Study the following
definitions and examples.
1. aware adj., having knowledge
a. I was not aware that flossing my teeth could
prevent a buildup of plaque.
b. My dentist made me aware that I should have
an appointment twice a year.
2. catch up v., to bring up to
date
a. My dentist likes to take time to catch up
before she starts the examination.
b. The dental assistant caught up on her
paperwork in between patients.
3. distraction n., the act of
being turned away from the focus
a. To provide a distraction from the noise,
Luisa's dentist offered her a pair of earphones.
b. My dentist is kind enough to provide
distractions like television, which take my mind off the procedure.
4. encouragement n., inspiration
or support
a. The perfect checkup was certainly
encouragement to keep up my good dental hygiene.
b. Let me offer you some encouragement about
your crooked teeth.
5. evident adj., easily seen or
understood; obvious
a. The presence of a wisdom tooth was not
evident until the dentist started to examine the patient.
b. Unfortunately, his poor dental hygiene is
evident from a distance.
6. habit n., a customary manner
or practice
a. The toddler's father stressed the importance
of tooth-brushing in hopes of establishing a good habit.
b. The patient had a habit of grinding his
teeth during his sleep.
7. illuminate v., to provide or
brighten with light
a. The dark recesses of the mouth can only be
seen clearly when illuminated with a lamp.
b. Let me turn on more lights to properly
illuminate the back teeth.
8. irritate v., to chafe or
inflame, to bother
a. The broken tooth rubbed against my tongue,
irritating it.
b. Hannah's gums are irritated by foods that are
very cold or very hot.
9. overview n., a summary; a
survey; a quick look
a. I did a quick overview of your teeth and they
look in good shape.
b. An overview of your dental records shows a
history of problems.
10. position n., the right or appropriate place
a. Let me tilt your head to a more comfortable
position for you.
b.
The position of the chair can be adjusted to a range of heights.
11. regularly adv., occurring at fixed intervals
a. She brushes
regularly after every meal.
b. I have to remind
my son regularly to brush his teeth.
12. restore v., to bring back to an original condition
a. The cleaning
restored the whiteness of my teeth.
b. I will talk to
my dentist about whether she knows any procedure to restore the parts of my
teeth that I have ground away.