D.M.O.: See dental Maintenance organization.
Decalcification: The loss of calcium from teeth that leaves the tooth surface weakened and more susceptible to decay. It is often caused by acid producing bacteria but also may be due to dietary habits that include unusual amounts of highly acidic foods and beverages.
Deciduous Teeth: See primary teeth.
Deductible: The amount paid by the patient before the insurance carrier starts to pay benefits.
Deep Bite: Excessive overbite: closed bite.
Demineralization: See decalicification.
Dental maintenance Organization (d.m.o.): A legal entity that accepts the responsibility of providing services for a fixed fee. Dental patients enrolled in these plans must have dental care provided through designated doctors. Also known as Managed Care.
Dentin: The calcium part of a tooth below the enamel containing the pulp chamber and root canals.
Dentinal Tubules: Minute channels in the dentin that extend from the pulp to the enamel or the cementum.
Dentition: The teeth.
Denture: a removable appliance (prosthesis) that replaces all of the teeth in either the upper or the lower jaw.
Dependant: Usually the spouse and children of an enrollee in a dental plan.
Devitalize: A term used to describe the loss of a tooth's vitality concomitant with the death of a tooth's pulp.
Diagnosis: the process of identifying the nature of a disorder.
Diagnostic: Procedures performed by the dentist to identify the health of the teeth and areas around the mouth. The most common diagnostic procedures are the clinical exam and x-rays.
Diastema: The term used to describe a space between two teeth.
Direct Contamination: Direct transmission of impurities, such as bacteria and viruses. An example of direct contamination would be a patient sneezing on the assistant.
Disinfection: A cleaning process to destroy most, but not all, microorganisms. Often confused with sterilization.
Distal End Cutter: A special kind of pliers that is used to cut off the ends of orthodontic arch wires.
Drift: Unwanted movement of teeth.