palliative treatment:
    treatment that is designed primarily to reduce or eliminate pain
parasthesia:
    loss of sensation in part of the body
partial:
    removable denture replacing some of the teeth
pedodontics:
    dental specialty focusing on treatment of children

periodontist:

    a specialist who treats the gums and supporting structures of the teeth

permanent teeth:

    the thirty-two adult teeth
pit:
    a small defect in the tooth enamel, usually found on the back teeth
placebo:
    a treatment that works because of the patient's belief in it, not because of the actual physical change it produces
plaque:
    a soft sticky substance that accumulates on teeth; composed largely of bacteria and food substances suspended in saliva
pontic:
    a false tooth mounted on a bridge

porcelain crowns:

    a porcelain cap which covers the crown (that portion above the gumline) of the tooth to repair it or change the shape and/or color
porcelain inlay or onlay:
    a tooth-colored filling, made of porcelain
porcelain veneers:
    a thin layer of porcelain bonded to the front and top of a front tooth to repair or change the color and/or shape
post:
    a thin metal rod inserted into the root of a tooth after root canal therapy; provides retention for a "core" which is a buildup of material that replaces the lost tooth structure
post-core:
    a post and a buildup of material that replaces the lost tooth structure
post-crown:
    single structure that combines post-core and crown
prognosis:
    the probable outcome of treatment
prophylaxis:
    procedure for preserving the health and preventing infection of teeth
prosthesis:
    an artificial replacement for a body part
prosthodontist:
    a dentist who specializes in restoring teeth, replacing missing teeth with bridges and dentures, and maintaining proper occlusion

pulp:

    the nerves, blood vessels and connective tissue inside a tooth
pulp cap:
    a medicated covering over a small area of exposed pulp

pulp chamber:

    the center or innermost portion of the tooth containing the pulp
pulpectomy:
    total removal of the pulp in children's teeth
pulpitis:
    inflammation of the pulp; a common cause of a toothache

pulpotomy:

    partial removal of the pulp
pyorrhea:
    common term for gum disease