replacement vs repair describes two ways dentists manage an existing filling, crown, or other restoration that has a problem. Replacement means removing the old restoration and placing a new one. Repair means keeping most of the restoration and correcting only the damaged or defective area. It is commonly discussed when a filling chips, a margin stains, a crown edge opens, or decay is suspected around an old restoration.

re-seal is a dental term commonly used to describe reapplying a thin resin material to restore a protective “seal” on a tooth surface or along a restoration edge. It is often associated with maintaining or repairing pit-and-fissure sealants on chewing surfaces of back teeth. It can also refer to sealing small defects, margins, or early wear areas on existing resin restorations. The exact meaning can vary by clinician, product name, and clinical situation.

sealant repair is the process of fixing a dental sealant that has partially worn, chipped, or detached. It typically involves adding new sealing material to restore coverage in pits and fissures (tiny grooves) on chewing surfaces. It is commonly used on molars and premolars, especially where a sealant was placed previously. The goal is to re-establish a protective barrier without always removing and replacing the entire sealant.

staining crack lines describes dark or colored lines that appear where tiny cracks or “craze lines” exist in tooth enamel. The color comes from pigments (for example, from foods, drinks, or tobacco) lodging in or along these microcracks. Clinically, the term is also used when discussing cosmetic or restorative methods to reduce how noticeable these lines look. It is most commonly discussed in aesthetic dentistry, routine exams, and treatment planning for front teeth.

A bite test is a short-term, tooth-colored restoration placed to help evaluate biting-related symptoms. It is most often used when a tooth hurts on chewing and the cause is not yet fully confirmed. Clinicians commonly use it in cracked-tooth and cusp-fracture workups to see how symptoms change. It can also provide temporary protection while planning a longer-lasting restoration.

transillumination is a dental viewing technique that shines a bright light through a tooth to help reveal internal changes. It works by highlighting differences in how healthy enamel and dentin transmit and scatter light compared with cracks or decay. Dentists most commonly use it during routine exams and cavity detection, especially between teeth. It can also support evaluation of cracks, existing fillings, and some soft-tissue findings, depending on the device.

crack detection is the clinical process of finding and confirming cracks in teeth or restorations. It commonly uses visual inspection plus tools such as magnification, special lighting, bite tests, and dental imaging. It helps explain symptoms like sharp pain on biting or temperature sensitivity when a crack is present but not obvious. It is used in routine checkups, emergency visits, and before repairing or replacing fillings and crowns.

An electric pulp test is a dental test that applies a small electrical stimulus to a tooth. It checks whether the tooth’s pulp (the nerve and blood vessel tissue inside) can respond to stimulation. It is commonly used during examinations for tooth pain, suspected nerve inflammation, or before/after endodontic (root canal) treatment. It provides one piece of information that dentists combine with symptoms, X-rays, and other tests.

cold test is a dental diagnostic procedure that checks how a tooth responds to a brief cold stimulus. It is commonly used to evaluate the dental pulp (the nerve and blood supply inside the tooth) when a patient reports sensitivity or toothache. Dentists use it chairside as part of a broader exam to help identify which tooth is involved and how the pulp may be responding. The result is interpreted alongside symptoms, clinical findings, and imaging when needed.

A pulp sensibility test checks whether a tooth’s nerve can respond to a stimulus such as cold, heat, or a small electrical signal. It is commonly used during dental exams to help investigate tooth pain, deep cavities, or possible pulp irritation. It does not directly measure blood flow inside the tooth. Results are interpreted together with symptoms, X‑rays, and clinical findings.