Glossary

CareCredit

A trusted third party financial institution for patient financing, CareCredit has helped many patients receive the dental and health care they need by financing costs with competitive interest rates and/or long-term options.

Contour

Gently rounding teeth for optimal esthetics.

Crown

A custom-made restoration that fits snugly atop a damaged tooth to restore shape, structure, function, and appearance.

Empress

A manufacturer of quality dental ceramics, Empress is well known for esthetics and integrity.

Esthetics (also Aesthetics)

Having to do with a pleasing appearance and/or beauty.

Impression Materials

Soft material that cures solid, used to make a negative impression of a patient's tooth or teeth so that a custom restoration(s) can be created.

Inlay

A custom restoration made to fit into a prepared area of a tooth that was removed because of decay. An inlay is placed inside the cusps of a tooth (in the valley).

Onlay

A custom restoration made to fit into a prepared area of a tooth that was removed because of decay. An only covers one or more cusps of a tooth and is larger than an inlay.

Reshape

Gently sculpting teeth into a new shape for optimal esthetics.

Restoration

A ceramic/porcelain, metal, or porcelain-fused-to-metal repair that is custom made to fit in or on a tooth being repaired. Crowns, inlays, onlays, and veneers are restorations.

Temporary Crown

When placing a traditional crown, a dentist will prepare a tooth and place a temporary crown while the permanent crown is being created in a dental lab. Temporaries are also used before permanent veneers are placed. All temporaries have a reputation for falling off, which causes an inconvenience for both patient and dentist.

Unicorn Financial

A trusted third party financial institution for patient financing, Unicorn Financial has helped many patients receive the dental and health care they need.

Veneer

Esthetic restorations made to cover front teeth. Veneers can reshape a patient's smile and hide gaps, chips, staining, cracks, slight misalignments, misshapen teeth, and other smile imperfections.