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Angela Leung DDS PC

Glossary

This patient-friendly glossary collects distinct dental treatments, conditions, implant components, restorative terms, surgical concepts, sedation options, diagnostic methods, and technologies used across the Angela Leung DDS PC website. Each definition links to the most relevant service, technology, or blog page for more context

These definitions are educational. They are not a diagnosis, and they are not a treatment recommendation for your situation. Whether any of this applies to you depends on an examination, imaging, and your medical history.

If you have severe facial swelling, trouble breathing or swallowing, bleeding that will not stop, or an injury to the face or jaw, go to an emergency room now. Do not wait for a dental appointment. For urgent concerns during office hours, call us at 415-681-2697.

297 terms across 22 letters

Search checks term names, definitions, page titles, and common aliases.

A

Apical infection

An apical infection is infection or inflammation near the tip of a tooth root, often associated with disease inside the tooth.

Apicoectomy

An apicoectomy is endodontic microsurgery performed at the root tip when conventional root-canal treatment is not sufficient.

B

Before anesthesia instructions

Before anesthesia instructions are pre-procedure directions for patients who will receive anesthesia or sedation during dental care.

Bone grafting

Bone grafting is a surgical procedure used to rebuild or preserve jawbone for selected oral surgery and dental implant planning needs.

C

Clenching

Clenching is forceful tooth contact without chewing and may contribute to tooth wear, cracks, jaw fatigue, or restoration overload.

Conical implant connection

A conical implant connection is a tapered interface between an implant and its restorative component designed for a close mechanical fit.

D

Deep cleaning

Deep cleaning commonly refers to scaling and root planing used to remove deposits from below the gumline and smooth affected root surfaces.

Dental anxiety

Dental anxiety is fear or distress related to dental visits or procedures and may be addressed with communication, comfort measures, or sedation when appropriate.

Dental technology

Dental technology includes imaging, scanning, 3D printing, visualization, surgical, endodontic, bite-analysis, whitening, and sedation-related systems used by the practice.

Digital jaw tracking

Digital jaw tracking records mandibular movement to support analysis of bite function and restorative planning.

Digital X-rays

Digital X-rays are radiographic images used to view teeth, roots, bone, and structures that are not fully visible during a clinical examination.

E

Electric handpieces

Electric handpieces are motor-driven dental instruments that provide controlled speed and torque during tooth preparation, shaping, finishing, and related procedures.

Endodontic microsurgery

Endodontic microsurgery is root-end surgery performed with magnification and specialized instruments when conventional treatment is not sufficient.

Endodontics

Endodontics is the dental field concerned with dental pulp, root canals, tooth pain, and treatment intended to preserve affected teeth when appropriate.

Endodontist

An endodontist is a dentist with advanced training in diagnosing tooth pain and treating diseases of the dental pulp and root-canal system.

F

Facial trauma repair

Facial trauma repair in dental care includes evaluation and treatment planning for injuries affecting the teeth and oral structures after facial or dental trauma.

G

General anesthesia

General anesthesia produces a controlled state of unconsciousness and may be considered for selected procedures after medical review.

Gingivitis

Gingivitis is inflammation of the gums that may cause redness, swelling, or bleeding without established loss of supporting bone.

Gum inflammation

Gum inflammation is redness, swelling, tenderness, or bleeding in gingival tissues and may signal plaque-related or other irritation.

H

I

Immediate implant placement

Immediate implant placement means placing a dental implant at the time a tooth is removed when the clinical conditions are suitable.

Implant-supported denture

An implant-supported denture uses dental implants to improve support and stability compared with a conventional removable denture.

Implant-supported restoration

An implant-supported restoration is a crown, bridge, overdenture, or full-arch prosthesis carried partly or entirely by dental implants.

Intrinsic tooth discoloration

Intrinsic tooth discoloration develops within enamel or dentin and may respond differently to whitening than surface stains.

IV sedation

IV sedation is an intravenous sedation option used to provide a deeper level of relaxation during selected dental procedures.

J

L

Laughing gas

Laughing gas is the common name for nitrous oxide, an inhaled sedation option used to help patients relax during dental treatment.

Lingering sensitivity

Lingering sensitivity is discomfort that continues after a hot, cold, sweet, or biting stimulus is removed and may need evaluation.

Loose tooth

A loose tooth has increased mobility that may be related to trauma, bone loss, infection, or other supporting-tissue problems.

