Back Teeth: See posterior teeth.
Band: A metal ring placed around teeth such as to hold orthodontic brackets.
Band Remover: A special kind of pliers that a dentist uses to remove bands from teeth.
Banding: The process of cementing orthodontics bands to teeth.
Benefit less Benefit: See limited C.O.B.
Benefit Year: Usually begins on the month of the year that the employer purchased the plan.
Bicuspids: The fourth and fifth teeth from the center of the mouth to the back of the (adult) mouth. These are the back teeth in front of the molars. They are called bicuspids because they only have two points (cusps).
Bimaxillary Prognathic: When both upper and lower jaws are overdeveloped.
Biomechanics: The relationship between the force you apply to living tissue such as teeth and gums, and how the tissue moves and changes. For example orthodontic movement of teeth involves biomechanical forces created when an archwire pushes against teeth.
Birthday Rule: When a child is covered under both parent's plans, the plan of the parent who's birthday (month and day, not year) falls earlier in the calendar year is billed first. (In cases of divorced of separated parents there are other factors to be considered.)
Bite Stick: a stick (usually made of wood) a dentist uses to put crowns and orthodontic bands on teeth. The dentist puts a crown or a band in place, then asks you to bite down on the bite stick to use your jaw muscles to provide the force to push the band in place.
Biteplane: A removable appliance made of acrylic designed to open a deep bite.
Bitewing: X-ray that shows only the crown portion of the upper and lower teeth biting together on the same film. In contrast, a periapical, x-ray shows both the crown and root of either (but not both) upper and lower teeth out of occlusion.
Bleaching: A cosmetic treatment using a strong oxidizing or bleaching agent to lessen or eliminate stains. Also see vital bleaching and walking bleach.
Bonding: (1) mildly etching the enamel on a tooth surface to create a rough surface to which a plastic filling material (see composite resin) can bond: (2) changing the shape of a tooth for esthetics or function with a plastic filling material: (3) the process of
Bracket: A metal or ceramic part that is glued onto a tooth to support the arch wire.
Breakaway: A breakaway is a small plastic piece with an internal spring that is used to provide force on a face bow appliance.
Bridge: A fixed appliance (prosthesis) that replaces missing teeth. A bridge is made up of false teeth (pontics) supported by anchor teeth (abutments). When a single pontic is supported by a single abutment, the bridge is said to be cantilevered.
Bruxism: Clenching or grinding of the upper and lower teeth together.
Buccal: This term is used to describe the cheek area inside the mouth. For example, the soft inside tissue of the cheeks is called the buccal mucosa and the surface of back teeth next to the cheeks is called the buccal surface of those teeth.
Buccal Tube: A small metal part that is welded on the outside of a molar band. The buccal tube contains to hold arch wires, lip bumpers, face bows and other orthodontic devices.