GENIUS UNIVERSITY

FACULTY OF DENTISTRY
1st Year
2nd term
2021/2022

INTRODUCTION TO DENTISTRY

Lecture. No. 2

BY

Assis. Prof/ Abdulrazzaq AL-Maweri

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 Dental terminology- 1

Dental terminology involves the study of words and terms related

specifically to the dental sciences. Every science has its own unique
terminology. In medical terminology, many words refer to the proximity
or nearness to anatomical structures. Many dental terms originate from
the names of bones or structures, but more often, from the names of dental
procedures or practical approaches.

Dental terms are usually formed by a combination of small words or

syllables linked in a “building block” or word chain. When analyzing the
structure of a word, we observe the following:

A prefix qualifies the word by indicating such things as the quantity, color, size, condition, or
location. A word may or may not have a prefix.

A suffix is sometimes added to a root (s) to qualify or

describe the meaning. The combining vowel (o) placed
after the root is not used when the suffix itself begins
with a vowel.

Prefix

Alters the word is meaning by indicating number, color, size, location, or condition. Some
common prefixes used in dental terminology;

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 Examples of Prefixes Denoting Quantity or Number

prefix meaning example ◻◻◻◻◻‫ا‬

bi- two, double bifurcation

hemi- half hemisection
cent- hundred centimeter
mon/o- one monomer

poly- many polymerization

Examples of Prefixes Denoting Color
albus- white albumen
chlor-/o- green chlorophyll
erythr-/o- red erythrocyte
leuk-/o- white leukoplakia
melan-/o- black melanoma
Examples of Prefixes Denoting Size or Degree
hyper- over/excess hypertension
hypo under/below hypotension
macro- large macrodontia
micro- small/minute microbe
pan- all around panoramic
ultra- extreme/beyond ultrasonic
Examples of Prefixes Denoting Location or Direction
ecto- outside ectopic
endo- within endodontic
epi- upon/over epidermis
ex/o- out from excretion
infra- below infraorbital
para- parenteral near/beside parenteral

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Suffix

An element added to the end of a root word or combining form to describe or qualify the word
meaning. Suffix cannot stand-alone and is usually united with a root element by inserting a
combining vowel (o) unless the suffix begins with a vowel. In that case, the combining form
or vowel is dropped. For example, the surgical removal of gum tissue is the meaning of
gingivectomy from the root word gingivo (gum) and suffix ectomy (surgical excision).
Dropping the ending vowel in gingivo and adding ectomy to make gingivectomy unites these
two word elements.

Suffixes Expressing Medical Terms, Processes, Uses

-algia pain odontalgia, neurolagia, myalgia
-ate, -ize use/action vaccinate, luxate, palpate, visualize
-cide kill germicide, homicide
-cyte cell leukocyte, osteocyte
-ectomy surgical removal apicoectomy, appendectomy
-gnosis knowledge prognosis, diagnosis
-ology study of histology, biology
-oma tumor carcinoma
-opsy biopsy, view autopsy
-phobia dread fear claustaphobia
-plasty surgical repair gingivoplasty

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Dental Professionals

Each profession speaks a language of its own, using terms or words connected with its
common procedures, personnel, techniques, and instrumentation. People who are involved
with, use the language of, and participate in each of these occupations are said to be
professionals of that occupation.

Dentist

The dentist, who is a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS), a

Doctor of Medical Dentistry (DMD), or BDS bachelor of
dental surgery, diagnoses, performs, and monitors the
dental care of patients. Various specialists, who complete
extended studies, training, and testing, perform the following
specific duties or skills of their particular specialty.

● Prosthodontist: replaces missing teeth with

artificialappliancessuch as dentalcrowns, full
mouth dentures, or partial bridgework.

● Periodontist: treats diseases of periodontal (gingiva and supporting) tissues.

● Orthodontist: corrects malocclusion and improper jaw alignment.

● Pediatric dentist: performs dental procedures for the child patient, also called
pedodontist.

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● Conservative and/ or Endodontist: treats the diseased pulp and periradicular
structures.

● Oral and maxillofacial surgeon: performs surgical treatment of the teeth, jaws, and
related areas.

● Public health dentist: works on causes and prevention of

common dental diseases and promotes dental health to the
community or general population.

● Forensic dentist: discovers and uses pathological

evidence for legal proceedings; forensic dentistry is not
yet established as a recognized specialty but is organized
and related to a particular type of dental care.

● Oral pathologist: studies the nature, diagnosis, and control of oral

diseases.

● Oral and maxillofacial radiologist: is concerned

with the production and interpretation of radiant
energy images or data regarding the oral and
maxillofacial regions.
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Oral medicine specialist:
Is concerned with the diagnosis and
treatment of oral mucosal lesions and infections in addition to
management of medically compromised patients
as well as salivary glands diseases ,TMJ disorders and oro-facial pain.

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