A surgical to procedure to remove all (called an excisional biopsy) or part (called an incisional biopsy) of an abnormal area of tissue (gum, skin, or bone) so that it can be evaluated microscopically to determine if it is dangerous (i.e. cancerous or malignant) and requires more treatment or not (i.e. benign).  

A family of drugs which is used to manage bone disorders such as osteoporosis, Paget’s disease, and metastatic bone lesions. In rare instances they can cause delayed or non-healing of oral bone injuries such as those which occur when a tooth is removed.

A rare complication in patients under previous or current bisphosphonate treatment characterized by exposed necrotic bone in the oral cavity.

See occlusal guard.

X-rays that help a dentist diagnose cavities.

Also Known as whitening. It is the application of chemicals to the enamel of a tooth in order to make it whiter. This may be done in office, at home using professionally designed trays and prescription bleaching agents, or at home with over the counter products.

A term used to describe a type of bone graft which uses a solid block of bone to improve the dimensions of bone in an area which is deficient. They may be from the same person (an autograft) or from a tissue donor (an allograft).

Application of tooth colored restorative materials to the surface of the teeth. Bondings can be used to fill small cavities, to close spaces, to change a tooth’s color and to reshape teeth.

Also known as bone grafting. A procedure used to rebuild or add volume of new bone to an area which is deficient.

Bone grafts are procedures to rebuild jaw bone (aka alveolar bone) which has been lost due to infection, trauma, or lack of use. May be done around teeth with bone loss secondary to periodontal disease or in areas where teeth are missing in order to create enough bone to place dental implants. The bone material may be harvested from the …