Dental and oral anatomy

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering dental and oral anatomy, tooth development, tissue structures, dentition types, supporting structures, salivary glands, muscles of mastication, and nerve supply based on the Foundations Handout 5.

Dental and oral anatomy

The study of the basic structures, surfaces, and terminology of the mouth and teeth.

Dental lamina

The dental arch in which the teeth form during development.

Alveolar bone

A specialist bone in the jaws that surrounds and supports the roots of the teeth; it resorbs when a tooth is lost.

Deciduous teeth

The first set of teeth that start to form at $6\,\text{weeks}$ after conception (about $42\,\text{days}$).

Permanent teeth

The second set of teeth that start to form when a developing baby is $20\,\text{weeks}$ old.

Enamel

The translucent, outer protective covering of the tooth crown; it is the most highly mineralised and strongest tissue in the body, consisting of $96\,\%\text{inorganic}$ and $4\,\%\text{organic}$ matter.

Enamel prisms

Microscopic, solid, calcified rods made of hydroxyapatite crystals that intertwine to give strength to enamel.

Interprismatic cement

A substance found between enamel prisms made of organic material including keratinized cells; it is weaker than the prisms and prone to fracturing.

Amelo-dentinal junction (ADJ)

The meeting point where the enamel and the dentine of a tooth join.

Dentine

Tough, slightly elastic yellowish tissue that forms the bulk of the tooth; it consists of $70\,\%\text{inorganic}$ and $30\,\%\text{organic}$ matter and contains sensitive dentinal tubules.

Dentinal tubules

Microscopic, hollow tubes running from the pulp to the enamel that contain living cell processes (dentine fibrils) and nerves.

Primary dentine

The type of dentine formed before tooth eruption that makes up the bulk of the tooth.

Secondary dentine

Dentine that is slowly laid down after eruption throughout life, which gradually closes the pulp chamber.

Tertiary dentine

A small, local deposit of dentine formed on the pulp chamber wall in response to irritation like attrition, erosion, or caries.

Dental pulp

The center of the tooth containing nerve tissue, blood supply, and connective tissues which provide nourishment and sensitivity.

Coronal pulp

The part of the dental pulp located within the crown of the tooth, including pulp horns.

Radicular pulp

Also known as root pulp, the part of the dental pulp located within the root section of a tooth.

Odontoblasts

A continuous layer of cells found at the junction of dentine and pulp that form dentine during development and throughout life.

Apical foramen

The small opening at the tip of the tooth root through which blood vessels and nerves enter the tooth.

Cementum

A thin, light yellow calcified layer covering the root dentine which helps attach the periodontal ligament; it consists of $45\,\%\text{inorganic}$ and $55\,\%\text{organic}$ matter.

Cementoenamel junction (CEJ)

The anatomical landmark at the neck of the tooth where the cementum meets the enamel.

Incisors

Teeth with a single, thin blade-like cutting edge used for biting food with a scissor-like action.

Canines

Also called eye teeth, these are pointed teeth located at the corners of the mouth used for gripping and tearing food.

Premolars

Also known as bicuspids (two cusps), these teeth are not found in the deciduous dentition and work with molars to chew food.

Molars

Teeth with flat, broad biting surfaces designed to crush and grind food; upper molars have $3\,\text{roots}$ and lower molars have $2\,\text{roots}$.

Cusp of Carabelli

An additional cusp (the $5th\,\text{cusp}$) often found on the first permanent upper molars.

Periodontium

The collection of supporting tissues for the teeth, including the gingiva, cementum, alveolar bone, and periodontal membrane.

Attached gingiva

Firm, pink, stippled gum tissue that is tightly attached to the underlying bone by collagen fiber bundles.

Gingival crest

The natural crevice or pocket where the gingiva sits over the crown unattached; it is less than $2\,\text{mm}$ in a healthy state.

Lamina dura

A layer of dense compact bone lining the tooth sockets that appears as a whitish line on dental radiographs.

Periodontal ligament

Non-elastic collagen fibers that connect the cementum to the alveolar bone, containing liquid that acts as a shock absorber.

Parotid gland

The largest major salivary gland, located near the ear, which delivers saliva via Stensen’s duct and produces $25\,\%\text{of daily saliva}$.

Sublingual gland

The smallest major salivary gland, located in the floor of the mouth, which delivers sticky saliva via the ducts of Bartholine/Ravinus and produces $5\,\%\text{of daily saliva}$.

Submandibular gland

The middle-sized salivary gland located below the molar teeth that delivers saliva via Wharton’s duct and produces $70\,\%\text{of daily saliva}$.

Ptyalin

Also known as salivary amylase, an enzyme in saliva that begins the digestion of cooked starches.

Lysozyme

An antibacterial enzyme in saliva that helps maintain a healthy balance of bacteria and aids healing.

Acid attack

The period after eating (lasting $20\,\text{minutes}$ to $2\,\text{hours}$) when the mouth's pH drops and demineralisation of enamel occurs.

Remineralisation

The healing process where natural elements from saliva enter demineralised enamel to repair damage once pH returns to neutral ($\text{pH}\,6.8$).

Temporal muscle

A fan-shaped muscle of mastication originating in the temporal fossa that elevates and draws the mandible backwards.

Masseter muscle

A quadrilateral muscle of mastication originating from the zygomatic arch that elevates the mandible.

Medial pterygoid muscle

A four-sided muscle of mastication that raises the mandible and protrudes the chin.

Lateral pterygoid muscle

A cone-shaped muscle of mastication that moves the condyloid forwards/inwards for chewing, protrudes the chin, and depresses the mandible to open the mouth.

Buccinator muscle

A muscle of facial expression in the cheek that presses against the teeth during chewing to prevent food from being trapped in the buccal vestibule.

Mandible

The single, largest, and strongest bone of the facial skeleton which forms the lower jaw and supports the mandibular teeth.

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ)

The hinge-like jaw joint formed by the condyloid process, articular eminence, glenoid fossa, and a protecting meniscus disc.

Maxillary nerve

The nerve that carries sensory fibers for the teeth of the upper dental arch through its anterior, middle, and posterior superior branches.

Inferior dental nerve

The nerve that supplies all lower teeth; it enters the mandible through the mandibular foramen and branches into the mental nerve.

Lingual nerve

The nerve that supplies the lingual aspect of all lower teeth, the floor of the mouth, and the anterior two-thirds of the tongue.