Technical Dental Terminology:

• ALARA- As low as reasonably achievable.

• Cephalometric Radiography- Cephalometric radiographs are used to assess the patient’s skeletal structure and profile.

• Panoramic Radiography- Panoramic machines take a radiograph that shows the entire maxilla and mandible on one film.

• Herringbone Pattern- This pattern is created when the film is placed in the mouth backwards or reversed which causes the “tire track” pattern to appear.

• Digital Radiology- Computerized system that allows the dentist to take intraoral and extraoral radiographs, and then display he image on a computer screen without exposing and processing the dental film.

Technical Terms after High School:

• Income Tax- Tax levied by a government directly on income, especially an annual tax on personal income.

• Liability- the state of being responsible for something, especially by law.

• D.D.S- The DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) and DMD (Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry or Doctor of Dental Medicine) are the same degrees. Dentists who have a DMD or DDS have the same education. It's up to the universities to determine what degree is awarded, but both degrees use the same curriculum requirements.

• Continuing Education- Continuing professional development (CPD) or continuing professional education (CPE) is the means by which people maintain their knowledge and skills related to their professional lives. It is continuing education as applied to professional development. CPD obligations are common to most professions.

• Retirement-the action or fact of leaving one's job and ceasing to work.