Shifting definitions in dentistry: a source of clinical confusion. A critical review.

OBJECTIVE

Definitions play a pivotal role in scientific disciplines, including dentistry, by providing clarity and precision to the terminology employed. However, over time, definitions are sometimes subject to modification, which can result in communication misunderstandings among clinicians, patients, and third parties. This narrative review aims to present and discuss different patterns of definitional changes.

METHOD AND MATERIALS: Observations regarding changes to established definitions in the dental literature and clinical practice were supplemented by searches of the bibliographic database PubMed.

RESULTS

Three patterns of terminological change of a given term were distinguished: redefinition (eg, 'centric relation'), narrowing (eg, 'centric occlusion'), or broadening (eg, 'bruxism') of established terms.

CONCLUSION

The alteration of established definitions can result in the introduction of inconsistencies in the meanings and connotations of clinically significant terms. This can potentially lead to confusion among individuals who have been familiar with the original definition for an extended period. These changes have the potential to expose patients to various risks and may ultimately call into question the scientific basis of dentistry as a discipline.