root retention

root retention,

a technique that removes the crown of a root canal-treated tooth and retains enough of the root and gingival attachment to support a prosthesis.

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root,

n 1. the part of a human tooth covered by cementum.
n 2. a nerve root; the part of a nerve adjacent to the center with which it is connected; in spinal and cranial nerves the part of the nerve between the cells of origin or termination and the ganglion.

root amputation,

n See amputation, root.

root angulation,

n the angle formed by the intersection of the tooth root and the long axes of the crown. Where roots are sufficiently angulated, adequate bone formation occurs between the adjacent roots, which is important if the patient is particularly susceptible to periodontal bone loss.

root apex,

n the root tip.

root, apical

n the most inferior part or tip of the root of a tooth.

root axis line (RAL),

n a hypothetical vertical line that could be drawn from the crown of a tooth to the root apex.

root, bifurcated,

n the root structure of a tooth divided into two segments.

root canal,

n 1. the soft, hollow, canal-like tissues of a tooth that adjoin the pulp chamber. The root canals help secure the teeth in the jaw, provide nutrition to the teeth through their blood vessels, and help sense oral cavity activity through their nerves. Infected root canals can be extremely painful.
2. the informal term for the endodontic procedure to remove infected root canal tissue and replace removed tissue with restorative material.

root canal, accessory,

n a nonprimary passage typically located near the root's apex that extends from the cementum to the pulp. It may be located at a higher point on the tooth and connect to a periodontal pocket.

root canal instrument stop,

n a device placed on a root canal instrument to mark the measured depth of instrument penetration.

root, clinical,

n the portion of the tooth that is below the attached periodontal tissues and not exposed to the oral cavity.

root concavity,

n a longitudinal depression located on the surface of a root.

root curettage,

n See curettage, root.

root, dwarfed,

n an abnormally short root with a normal-sized crown.

root, fused,

n a tooth root that is joined with another.

root, intraalveolar

n the portion of a tooth root enclosed in and supported by alveolar bone.

root, mesiobuccal

n the root of a tooth that is found near the mesial portion of the tooth and the buccal side of the alveolar ridge.

root morphology

n the study of the topographic surfaces of the roots that allow for successful periodontal treatment.

root planing,

n a procedure that smooths the surface of a root by removing abnormal toxic cementum or dentin that is rough, contaminated, or permeated with calculus.

Root planing.

root resection,

n See apicoectomy.

root resorption of teeth,

n the destruction of the cementum or dentin by cementoclastic or osteoclastic activity. It may result in a shortening or blunting of the root. Lateral root resorption may also occur, resulting in a loss of root substance along the side or length of the root. Severe lateral resorption may result in penetration of the pulp canal. Root resorption may be caused by inflammation resulting from trauma or infection, or it may be unknown or idiopathic. See also resorption.

Root resorption of the teeth.

root retention,

n removal of the crown of a root-canal treated tooth, whose periodontium is not adequate to support a prosthesis but with enough retention of the root and gingival attachment to support a removable prosthesis. See also overdenture.

root submersion,

n root retention in which the tooth structure is reduced below the level of the alveolar crest and the soft tissue is allowed to heal over it. It is believed that residual ridge resorption can be minimized by this approach. See also root retention.

root, trifurcated,

n the root structure of a tooth divided into three segments.

root trunk,

n the section of root nearest the crown from which multiple roots emerge.