In dentistry: (1) A prosthetic restoration or appliance; a broad term applied to any inlay, crown, bridge, partial denture, or complete denture that restores or replaces lost tooth structure, teeth, or oral tissues. (2) A plug or stopping; any substance (e.g., gold, amalgam) used for restoring the portion missing from a tooth as a result of removing decay in the tooth. [L. restauro, pp. -atus, to restore, to repair]
