G

G

gate keeper system: A managed care concept used by some alternative benefit plans, in which enrollees select a primary care dentist, usually a general practitioner or pediatric dentist, who is responsible for providing non-specialty care and managing referrals, as appropriate, for specialty and ancillary care.

general anesthesia: See anesthesia.

genetic test:  Laboratory technique used to determine if a person has a genetic condition or disease or is likely to get the disease.

gingiva: Soft tissues overlying the crowns of unerupted teeth and encircling the necks of those that have erupted.

gingivectomy: The excision or removal of gingiva.

gingivitis: Inflammation of gingival tissue without loss of connective tissue.

gingivoplasty: Surgical procedure to reshape gingiva.

glass ionomer: Polyelectrolyte cement in which the solid powder phase is a fluoride-containing aluminosilicate glass powder to be mixed with polymeric carboxylic acid. The cement can be used to restore teeth, fill pits and fissures, lute and line cavities. It is also known as glass polyalkenoate cement, ionic polymer cement, polyelectrolyte cement.

gold foil: Thin pure gold leaf that is self adhering when condensed into a cavity.  One of the oldest restorative techniques, it is compacted or condensed into a retentive cavity form.

graft: A piece of tissue or alloplastic material placed in contact with tissue to repair a defect or supplement a deficiency.

allograft–Graft of tissue between genetically dissimilar members of the same species. Donors may be cadavers, living related or living unrelated individuals.  Also called allogenic graft or homograft.

autogenous graft–Taken from one part of a patient’s body and transferred to another.

guided tissue regeneration (GTR): A surgical procedure that uses a barrier membrane placed under the gingival tissue and over the remaining bone support to enhance regeneration of new bone.