Dentistry · Oral & Dental · Medium

Fluorosis

Meaning: Mottling or white streaking of tooth enamel caused by too much of a decay-preventing mineral during tooth development.

In practice: Mild dental fluorosis appeared as faint white flecks on the child's incisors.

Word parts

  • -osis means an abnormal condition or process

Many medical words are built from Greek and Latin parts like these, so learning a few helps you work out new terms.

Quick check

Two questions on related dentistry words.

Which word means: Dental radiograph showing the crowns of upper and lower back teeth together, used to detect decay.

Which word means: Custom-made restoration that covers one or more cusps of a back tooth, between a filling and a crown.

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Related words

More dentistry terms · All medical words