Dental Insurance Glossary: S

Scaling
Removal of plaque, calculus, and stain from teeth.
Service Description
A description of the services performed.
Sextant
One of the six relatively equal sections into which a dental arch can be divided, for example: tooth numbers 1-5; 6-11; 12-16; 17-21; 22-27; 28-32. Sometimes used for recording periodontal charting.
Sialodochoplasty
Surgical procedure for the repair of a defect and/or restoration of portion of a salivary gland duct.
Sialography
Inspection of the salivary ducts and glands by radiograph after the injection of a radiopaque medium.
Sialolithotomy
Surgical procedure by which a stone within a salivary gland or its duct is removed, either intraorally or extraorally.
Site
A term used to describe a single contiguous area, position, or locus. A single site is an area of communication that may involve adjacent teeth. All non-communicating areas are single sites.
Splint
A device used to support, protect, or immobilize oral structures that have been loosened, replanted, fractured, or traumatized. Also refers to devices used in the treatment of temporomandibular joint disorders.
Stomatitis
Inflammation of the membranes of the mouth.
Stress Breaker
That part of a tooth-borne and/or tissue-borne prosthesis designed to relieve the abutment teeth and their supporting tissues from harmful stresses.
Study Model
Plaster or stone model of teeth and adjoining tissues; also referred to as diagnostic cast.
Summary of Benefits
An overview of how the total charges were considered in processing the claim.
Surfaces
These codes are used to represent all possible tooth surfaces:

B = Buccal or facial
O = Occlusal
M = Mesial
D = Distal
I = Incisal
L = Lingual
Suture
Stitch used to repair incision or wound.