Skip to main content
← Back to Dental Research

Dental Research Glossary

105 terms total — 24 showing — Last updated 15 Sep 2026

Crossover Study Design

Advanced Technical IVT

A clinical trial design in which each participant receives two or more treatments in sequence, serving as their own control, commonly used in dental intervention studies to reduce inter-subject variability.

Showing 73–96 of 105

Periodontal Maintenance Therapy

Intermediate Technical IVT

A programme of regular professional oral hygiene procedures and monitoring provided to patients following active periodo...

Technical Term Full entry →

Periodontal Phenotype

Advanced Technical IVT

The clinically observable morphological characteristics of the periodontium, encompassing gingival tissue thickness, ker...

Technical Term Full entry →

Periodontal Probing Depth

Intermediate Technical IVT

The measured distance from the gingival margin to the base of the periodontal pocket, recorded in millimetres using a ca...

Technical Term Full entry →

Periodontal Staging and Grading

Professional Technical IVT

The 2017 World Workshop classification framework for characterising the severity (stage) and rate of progression (grade)...

Technical Term Full entry →

PICO

Intermediate Semi-formal IVT

An acronym for Population, Intervention, Comparator, and Outcome; a structured framework used to formulate research ques...

Abbreviation Full entry →

Plaque Index

Intermediate Technical IVT

A scored clinical measure used to quantify the amount of dental plaque present on tooth surfaces, commonly used as an ou...

Technical Term Full entry →

PMT

Basic Technical

Abbreviation for Periodontal Maintenance Therapy, the long-term supportive recall programme for patients following activ...

Abbreviation Full entry →

PPD

Basic Technical IVT

Abbreviation for Probing Pocket Depth, a millimetre measurement from the gingival margin to the base of the periodontal...

Abbreviation Full entry →

PRISMA

Intermediate Technical IVT

Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses; a reporting guideline providing a minimum set of ite...

Document Type Full entry →

Probing Pocket Depth

Intermediate Technical IVT

The distance measured in millimetres from the gingival margin to the base of the sulcus or periodontal pocket using a ca...

Technical Term Full entry →

Pulp Capping

Intermediate Technical IVT

A dental procedure in which a material is placed directly or indirectly over exposed or nearly exposed dental pulp to pr...

Technical Term Full entry →

Pulp Necrosis

Intermediate Technical IVT

The death of the dental pulp tissue, resulting in loss of vitality and sensory function of the tooth.

Technical Term Full entry →

Pulp Vitality Test

Intermediate Technical IVT

A clinical diagnostic procedure used to assess the neurovascular status of the dental pulp, typically by applying a ther...

Technical Term Full entry →

Radiographic Bone Level

Intermediate Technical IVT

A standardised linear measurement of alveolar bone height assessed from a dental radiograph, used as an outcome variable...

Technical Term Full entry →

Randomised Controlled Trial

Intermediate Technical IVT

A prospective experimental study design in which participants are allocated by chance to intervention or control groups...

Document Type Full entry →

Recall Interval

Basic Semi-formal IVT

The scheduled period between routine dental examination or maintenance appointments, used as an independent variable in...

Technical Term Full entry →

Remineralisation

Intermediate Technical IVT

The process by which mineral ions, primarily calcium and phosphate, are redeposited into demineralised enamel or dentin,...

Technical Term Full entry →

RSD

Intermediate Technical IVT

Abbreviation for Root Surface Debridement, the mechanical cleaning of subgingival root surfaces to remove bacterial depo...

Abbreviation Full entry →

Saliva Substitutes

Intermediate Technical IVT

Artificial preparations formulated to mimic the lubricating and protective properties of natural saliva, used in the man...

Technical Term Full entry →

Salivary Buffering Capacity

Intermediate Technical IVT

The ability of saliva to neutralise acids produced by cariogenic bacteria, thereby resisting a drop in plaque and saliva...

Technical Term Full entry →

SBI

Intermediate Technical IVT

Acronym for Sulcus Bleeding Index, a clinical scoring system quantifying gingival inflammation via bleeding response wit...

Abbreviation Full entry →

Sialometry

Advanced Technical IVT

The clinical measurement of salivary flow rate, conducted under standardised conditions to assess salivary gland functio...

Technical Term Full entry →

Split-Mouth Design

Advanced Technical IVT

A clinical trial design in which different interventions are applied to contralateral or otherwise comparable sites with...

Technical Term Full entry →

STROBE

Intermediate Formal IVT

Acronym for Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology, a reporting guideline checklist used t...

Document Type Full entry →
Showing 73–96 of 105

Editors from these organisations have used our services since 1998

Reuters BBC Oxford University Press Penguin Random House Springer Microsoft Suncor Energy United Nations Fisher Investments IBM The Home Depot KODAK CHEVRON