C.O.B.: See coordination of benefits.
Calculus: A hardened (calcified) formation of the sticky film on your teeth (plaque). Also known as tartar.
Calendar Year: January 1st to December 31st.
Canal: The narrow chamber inside a root of a tooth that contains the nerve and blood vessels.
Canines: See cuspids.
Capitation plan: A plan where the dentist has contracted to provide dental services to persons covered under a program in return for payment on a per-capita basis (per head). Also known as Managed Care.
Caries: Technical term for decay. The hole left after the removal of decay is the cavity.
Carrier: The party (usually an insurance company) that pays insurance claims and collects the premiums.
Carryover: If the deductible was paid last year (usually the last quarter, Oct., Nov, or Dec) the next year (or quarter, Jan., Feb. and March) they do not have to pay the deductible again.
Cavity: Most commonly used to describe tooth decay but technically the hole left after the removal of decay.
Cement : A material used to attach a restoration or bracket to a tooth.
Cementum: A calcified substance covering the root surface of a tooth. It is not as hard as enamel, which covers the surface of the crown. Periodontal ligaments connect the bone to the cementum on healthy teeth.
Cephalometric: A drawing traced on an overlay of a cephalometric x-ray the shows the relative position of anatomical structures and landmarks of the teeth, jaws, and skull. It is a necessary part in developing a diagnosis and treatment plan for orthodontic therapy.
Cephalometric Viewer: An x-ray viewer.
Cephalometric X-Ray: An x-ray of the head that shows the teeth, jaws and other bones of the skull. A dentist uses a cephalometric x-ray to measure the relative position of teeth and supporting structures as well as to develop a treatment plan.
Ceramo-Metal Crown: An esthetic crown made of porcelain fused to metal. Also called a PFM for porcelain fused to metal.
Chain: See Orthodontic Chain.
Cheek Retractor: Small plastic pieces used to draw back your lips and cheeks so a dentist can more easily see you teeth and work in your mouth.
Class I Malocclusion: A type of bite where the top teeth line up with the bottom teeth but the teeth are crooked, crowded or turned.
Class II Malocclusion: A type of bite where the upper teeth stick out past the lower teeth. This is also called an "overbite" or "buck teeth".
Class III Malocclusion: A type of bite where the lower teeth stick out past the upper teeth. This is also called an "under bite".
Cleaning: See prophylaxis.
Closed Bite: A malocclusion where the upper teeth cover the lower teeth when biting down. This is also called a "deep bite".
Closed Panel: A dental plan where the patient only receives benefits if a dentist who is contracted with the plan's administrator provides the services. Also called Managed Care.
Complete Series: See full mouth X-rays.
Composite Filling: A tooth colored plastic filling material to which filler has been added for strength. Insurance companies may only pay full benefits for composite fillings on the front teeth (anterior teeth). When they are done on the back teeth (posterior teeth), many insurance companies will deny benefits on the basis that the treatment is elective.
Composite Resin: See Composite filling.
Consultation: A meeting with a dentist or physician where he/she discussed a patient's needs and treatment plan.
Coordination of Benefits (c.o.b.): When a patient is covered by more than one dental plan.
Coronal: Relating to the crown portion of a tooth.
Cosmetic Contouring: Reshaping the natural teeth to make them look straighter.
Cross Contamination: Passing bacteria or viruses from one patient to another through the use of faulty sterilization procedures, contaminated instruments, or other bad technique.
Cross Bite: A malocclusion where upper teeth are inside lower teeth when biting down.
Crowding: An orthodontic problem caused when there is not enough space for the teeth or too many teeth are trying to occupy too small of a space.
Crown: (1) The anatomical portion of a tooth that is not normally (in a healthy mouth) hidden by the gums (the anatomical crown); (2) A restoration that completely covers a tooth. An Acrylic crown is a crown made of plastic. An aluminous crown is an esthetic all.
Crown Angulation: An orthodontic tooth movement in which the root of the tooth is tipped outward (toward the cheeks or lips) or inward (toward the tongue or palate).
Curettage: Surgical scraping of soft tissue to remove bacteria and disease. This is a periodontal procedure and is usually performed in one section of the mouth (usually a quadrant) at a time.
Curing Light: A special light used to cure resin fillings and attach orthodontic brackets to teeth.
Cuspids: The third tooth from the center of the mouth. These are the most distal of the front teeth and they are easily identified by their prominent rounded or pointed edge. They are also known as canines for obvious reasons.
Cusps: The bumps on the chewing surfaces of bicuspids and molars (posterior teeth).