Toothache Glossary of Terms

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Abscess: A local accumulation of pus anywhere in the body. The following are some example...

Acetaminophen: A nonaspirin pain reliever or analgesic. Acetaminophen may be given alone t...

Angina: Chest pain due to an inadequate supply of oxygen to the heart muscle. The pain is ...

Antibiotic: A drug used to treat infections caused by bacteria and other microorganisms. ...

Aspirin: Once the Bayer trademark for acetylsalicylic acid, now the common name for this a...

Bacteria: Single-celled microorganisms that can exist either as independent (free-living) ...

Bridge: A set of one or more false teeth supported by a metal framework, used to replace ...

Caries: Dental cavities in the two outer layers of a tooth (the enamel and the dentin). Sm...

Cavities: Holes or structural damage in the two outer layers of a tooth called the enamel...

Cheek: The side of the face, which forms the side wall of the mouth. The cheekbone is part...

Chest: The area of the body located between the neck and the abdomen. The chest contains t...

Chest pain: Pain in the chest that can be a result of many things, including angina, heart...

Chills: feelings of coldness accompanied by shivering. Chills may develop after exposure t...

Crown: 1. In dentistry, the portion of the tooth that is covered by enamel. 2./...

Diabetes: Refers to diabetes mellitus or, less often, to diabetes insipidus. Diabetes mell...

Diagnosis: 1 The nature of a disease; the identification of an illness. 2 A ...

Discharge: 1.The flow of fluid from part of the body, such as from the nose or vag...

Ear: The hearing organ. There are three sections of the ear, according to the anatomy tex...

ECG: Electrocardiogram.

Emergency department: The department of a hospital responsible for the provision of medica...

Fever: Although a fever technically is any body temperature above the normal of 98.6 degr...

Fluoride: A compound of fluorine with another element or radical. Fluoride containing com...

Gum disease: Inflammation of the soft tissue (gingiva) and abnormal loss of bone that surr...

Headache: A pain in the head with the pain being above the eyes or the ears, behind the he...

Heart: The muscle that pumps blood received from veins into arteries throughout the body. ...

Heart attack: The death of heart muscle due to the loss of blood supply. The loss of bloo...

Heart disease: Any disorder that affects the heart. Sometimes the term "heart disease" is ...

Hygiene: The science of preventive medicine and the preservation of health. Also commonly ...

Ibuprofen: A nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that is commonly used to treat pa...

Immune: Protected against infection, usually by the presence of antibodies.

Immune system: A complex system that is responsible for distinguishing a person from every...

Indicate: In medicine, to make a treatment or procedure advisable because of a particular ...

Infarction: The formation of an infarct, an area of tissue death, due to a local lack of o...

Infection: The invasion and multiplication of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, an...

Inflammation: A localized reaction that produces redness, warmth, swelling, and pain as a ...

Injury: Harm or hurt. To harm, hurt, or wound. The word injure may be in physical or emot...

Ischemia: Inadequate blood supply to a local area due to blockage of blood vessels leading...

Jaw: The movable junction of the bones below the mouth (the mandible) and the bone just ab...

Joint: The area where two bones are attached for the purpose of permitting body parts to m...

Lightheadedness: A feeling you are "going to faint." Lightheadedness is medically distinc...

Mandible: The bone of the lower jaw. The joint where the mandible meets the upper jaw at t...

Medical history: 1. In clinical medicine, the patient's past and present which may ...

Molar: In dentistry, a molar is one of the posterior teeth well adapted to grinding, in ke...

Molars: Molars are the large teeth at the back of the mouth.

Mouth: 1. The upper opening of the digestive tract, beginning with the lips and con...

Myocardial infarction: A heart attack. Abbreviated MI.

Nausea: Stomach queasiness, the urge to vomit. Nausea can be brought on by many causes, in...

Nerve: A bundle of fibers that uses electrical and chemical signals to transmit sensory an...

Pain: An unpleasant sensation that can range from mild, localized discomfort to agony. Pa...

Periodontal: Having to do with the gums and supporting structures of the teeth.

Periodontal disease: A bacterial infection that destroys the attachment fibers and support...

Plaque: 1. An semi-hardened accumulation of substances from fluids that bathe an a...

Primary teeth: The first teeth which are shed and replaced by permanent teeth. The first p...

Prognosis: The forecast of the probable outcome or course of a disease; the patient's chan...

Radiate: To spread out from a central area. For example, sciatic pain may radiate outward ...

Rash: Breaking out (eruption) of the skin. A rash can be caused by an underlying medical c...

Referral: The recommendation of a medical or paramedical professional. If you get a refer...

Referred pain: Pain felt at a site other than where the cause is situated. An example is t...

Sensitivity: 1. In psychology, the quality of being sensitive. As, for example, sen...

Shortness of breath: Difficulty in breathing. Medically referred to as dyspnea. Shortness ...

Sinusitis: Inflammation of the lining membrane in any of the hollow areas (sinuses) of the...

Skull: The skull is a collection of bones which encase the brain and give form to the hea...

Steroid: One of a large group of chemical substances classified by a specific carbon struc...

Surgery: The branch of medicine that employs operations in the treatment of disease or inj...

Sweating: The act of secreting fluid from the skin by the sweat (sudoriferous) glands. The...

Symptom: Any subjective evidence of disease. In contrast, a sign is objective. Blood comin...

Syndrome: A combination of symptoms and signs that together represent a disease process.

Throat: The throat is the anterior (front) portion of the neck beginning at the back of th...

TMJ: Temporomandibular joint.

Tobacco: A South American herb (Nicotiana tabacum) whose leaves contain 2 to 8 percent nic...

Tobacco smoking: The direct inhalation of tobacco smoke, the basis of major health hazards...

Tooth: One of the structures within the mouth that allow for biting and chewing. Teeth hav...

Toothache: Pain in the tooth or gum. The most common cause of a toothache is a cavity or a...

Trauma: A physical or emotional injury.

Tylenol: See: Acetaminophen.

Yawning: Involuntary opening of the mouth with respiration, breathing first inward, then o...