Laminate Veneer – thin material, generally tooth-colored, used to cover the front of a healthy tooth to restore the appearance from discoloration, damage, misalignment, or other such cosmetic issues

Laughing Gas – a common term used for nitrous oxide, an odorless gas that produces a mild sedative effect when inhaled

Lesion – tissue injury, generally due to trauma, infection, or illness

Ligation – the process of attaching an archwire to braces in orthodontic treatment

Ligature – thin wire used to hold the archwire in the bracket in orthodontic treatment

Lingual – refers to area or surface on or around the tongue, opposite of facial

Lip Bumper – archwire attached to a piece of molded plastic, holds back molars of lower jaw to provide more space for the other teeth

Local Anesthesia – medication used to block nerve impulses to provide partial or complete elimination of pain during treatment