Balance Billing
Balance billing is when a dentist bills you for the gap between their fee and what your insurance pays. Learn what it means and how to protect yourself.
Category: Dental Glossary
Comprehensive A–Z dental terminology covering anatomy, procedures, conditions, equipment, imaging, insurance, and practice operations.
Claim Attachment
Claim attachments are documents submitted with dental insurance claims to support medical necessity. Learn what types are required and how they affect reimbursement.
Dental Premium
A dental premium is the recurring payment that keeps your dental insurance active. Learn how it interacts with deductibles, copays, and annual maximums.
Dental Insurance
Dental insurance helps offset the cost of dental care by covering preventive, basic, and major services. Learn how plans work, key terms, and coverage types.
Dental Deductible
A dental deductible is the out-of-pocket amount patients pay before insurance coverage begins. Learn how it affects treatment costs and benefit planning.
Transillumination
Transillumination uses light to detect hidden caries, cracks, and fractures in teeth — a non-invasive diagnostic method for catching damage early.
Percussion Testing
Percussion testing is a quick dental diagnostic technique that uses tooth tapping to detect periapical inflammation, abscesses, and periodontal disease.
Tooth Vitality Assessment
Tooth vitality assessment tests determine whether dental pulp is alive using cold, heat, and electric stimuli — essential for accurate endodontic diagnosis and treatment planning.
Periodontal Exam
A periodontal exam evaluates gum tissue health, probing depths, and alveolar bone support to detect and stage periodontal disease before symptoms appear.
Oral Hygiene Assessment
An oral hygiene assessment evaluates plaque, calculus, and gingival health to guide periodontal diagnosis and patient care. Learn what clinicians measure.