Glossary
Dental Hygienist Terms & Vocabulary
15 essential dental hygienist terms with plain-English definitions: the vocabulary you’ll hear in training and on day one.
Key dental hygienist vocabulary
These 15 terms come up constantly in dental hygienist training, on the job and in interviews. Knowing them helps you follow instructions, document accurately and sound prepared.
- Bitewings
- X-rays that show the crowns of upper and lower back teeth.
- Bleeding on probing (BOP)
- A sign of inflammation recorded during charting.
- Calculus
- Hardened plaque, also called tartar.
- Curette
- A hand instrument used to remove calculus from root surfaces.
- Fluoride varnish
- A protective coating that strengthens enamel.
- Gingivitis
- Inflammation of the gums, often reversible.
- Oral cancer screening
- A visual and physical check of the mouth, tongue and neck for abnormalities.
- Periodontal charting
- Recording pocket depths, bleeding and gum recession for each tooth.
- Periodontitis
- Gum disease that damages the bone supporting the teeth.
- Pocket depth
- The depth of the space between the gum and tooth, measured with a probe.
- Prophylaxis
- A preventive cleaning of the teeth.
- Recall
- A routine check-up and cleaning appointment.
- Scaling and root planing (SRP)
- Deep cleaning below the gumline to treat periodontitis.
- Sealant
- A plastic coating painted on molars to prevent cavities.
- Ultrasonic scaler
- A vibrating instrument that removes calculus with water spray.
Practice these terms
Test yourself with the free Dental Hygienist practice test: it includes vocabulary questions built from this list. For a complete course, see Dental Hygienist training.
Browse terms from every career in our career glossary.