Medical/Dental Terminology Prefixes and Suffixes By Margaret J. Fehrenbach, RDH, MS at www.dhed.net Each individual term has three separate parts called the "root," the "prefix" (before) and the "suffix" (after). Once you know basic root, prefix and suffix words, you will know at least one-third the term. The prefix "tri" in "triangulation" is a good example. The following is an abreviated alphabetical list of commonly encountered medical prefixes and suffixes for the dental professional, along with their meaning, and common dental or medical example. A Prefix/suffix
Meaning
Example(s)
a-, an-
Denotes an absence of
anaerobe
ab-
away from
abfraction
acr(o)-
extremity/topmost
acromegaly
ad-
increase, adherence, motion toward, very
ad-lib
aden(o)-, aden(i)-
of or relating to a gland
pleomorphic adenoma
-aemia
blood condition
anemia
aesthesio-
sensation
anesthesiologist
-al
pertaining to
dental office
alb-
denoting a white or pale color
materia alba
-algia
pain
neuralgia
alg(i)o-
pain
trigeminal neuralgia
an-
not, without
analgesia
ankyl(o)-, ancyl(o)-
denoting something as crooked or bent
ankylosis
ante-
describing something as positioned in front of another thing
antepartum
anti-
describing something as 'against' or 'opposed to' another
antibody
arteri(o)-
pertaining to an artery
arteriosclerosis
arthr(o)-
pertaining to the joints, limbs
arthritis
articul(o)-
joint
articulation
-ary
pertaining to
salivary gland
-ase
enzyme
lactase
-ation
process
bacterial generation
aut(o)-
self, same
autoimmunity
B Prefix/suffix
Meaning
Example(s)