Dental Charting Symbols Flashcards

Dental Charting Symbols

• Periapical Abscess: An infection at the root of a tooth leading to pus formation.

• Impacted Tooth: A tooth that is unable to fully emerge through the gums, often due to crowding or misalignment.

• Missing Tooth: A tooth that is absent, whether due to extraction, loss, or congenital absence.

• PFM Bridge: A dental prosthetic that replaces one or more missing teeth, comprising a metal base covered with porcelain.

• To be Extracted: Indicates a tooth that requires removal, often due to decay or damage.

• Has a Root Canal: A tooth that has undergone a root canal therapy, which involves removing infected pulp and sealing the tooth.

• Gold Crown: A durable crown made of gold, typically used for strength and durability.

• Needs a Crown: Signifies a tooth that is damaged or weakened and requires a crown for protection and restoration.

• Needs a Root Canal: Indicates a tooth with infected pulp that requires endodontic treatment to save the tooth.

• Occlusal Decay: Cavities located on the chewing surface of the tooth, often due to food trapping and plaque accumulation.

• Needs a Sealant: Refers to a tooth that would benefit from a protective coating to prevent decay.

• Has a Sealant: A tooth that has been treated with a protective sealant to help prevent cavities.

• O Decay Needs an Occlusal Composite: An indication that there is decay on the occlusal surface that requires a composite filling for restoration.

• Recurrent Decay: The reappearance of cavities in a previously treated area, often due to inadequate cleaning or faulty restorations.

• Occlusal Amalgam: A dental filling made of different metals (amalgam) located on the chewing surface.

• MO Amalgam: Indicates an amalgam filling that spans the mesial (toward the front of the mouth) and occlusal surfaces of the tooth.

• MOD Amalgam: Represents an amalgam filling that covers mesial, occlusal, and distal surfaces.

• Occlusal Composite: A tooth-colored filling used to restore the chewing surface of a tooth.

• Fracture: Indicates that a tooth has sustained a crack or break, which may require treatment depending on severity.

• Class IV Decay: Decay that affects the interproximal (between teeth) area of anterior teeth and the incisal edge.

• DO Decay: Cavities affecting the distal (back) and occlusal surfaces of a tooth.

• PFM Crown: A porcelain-fused-to-metal crown, providing both strength and aesthetics.

• Diastema: A gap or space between two teeth, often seen between the front teeth.

• Implant/Needs: Refers to the need for an implant to replace a missing tooth or teeth.

• MF Composite: Indicates a composite filling that covers mesial and facial surfaces.

• DIF Composite: Refers to a composite filling on the distal and facial surfaces of a tooth.

• MFD Decay Needs a Composite: Denotes decay on the mesial, facial, and distal surfaces requiring composite restoration.