Health / Dentistry Glossary

Pre-Tax Account: An account in which contributions are subtracted from an employee's pay before withholding income tax and Social Security. This ultimately reduces the account-holder's tax liability, since t . . . View Full Definition

Precertification: The process of obtaining certification from the health plan for routine hospital stays or outpatient procedures. The process involves reviewing criteria for benefit coverage determination.

Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) Plan: A specific type of CIGNA health plan with a national network of physicians. Plan members can visit physicians both in and out of the network, and can visit specialists without a referral. Me . . . View Full Definition

Premolar: Another name for bicuspid.

Prescription Drug: A drug that has been approved by the Federal Food and Drug Administration which can only be dispensed according to physician's prescription order.

Preventive Care: Medical and dental services aimed at early detection and intervention.

Preventive Dentistry: Education and treatment devoted to and concerned with preventing the development of dental disease.

Preventive Treatment: Any action taken by the patient, assisted by the dentist, hygienist, and the office staff that serves to prevent dental or other disease. Sealants, cleanings and space maintainers are exampl . . . View Full Definition

Primary Care: The basic, comprehensive, routine level of health care typically provided by a person's general or family practitioner, internist or pediatrician.

Primary Care Physician (PCP): A physician, usually a family or general practitioner, internist or pediatrician, who provides a broad range of routine medical services and refers patients to specialists, hospitals and oth . . . View Full Definition

Primary Teeth: The first set of teeth that humans get, lasting until the permanent teeth come in. Also referred to as deciduous teeth or baby teeth.

Prophylaxis: The scaling and polishing procedure performed to remove calculus, plaque, and stains from the crowns of the teeth.

Prosthetic Devices: A device that replaces all or a part of the human body because a part of the body is permanently damaged, is absent or is malfunctioning.

Prosthodontics: The dental specialty dealing with the replacement of missing teeth and other oral structures.

Provider: A licensed health care facility, program, agency, physician or health professional that delivers health care services.

Provider Directory: Provider directories are listings of providers who have contracted with a managed care network to provide care to its participants. Participants may refer to the directory to select in-netwo . . . View Full Definition

Provider Network: A panel of providers contracted by a health plan to deliver medical services to the enrollees.

Pterygoid Notch: This notch is located at the pyramidal process of the palatine bone between the pterygoid processes and the maxillary tuberosity. This has been considered a landmark for the distal limit of . . . View Full Definition

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