word
• A Suffix is sometimes added to the root to describe
the meaning

13. Prefix Examples
• An: Anemia
• Hemi: Hemisection
• Cent: Centimeter
• Mono: Monomer
• Tri: Trigeminal
• Poly: Polymerization

14. Root Examples
• Alveolar
• Orthos (straight)
• Odont (tooth)
• Cheilo (lip)
• Dens (tooth)
• Glossa (tongue)
• Stoma (mouth)

15. Suffix Examples
• Ac: Cardiac
• Al: Gingival
• Ar: Alveolar
• Ary: Maxillary
• Eal: Pharyngeal
• Form: Fusiform

16. Define the
Meaning of
Dental Word

17. Meaning of Dental Word
• After providing the word and its pronounciation, the
text gives the meaning of the word including
definition and any relevant feature
• SYNCOPE: a temporary loss of consciousness, also
known as fainting
• XEROSTOMIA: dryness of mouth, caused by lack of
saliva

18. Use of the
Dental Word

19. Use of the Dental Word
• After getting info about dental words, prefixes, roots
and suffixes, try finding out dental terminologies
• Write down their meanings and sentences

20. Dental Words
1) Abscess
2) Abrasion
3) Anaerobic
4) Arrested caries
5) Bifurcation
6) Benign
7) Endodontic
8) Extraction
9) Fissure
10) Groove

21. Dental Words
1. Bruxism
2. Candidiasis
3. Carver
4. Condyle
5. Curettage
6. Dyspnea
7. Duct
8. Hypodontia
9. Intrapulpal
10. Luting