---
title: "Basic Dental Terminology - Encino Dentistry"
description: "Basic Dental Terminology Appointment Abbreviations: NP – shorthand for New Patient and is when the patient has never been seen by your office before.FMX"
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# Basic Dental Terminology

## Appointment Abbreviations:

- **NP** – shorthand for New Patient and is when the patient has never been seen by your office before.
- **FMX – Full mouth X-rays** – 20 images composed of 16 periapical and 4 bitewing images.
- **BW** – x-rays that show teeth above the gum line and the height of the bone between teeth. Bitewings help diagnose gum disease and cavities between teeth. The bitewing X-ray is placed on the tongue side of your teeth and held in place by biting down on a tab. Normally four bitewings are taken as a set.
- **VBW – Vertical Bitewings** – these are similar to the regular bitewing x-rays but are turned vertically to show more of the teeth and the height of the bone between teeth. With vertical bitewings, typically 7 images are taken as a set.
- **Occlusal** – Occlusal x-rays show the roof or floor of the mouth and are used to find extra teeth, teeth that have not yet broken through the gums, jaw fractures, a cleft palate, cysts, abscesses or growths.
- **PAN** – Panoramic x-rays, just like panoramic photos, are used to take images of your entire mouth area. It shows the position of fully emerged, emerging, and impacted teeth, all in one image.
- **PA**– A periapical (PA) X-ray refers to a single X-ray that is taken to show a specific area of concern.
- **TXP – Treatment Plan** – The dentist’s plan for the patient that outlines exactly what dental services is recommended and in what timeframe

## Hygiene Terminology:

- **Prophy – Prophylaxis** – A “prophy” or “cleaning” is a hygiene service for someone that generally has healthy gums and teeth. Prophylaxis involves removing plaque, calculus & stains from teeth.
- **SRP – Scaling and Root Planing** – (sometimes called a Deep Cleaning or Perio Therapy) is a deep cleaning below the gumline used to treat gum disease. Root planing is a procedure that involves removing tartar, bacteria, and toxic deposits from the root of a tooth, all the way down to where the gum attaches to the tooth.
- **Perio – periodontal disease** (gum disease) – Periodontal disease is an inflammatory disease that affects the soft (gum tissue) and hard structures (bone) that support the teeth.

## Dental Insurance Terms:

- **Balance Billing** – Billing a patient for the difference between the dentist’s actual charge and the amount reimbursed under the patient’s dental benefit plan.
- **Co-Payment** – Beneficiary’s share of the dentist’s fee after the benefit plan has paid.
- **Coverage** – Benefits available to an individual covered under a dental benefit plan.
- **Deductible** – Sometimes referred to as co-insurance is the amount the patient is responsible for paying before services are covered by their insurance plan.