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Base:
cement placed under a dental restoration to insulate
the pulp (nerve chamber)
Bicuspid or pre-molar:
transitional teeth behind
the cuspids
Bifurcation (trifurcation):
juncture of two (three) roots
in posterior teeth
Biopsy:
removal of a small piece of tissue for microscopic
examination
Bite:
relationship of the upper and lower teeth on closure
(occlusion)
Bite wings:
caries (decay) detection x-rays
Black hairy tongue:
elongated papillae on the tongue, promoting the growth of microorganisms
Bleaching:
chemical or laser treatment of natural teeth for whitening effect
Block injection:
anesthesia of a nerve trunk that covers a large area of the jaw; a mandibular block injection
produce numbness of the lower jaw, teeth, half the tongue
Bonding:
adhesive
dental restoration technique; a tooth-colored composite resin to repair and/or change the color or shape of a tooth
Bone resorption:
decrease in bone supporting the roots of teeth; a common result
of periodontal (gum disease)
Braces:
devices used by orthodontists to
gradually reposition teeth to a more favorable alignment
Bridge:
stationary
dental prosthesis (appliance) fixed to teeth adjacent to a space; replaces one or more missing teeth, cemented or bonded to
supporting teeth or implants adjacent to the space
Bruxism:
grinding
or gnashing of the teeth, most commonly while the patient is asleep
Bruxomania:
persistent
"nervous" grinding of the teeth while the patient is awake
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