Symbols and abbreviations

cross-reference

diagnosis

supernumerary

negative

positive

and/or

increased

decreased

less than

greater than

approximately

fracture

micro (e.g. µm)

question/ask about (when? appears alone)

therefore

primary

secondary

tertiary

lower second premolar, lower incisor

upper lateral incisor, upper incisor

three dimensional

American College of Surgeons

adrenocorticotrophic hormone

antidiuretic hormone

amelo-dentinal junction

antigen

acquired immune deficiency syndrome

advanced life support

anterior open bite

antero-posterior

acute renal failure

as soon as possible

advanced trauma life support

basal cell carcinoma

twice daily

British Dental Association

British Dental Journal

bismuth iodoform paraffin paste

basic life support

bitewing

British Medical Association

British National Formulary

blood pressure

Basic Periodontal Examination

bisphosphonate related osteonecrosis

black silk suture

calcium

computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacture

culture and sensitivity

Community Dental Service

Contraindication

Class I relationship

Class II division 1 relationship

Class II division 2 relationship

Class III relationship

cleft lip and palate

centimetre

cytomegalovirus

central nervous system

complaining of

Continuing Professional Development

Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs

cardiopulmonary resuscitation

cerebrospinal fluid

Committee on Safety of Medicines

computed tomography

cerebro-vascular accident

chest X-ray

Dental Care Professional

decilitre

dental nurse

Department of Health

Dental Practitioner’s Formulary

dental panoramic tomogram (politically correct: OPT/OPG)

deep venous thrombosis

ethoxy benzoic acid

evidence-based medicine/dentistry

Epstein–Barr virus

early childhood caries

electrocardiograph

ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid

for example

enamel matrix derivative

eutectic mix of lidocaine and prilocaine

ear, nose, and throat

extra-oral

erythrocyte sedimentation rate

examination under anaesthesia

female

full upper denture (and -/F for lower)

fixed appliance

flat anterior bite plane

foreign body

full blood count

functional endoscopic sinus surgery

femtolitre

fine-needle aspiration cytology

fissure sealant

freeway space

gram

general anaesthesia

generalized aggressive periodontitis

General Dental Council

general dental practitioner

General Dental Services

glass ionomer

glucose, potassium, insulin

general medical practitioner

gutta-percha

guided tissue regeneration

hour

haemoglobin

high dependency unit

hepatitis B/C

mercury

human immunodeficiency virus

human leucocyte antigen

human papilloma virus

hormone replacement therapy

herpes simplex virus

intercuspal position

intensive care unit

inferior dental

inferior dental block

inferior dental nerve

that is

infective endocarditis

immunoglobulin (e.g. IgA, IgG, etc.)

intramuscular

intermaxillary fixation

incisor

international normalized ratio

intra-oral

Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need

Intermediate Restorative Material®

idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura

international units

intravenous

potassium

kaolin–cephalin clotting time

kilogram

kilovolt

litre

local anaesthesia

localized aggressive periodontitis

lower face height

liver function test

lower labial segment

laryngeal mask airway

metre

male

mandible/mandibular

monoamine oxidase inhibitor

maxilla/maxillary

multiple choice question

mean corpuscular volume

multiple endocrine neoplasia

milligram

megahertz

myocardial infarction

micromoles

minute

millilitre

millimetre

millimetres of mercury

millimole

maxillary mandibular planes angle

magnetic resonance imaging

slow release morphine

mid-stream urine

mineral trioxide aggregate

nothing abnormal detected

non-accidental injury

naso-gastric tube

National Health Service

nickel titanium

neurolinguistic programming

nanometre

at night

non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug

necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis

necrotizing ulcerative periodontitis

oxygen

overbite

oral contraceptive pill

once daily

overdenture

on examination

oral hygiene

Oxford Handbook of Clinical Medicine

oral hygiene instruction

overhead projector/projection

overjet

oral and maxillofacial

out-patient

open reduction and internal fixation

objective structured clinical examination

over the counter

occlusal vertical dimension

partial upper denture (and -/P for lower)

posteroanterior

patient-controlled analgesia

polymerase chain reaction

past dental history

periodontal ligament

pulseless electrical activity

percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy

porcelain fused to metal (crown)

Plaque Index

porcelain jacket crown

premolar

past medical history

polymethylmethacrylate

per orum (by mouth)

parts per million

per rectum

preventive resin restoration

pass urine

four times daily

relative analgesia

recurrent aphthous stomatitis

red blood cell count

randomized controlled clinical trial

retruded contact position

root canal treatment/therapy

radiologically inserted gastrostomy

resin-modified glass ionomer cement

retrograde root filling

treatment

subcutaneous

squamous cell carcinoma

second

sugar free

systemic lupus erythematosus

species

stainless steel

sexually transmitted diseases

tuberculosis

tungsten carbide

thrice daily

transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation

total iron binding capacity

titanium molybdenum alloy

temporomandibular joint

temporomandibular pain dysfunction syndrome

tissue necrosis factor

tender to percussion

upper labial segment

upper removable appliance

upper respiratory tract infection

ultrasound (scan)

urinary tract infection

urea and electrolytes

ventricular fibrillation

crossbite

either X-ray beam or radiographs

year

zinc oxide eugenol