Dental science vocabularies

mixed dentition

the stage at which a child has both primary and permanent teeth

eruption

teeth break through the gums and are visible

exfoliation

to shed, how the deciduous teeth are lost

resorption

a natural process, which the roots of the primary teeth “dissolve away”

succedaneous

the permanent teeth which come afyer or follow; to succeed

enamel

hardest tissue of the body, covers the dentin layer, 95-98% inorganic matter

dentin

located underneath the enamel and cementum, surrounds the pulp caivty, makes up the bulk of the tooth, 70% inorganic matter

dentino-enamel junction (DEJ)

the point where the dentin and enamel join

cementum

covers the root of the tooth, CEJ, hard tissue most similar to bone, 50% organic matter

pulp

living soft connective tissue made up of blood vessels and nerves, fills the pulp chambers and canals

pulp cavity

area in the middle of the tooth that contains the pulp; consists of pulp canals, pulp horn, and pulp chamber

clinical crown

portion of the tooth above the gingiva

clinical root

portion of the tooth below the gingiva

anatomic crown

portion of the tooth covered in enamel

anatomic root

portion of the tooth covered in cementum

apex of the tooth

the very end of the root, comes to a point

apical foramen

opening in the end of the root

periodontium

structures that surround, support, and are attached to the teeth: gingiva, alveolar bone, periodontal ligament, cementum

gingiva

the gum tissue, covers the alveolar bone and surrounds the neck of the tooth

gingival sulcus

the open space between the free gingiva and the tooth

free gingival groove

separates the free gingiva from the attached gingiva

junctional epithelium (JE or epithelial attachment)

site where the gingiva attaches to the tooth

alveolar process (bone)

the bony area which surrounds and supports the teeth

alveolus

the bony socket that holds the teeth together, if a tooth is extracted this is the hole that’s left

periodontal ligament

fibrous attachment of the tooth to the bone embedded into the cementum

morphology

the science of form and structure of the human teeth

cingulum

a bulge or prominence of enamel, located on cervical third of anterior teeth only on the lingual surface

mamelon

rounded or conical prominence on incisal surface of incisor teeth only (3 in number)

fossa

depression either rounded or angular of varying size on occlusal surface and lingual surface of anterior teeth

cusp

a pronounced elevation terminating in a conical or rounded surface found on the occlusal surface

cusp of carabelli

fifth non-functional cusp, maxillary first molar only located on lingual surface

lobe

a developmental segment of the tooth, they fuse to form a groove

developmental groove

formed by the union of two lobes usually on the occlusal surface but may extend over

supplemental groove

indistinct linear depression on occlusal surface as  a wrinkled appearance

pit

deep indentation when two fissures cross either on lingual or occlusal surface

marginal ridge

elevated crest of enamel forms the mesial and distal margins

furcation

the area between the roots of the multi-rooted tooth

incisors

cingulum, mamelons present on newly erupted teeth, incisal edge

cuspids/canines

longest and most stable teeth in the mouth, one root, canine eminence

bicuspids/premolars

two or more cusps, maxillary first premolar are two rooted and maxillary second-mandibular first-mandibular second is one rooted

molars

largest and strongest teeth in the mouth, three to five cusps, two to three rooted

third molars

lots of variation; short fused roots

linea alba

white line of tissue where teeth bite together (occlude)

frenum

a narrow band of tissue that connects two structures

eruption process

the process through which the forming tooth comes into and tries to maintain occlusion

attrition

the wearing away of the incisal or occlusal surfaces

edentulous

begins when all teeth are lost or nonexistent

occlusion

the relationship between the upper and lower teeth when they meet in normal contact

alignment

arranged in a row

horizontal alignment

the tongue, lip, and cheek muscles balance each other out and alignment of the teeth reaches a state of equilibrium

vertical alignment

teeth are not naturally set in the bone straight up and down

centric occlusion

refers to the position of the teeth; the buccal cusps of the mandibular premolars and molars rest in the deepest part of the occlusal surface of the maxillary premolars and molars

overjet

the horizontal overlap of the anterior teeth

overbite

the vertical overlap of the anterior teeth

openbite

when the jaws close together and the posterior teeth touch and the anterior teeth do not touch; cause by thumb sucking and tongue thrusting

anterior crossbite

maxillary incisors are positioned lingually to mandibular incisors

posterior crossbite

maxillary posterior teeth are positioned lingually to the mandibular posterior teeth

Class I

neutrocclusion; the mesiobuccal cusp of the maxillary 1st molar is directly in line with the buccal groove of the mandibular 1st molar

Class II

distocclusion; the maxillary 1st molar is even with or anterior to the mandibular first molar

Class II, Division I

the permanent first molars are in class II and the permanent maxillary incisors are normal (slightly protruded)

Class II, Division II

the permanent first molars are in class II and the permanent maxillary central incisors are located lingual to the maxillary lateral incisors

Class III

mesiocclusion, the buccal groove of the mandibular 1st molar is more anterior to the mesiobuccal cusp of the maxillary first molar