Low-radiation dental imaging

Low-radiation dental imaging refers to digital imaging methods designed to obtain diagnostic information with controlled exposure.

M

Mandibular movement

Mandibular movement is motion of the lower jaw during opening, closing, chewing, and side-to-side function.

Micronmapper

Micronmapper is photogrammetry-based digital mapping technology used in full-arch workflows and in producing 3D-printed provisional restorations.

MODJAW

MODJAW is digital jaw-motion tracking technology that records real-time mandibular movement to support occlusal, restorative, and treatment planning.

N

Night guard

A night guard is a custom dental appliance used to protect teeth and restorations from forces associated with clenching or grinding.

O

Oral cancer screening

Oral cancer screening is an examination of the mouth and nearby tissues for changes that may require monitoring, biopsy, or referral.

Oral surgery

Oral surgery includes surgical dental care such as extractions, grafting, soft-tissue procedures, pathology-related treatment, and other indicated procedures.

P

Panorex

Panorex is panoramic dental X-ray technology that captures the teeth, jaws, sinuses, joints, and surrounding structures in a single broad image.

Periodontal clearance

Periodontal clearance is confirmation that gum and supporting-tissue conditions have been evaluated and are suitable for planned treatment.

Periodontal evaluation

A periodontal evaluation measures and examines the gums, pockets, mobility, recession, and supporting bone around teeth and implants.

Periodontal maintenance

Periodontal maintenance is ongoing professional care used to monitor and control gum disease after active treatment.

Photogrammetry

Dental photogrammetry uses calibrated images to calculate precise three-dimensional implant positions for full-arch restorative workflows.

Postoperative dental care

Postoperative dental care includes procedure-specific instructions for protecting a surgical site, controlling symptoms, and recognizing warning signs.

Pro S 3D Printer

The SprintRay Pro 95 S is a dental 3D printer used by the practice to produce models, appliances, crowns, bridges, and surgical guides for selected workflows.

Provisional restoration

A provisional restoration is a temporary crown, bridge, or full-arch prosthesis used while tissues heal or final treatment is completed.

R

Restorative components

Restorative components are the abutments, screws, cylinders, and related parts used to connect an implant to its restoration.

Root canal treatment

Root canal treatment removes infected or inflamed pulp tissue, cleans and shapes the canal system, and seals the tooth internally.

Root-end surgery

Root-end surgery treats disease around the tip of a tooth root when conventional root-canal treatment is not sufficient.

S

Scaling and root planing

Scaling and root planing removes deposits from below the gumline and smooths affected root surfaces to treat periodontal inflammation.

Screw-retained bridge

A screw-retained bridge is attached to dental implants with screws so a clinician can remove it when maintenance or repair is needed.

Shining 3D Face Scanner

The practice's Shining 3D Face Scanner uses MetiSmile facial scanning to capture facial data and create 3D models for diagnosis, communication, and dental treatment planning.

Soft-tissue grafting

Soft-tissue grafting adds or repositions gum tissue to improve coverage, thickness, or support around teeth or implants.

Straumann implant system

Straumann is one of the dental implant systems referenced by the practice for selected surgical and restorative workflows.

Surgical extraction

A surgical extraction removes a tooth that cannot be taken out with a routine extraction approach because of position, fracture, impaction, or anatomy.

T

Three-dimensional dental model

A three-dimensional dental model is a digital or printed representation of teeth and oral structures used for planning and fabrication.

Three-dimensional dental printing

Three-dimensional dental printing builds dental models, guides, appliances, or selected restorations layer by layer from digital files.

Tooth mobility

Tooth mobility is movement of a tooth beyond normal limits and may be associated with periodontal loss, trauma, or overload.

Tooth sensitivity

Tooth sensitivity is discomfort triggered by temperature, touch, sweets, or biting and may have several dental causes.

U

V

Vertical root fracture

A vertical root fracture is a crack that extends along the length of a tooth root and can make the tooth difficult or impossible to retain.

W

White spots

White spots are lighter areas of enamel that can result from mineral changes, development, or other causes and require diagnosis before cosmetic treatment.

Z

No glossary terms match your search. Try a treatment, condition, device, symptom, or common abbreviation.

Scope: This glossary consolidates 297 distinct patient-facing dental terms found across the current service, technology, surgical-instruction, aftercare, knowledge-base, and blog content. Repeated location-page wording, staff credentials, insurance language, and general administrative terms are intentionally excluded.