If you ever hear your dentist and dental assistant talking about your teeth as you lay in the chair, you might wonder what they’re talking about. Dental terminology runs the gamut from words you already know to abbreviations that you’ve never heard of before. Here’s a rundown of some of the lingo you’re likely to hear.

Tooth Numbers

Whereas you might refer to your sore tooth as “the second-to-last one in the back on the upper right,” your dentist calls it simply, “number 3.” All of your teeth have numbers (baby teeth have letters), so there’s no guesswork involved when it comes time to take an x-ray or replace a filling.

Starting on your upper right and going across your upper jaw to the upper left, the teeth are numbered 1-16. Teeth #1 and #16 are not there if you’ve had your wisdom teeth removed. On the bottom jaw, the teeth are numbered from left to right, from #17-32. Again, the wisdom teeth, #17 and #32, might be missing.

Specialists

If you’re having a problem with one or more of your teeth or your gums, your dentist might refer you to a specialist. Common specialists that take referrals from general dentists include:

• Endodontists, or root canal specialists.
• Periodontists, or gum specialists
• Orthodontists, or dentists who deal with straightening the teeth
• Oral Surgeons, who handle extraction and other types of oral surgery
• Pedodontists, who see children and patients with certain disabilities

While in the chair, your dentist might shorten the term for a particular specialist, saying something like, “This patient needs a perio consult,” which means that you will be referred to a periodontist.

Dental Tools

Much of the time, the dental assistant knows what the dentist needs and there might not be much conversation about it during a procedure. Sometimes, though, you might catch a word or two that you don’t recognize.

The dental drill is called a handpiece, and the burs (equivalent to drill bits) have different names. If the dentist says a particular number, he or she might be referring to the bur that is needed. The pointy tool that your dentist uses to poke around in your mouth is called an explorer, and the instrument that your hygienist uses to measure the pockets in your gums is called a periodontal probe.

Whenever you hear dental jargon that you don’t understand, feel free to ask questions!