Dr. Glazer is dedicated to providing his Toronto cosmetic dentistry patients with the highest quality service in the safest, most comfortable manner possible. He personally meets with all of his patients to develop customized treatment plans and thoroughly explain all of the proposed procedures. Please use this glossary to learn more about some of the most popular Toronto cosmetic dentistry procedures and most commonly used dentistry terms.
Bleaching - see Toronto teeth whitening
Bonding - a technique for attaching dental restorations to teeth. Bonding can be used to attach white composite fillings, veneers, crowns and bridges.
Bridge - a permanent prosthesis that is made to replace one or more missing teeth. Attaches to existing teeth on either side of the space.
Cap - a common name for a crown.
Composite Resin - another name for tooth-coloured filling material.
Crown - full crowns are like a thimble that covers the tooth and not only strengthens it but can change the shape and colour.
Dental Implants - titanium posts surgically embedded into the jawbone to act as artificial teeth roots for the replacement of missing teeth.
Denture - a removable prosthesis designed to replace some or all missing teeth in the upper or lower jaw.
Gingiva - the soft tissue surrounding the teeth commonly known as the gums.
Gingivectomy - the modification of the “gums” to make the teeth and the smile appear more pleasing.
Impression - a mold of the teeth made by using a special, rubber-like material.
Inlays - a laboratory-fabricated porcelain tooth restoration.
Mouth tray - a removable, clear plastic appliance worn over the upper or lower teeth.
Norman - the name of Dr. Glazer’s Cat.
Onlays - a laboratory-fabricated porcelain tooth restoration that fills and restores a defect in the tooth. It extends over the edges of the defect to hold the remaining parts of the tooth together, thereby strengthening the tooth.
Open bite - a condition in which upper and lower front teeth do not meet.
Orthodontist - the dental specialist concerned with straightening and aligning the teeth using braces.
Overbite - the amount upper front teeth overlap lower front teeth when closing.
Periodontist - the dental specialist concerned with the treatment of gums.
Porcelain Veneers - thin facings bonded to the visible part of the tooth to improve its appearance and enhance strength.
Prosthodontics – dentistry subspecialty focusing on replacing missing, diseased and/or unsightly tooth structures using restorations such as bridges, dentures, dental implants and porcelain veneers.
Root canal - a dental treatment involving the removal of diseased or injured nerve from inside the tooth.
Sedation Dentistry – combination of anaesthesia techniques used to help the patient relax during dental treatments while reducing his or her discomfort
Smile Contouring - selective reshaping of parts of teeth to improve their appearance.
White fillings - a plastic-type filling material that matches the colour of the tooth.