Glossary

The removal of calculus and plaque after having dental implants with an ultrasonic scaler, especially during a deep cleaning (also called a scale and root plane) can cause significant damage to dental implant hardware. However, managing plaque and calculus build up becomes even more important after having dental implant surgery. Periodontal disease (gum disease) can cause implant failure similar to how a natural tooth will become loose after untreated periodontal disease begins to destroy the underlying bone. A 1994 study revealed that when ultrasonic scalers are coated in Teflon, the same damage does not occur to plastic implant curettes or smooth titanium surfaces. On rough implant surfaces, however, instrument material residue was discovered. The study determined that coating ultrasonic and sonic scaler tips with Teflon material (also called a Teflon scaler) enables dental professionals to use high-frequency tools to professionally clean dental implants without significant damage.

Teflon tape, also called plumber’s tape, is a common DIY tool used to prevent leakage between two pipes fit together. The term “teflon tape” is actually an incorrect one; the material is known as PTFE tape or thread seal tape. The tape wraps around a set of threads and once screwed in, the tape seals any micro gaps between the threads. Plumber’s tape is also used frequently in cosmetic and implant dentistry, among other fields. It’s most often utilized to seal an abutment screw before sealing the access openings. There are a number of advantages to using PTFE tape to do this: unlike cotton, it won’t absorb fluids like a sponge, it can easily be removed to provide access to the abutment screw, packing can be done quickly, and it seals and protects the area above the top of the abutment screw. It can also be used to obliterate the screw access hole in dental implants.

A telescopic coping is a feature of telescopic dentures, which are classified as an overdenture. An overdenture is any dental prosthesis that is anchored by natural teeth or a dental implant. Telescopic dentures offer more stability than traditional dentures due to their unique design. Abutments are placed strategically in the patient’s mouth, and the primary telescopic coping is cemented to them. The secondary telescopic coping is attached to the denture, which fits onto the primary coping. In the 1970s and 80s, telescopic dentures that were anchored by natural teeth or the roots of natural teeth were considered more popular than traditional dentures. It is believed that telescopic dentures anchored to natural teeth better diffuse the occlusal load and prevent overload by transferring the stress of occlusal forces through the periodontal ligament of retained tooth roots. The extra stability of the copings offers a stronger bite and more efficient chewing.

In dentistry, a temporary abutment (also known as a temporary cylinder) is an abutment used for the fabrication of an interim restoration. The interim restoration may be cemented onto the temporary abutment or the temporary abutment may be incorporated into the interim restoration for a screw-retained prosthesis. Temporary abutments are an essential component in restorative dentistry procedures. They allow the tissue around the implant to heal while also providing an attachment point for the crown, bridge, or other dental restoration. Following implant osseointegration with the surrounding bone, the temporary abutment may be removed for a permanent abutment to take its place. Temporary abutments come in a variety of designs, such as snap abutments and slim abutments, for convenient placement and easy removal. The type of temporary abutment selected for use in a dental procedure will depend upon the kind of procedure, the patient’s oral anatomy, and the type of prosthesis required.

A temporary anchorage device, or TAD, is an implant which is used as an aid for orthodontic tooth movement. A TAD can also refer to a miniscrew, osseointegrated palatal, or retromolar dental implant that is placed to control tooth movement during orthodontic treatment. Temporary anchorage devices are often placed in the alveolar bone or the extra-alveolar bone to provide the strongest orthodontic anchorage. Anchorage as a term refers to an orthodontic reactive unit that resists the opposite movement of the tooth or teeth requiring adjustment. This process utilizes both the biology and anatomy of the mouth as well as the physics of motion. Temporary anchorage devices require an opposing force to work against the teeth needing adjustment and may either be intra-oral, such as another tooth or group of teeth, or outside the mouth as seen with headgear. TADs are often made of titanium as the material is bioinert and durable.

Tensile stress is the stress caused by a load (two forces applied away from one another in the same straight line) that tends to stretch or elongate an object. Tensile stress is not often encountered in dentistry, however there are two situations in which it may be seen. The first occurs when a patient with a crown chews a sticky candy. As the candy becomes stuck to the tooth opposite the crown and the patient opens his/her mouth, the crown is subject to tensile stress which may result in the crown being pulled off. The second situation can be observed when a fixed dental structure, such as a bridge, is flexed. The flexing of the bridge can cause it to deform and no longer fit or function correctly. There are few true cases of tensile stress in dentistry since other types of stress tend to be observed simultaneously.

The surgical incision and resulting flap are some of the most important things to get right during a dental implant procedure. It facilitates healing and when done incorrectly, can result in post-operative dental implant failure. The size of the flap cannot be too small — this results in the surgeon having more difficulty accessing the tissue underneath, putting pressure on the incision and flap, causing damage to the tissue. A flap should be big enough for the surgeon to visualize the bony ridge. As dental technology continues to advance, there are a number of different types of incision and flap creation techniques that are each suited to varying conditions. A tension-free flap closure is desirable for procedures like guided bone regeneration, or to cover the root of a natural tooth. Using a tension-free flap closure can help promote less discomfort for the patient and an improved surgical outcome due to faster healing and the decreased risk of postoperative infections.