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Dentistry vocabulary · Teeth and Oral Anatomy

Root

Meaning in dentistry, with examples

/ruːt/nounCore term

In dentistry, root means: The part of a tooth below the gum that sits in a socket in the jawbone. Front teeth usually have one, while molars often have two or three.

In Turkish: kök, diş kökü

How it is used

Used in root canal treatment, extractions and X-ray reports. Dentists talk about root length, root fractures and root resorption, and describe a root as curved, short or fractured.

Example sentences

  1. The X-ray shows that the upper first molar has three roots.

  2. A small piece of root broke off during the extraction.

Common collocations

  • root canal
  • root fracture
  • root tip
  • curved root
  • root surface
  • apexThe tip of a tooth root, where nerves and blood vessels enter the tooth through a small opening called the apical foramen.
  • root canal treatmentTreatment that removes inflamed or infected pulp from inside a tooth, then cleans, shapes and seals the root canals so that the tooth can be kept.
  • crownA cap made of ceramic, metal or both that covers a damaged tooth completely and restores its shape and strength. The word also means the part of a tooth visible above the gum.
  • extractionThe removal of a tooth from its socket in the bone. A simple one uses forceps and elevators; a surgical one may need a cut in the gum or removal of some bone.

This word in other fields

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

More terms: Teeth and Oral Anatomy

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