Category: A
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Attachment element
Part of the prosthetic component made as a separate unit fitting onto the transmucosal element. “If there is no separate attachment element, the restoration is part of and fabricated with the retentive element.” It is the element onto which the restoration is fabricated as cast‐to, cemented, or screwed into position.
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Attachment apparatus
The anatomic complex around a tooth consisting of the cementum, alveolar bone, and periodontal ligament. The cementum, periodontal ligament, and alveolar bone that serve to attach the tooth to the bone.
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Attachment
A mechanical device used for fixing, retaining, and stabilizing a dental prosthesis. A retainer that is made of a metal receptacle and a part that fits precisely. The former (the female [matrix] component) is most often contained inside the normal or extended crown contours of the abutment tooth and the latter (the male [patrix] component)…
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Attached gingiva
Firm, dense, and often stippled soft tissue that is tightly bound to underlying periosteum, bone, or a natural tooth. Gingiva lying between the free gingival groove and the mucogingival line. It is firmly attached by lamina propria to underlying periosteum, bone, and tooth.
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Atrophy
A wasting away. Decrease in size of a cell, organ, tissue or part, a loss of tissue from an anatomic site due to nonuse, nonstimulation, pressure, or nutrients. Loss or wasting of muscle tissue or function through lack of use or disease. Wasting of normally developed tissue or muscle as a result of disuse, ageing…
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Atrophic alveolar bone
Alveolar bone characterized by resorption after tooth removal. When functional stimulus disappears, the alveolar bone will atrophy.
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Atrophic
Reduced both in volume and substance. Bone loss in volume can be a reduction both in width and height, and loss of substance can mean reduction in thickness of cortical bone and width and number of trabeculae. The degeneration or reduction in size of a muscle or other tissue, commonly referred to as wasting.
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Atresia
Absence or closure of a natural body passage. May also refer to loss of a body part through degeneration. A congenital medical condition in which a body orifice or passage in the body is abnormally closed or absent. Abnormal closure of an anatomic opening; absence of opening from birth. An unusual closing or absence of…
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Atraumatic extraction
The extraction of a tooth with minimal damage or injury to the surrounding hard and soft tissues.
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Atraumatic
Not inflicting or causing damage or injury.