debridement

  1. Noun.  (medicine) the removal of dead, damaged, or infected tissue to improve the healing potential of the remaining healthy tissue. Often this removal is surgical, but other methods include mechanical, chemical, autolytic, and even maggot therapy.
  2. Noun.  (dentistry) the removal of the dental tartar that has accumulated over teeth, typically done using hand tools and ultrasound instruments.

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This entry was last updated on RefTopia from its source on 3/20/2012.