• palate – hard and soft tissues that form the roof of the mouth, separating the oral and nasal cavities
• palatal expander – orthodontic device used to widen the upper jaw
• palliative treatment – treatment for the purpose of pain relief only
• panoramic radiograph (x-ray) – radiograph that includes the full upper and lower teeth and jaws as a single flattened image, used for diagnostic purposes
• partial denture – prosthetic device that is used to replace one or more missing teeth, but not the full upper or lower set, may be fixed or removable, also known as a bridge
• pediatric dentist – dental specialist focusing on the dental treatment of infants, children, and adolescents
• pediatric dentistry – dental specialty that focuses on preventive care and treatment for infants, children, and adolescents, including care for special needs patients
• periapical (PA) – area at the end of a tooth root
• pericoronal – area around the crown of a tooth
• peri-implantitis – inflammation of the tissue surrounding a dental implant
• periodontal – refers to the tissues that surround and support the teeth
• periodontal disease – includes gingivitis and periodontitis, inflammation of the periodontal tissues, may include the development of periodontal pockets, bone loss, and tooth loss can be treated but not cured
• periodontal surgery – surgery to treat diseased gum tissue in the mouth
• periodontal pocket – a feature of periodontal disease, pocket-like deformity in the gums at the tooth line
• periodontics – dental specialty focusing on placement of dental implants and the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases that affect the tissues that surround and support the teeth
• periodontist – dental specialist who focuses on placement of dental implants and the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases that affect the tissues that surround and support the teeth
• periodontitis – inflammation of the periodontal tissues, may include the development of periodontal pockets, bone loss, and tooth loss, can be treated but not cured
• permanent teeth – the second and final set of teeth, also known as adult teeth, usually 32 in total
• plaque – soft, sticky substance that can accumulate on teeth, generally made up of food debris and bacteria
• pontic – prosthetic tooth, part of a partial denture/bridge
• post – thin rod that may be inserted into tooth root following root canal treatment, provides support for the tooth structure
• preventive dentistry – aspect of dentistry that focuses on the promotion of good oral hygiene habits to protect oral health and reduce or prevent the development of oral health issues
• prophylaxis – professional cleaning to remove plaque, calculus, and surface stains from tooth structures, helps to prevent tooth decay and periodontal disease
• prosthodontics – dental specialty focusing on the use of prosthetic tooth replacement and restoration of natural teeth
• prosthodontist – dental specialist focusing on the use of prosthetic tooth replacement and restoration of natural teeth
• pulp – connective tissue inside the tooth, contains nerves and blood vessels
• pulp cap – medicated covering placed over the small exposed area of pulp to aid in healing
• pulpectomy – complete removal of tooth pulp
• pulpitis – inflammation of pulp tissue, a common cause of toothaches
• pulpotomy – removal of diseased portion of the pulp, leaving healthy pulp tissue intact