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Dentistry vocabulary · Examination and X-rays

Percussion

Meaning in dentistry, with examples

/pərˈkʌʃən/nounCommon term

In dentistry, percussion means: A test in which the dentist gently taps a tooth, usually with the end of a mirror handle, to see whether it is tender. Pain suggests inflammation around the root.

In Turkish: perküsyon, perküsyon testi

How it is used

Recorded in notes as TTP (tender to percussion) or as percussion positive or negative. Dentists compare the tooth with its neighbors and may test both vertical and lateral percussion.

Example sentences

  1. The lower left first molar is tender to percussion.

  2. Percussion was positive on 46 and negative on the neighboring teeth.

Common collocations

  • tender to percussion
  • percussion test
  • vertical percussion
  • percussion positive
  • vitality testA test that checks whether the nerve of a tooth still responds, usually by applying cold or a small electric current. It helps show whether the pulp is healthy, inflamed or dead.
  • pulpitisInflammation of the pulp inside a tooth, usually caused by deep decay, cracks or repeated dental work. It ranges from mild and reversible to severe and irreversible.
  • abscessA collection of pus caused by a bacterial infection, usually at the tip of a root or in the gum next to a tooth. It often causes throbbing pain and swelling.
  • mouth mirrorA small round mirror on a handle used to see surfaces that are hard to view directly, reflect light into the mouth and hold the cheek or tongue out of the way.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Examination and X-rays

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.