oral anatomy (intro

enamel

this is the hardest tissue in the human body, covering the crown of the tooth. It is inert, accellular, and formed from the ectoderm. It is supported by underlying dentin

dentin

it is less calcified, more resilient, vital, hard tissue forming the main bulk of the tooth. It is formed and supported by the dental pulp. In crown portion, it is covered by the enamel and in the root portion, it is covered by the cementum

dentinoenamel junction

this is the junction between enamel and dentin

cementum

this is the less mineralized tissue of the tooth, covering the radicular portion of the tooth.

cementoenamel junction

this is the junction between enamel and cementum it is also known as cervical line

pulp

this is the soft, connective tissue in the central part of the tooth enclosed by dentin.

pulp chamber

this is the pulp cavity in the crown part

root canal

this is the part of the pulp that is nestled in the roots of the tooth

periodontium

this is the tissues including the periodontal ligament, cementum, and alveolar bone which support the teeth in jaws

periodontal ligament

the tooth is anchored to the socket of bone by this part of the periodontium

alveolar bone

this is the part of the jaw bone which supports the tooth

primary/deciduous/milk dentition

this is the dentition that has 20 teeth in total, 10 teeth in each jaw, 5 in each quadrant, starts erupting at 6 months of age and continues to erupt up to 2.5-3 years

secondary/permanent/succedaneous dentition

this is the dentition that has 32 teeth in total, 16 in each jaw, 8 in each quadrant, starts erupting at 6 years of age, 28 teeth erupt by the age of 13 years, and the remaining 4 teeth appear between 18-25 years old

stage of primary dentition

this stage of dentition lasts for 6 months to 6 years of age and only deciduous teeth are present in this phase

stage of mixed dentition

this stage of dentition lasts from ages 6 to 13 years of age, both deciduous and permanent teeth are present in the oral cavity

stage of permanent dentition

this is the stage of dentition that lasts from age 13 onwards, only permanent teeth are present and the permanent teeth replace deciduous teeth except permanent molars which do not have any deciduous predecessors

maxillary

this is used to describe the upper arch

mandibular

this is used to describe the lower arch

incisors

there are two of these in each quadrant of jaws, they are flat, have cutting edges and are delicate

canines

there is one of these in each quadrant of jaws; they have sharp pointed cusps and are strong, and are also known as cuspids, they are meant for piercing or tearing.

anterior teeth

the eight incisors and four canines together are known as this anatomical group of teeth

premolars

there is two of these in each quadrant and they replace deciduous molars, they generally have to cusps and are also known as bicuspids, they are present only in the permanent dentition

molars

there are two deciduous and three permanent ones of this type of tooth in each quadrant, the permanent ones do not have deciduous predecessors, they are large and strong, have broad surfaces designed for grinding and are situated farthest back in the mouth.

posterior teeth

the 8 premolars and 12 molars together are known anatomically as these teeth

central incisors

these are the incisors closest to the midline

lateral incisors

these are the incisors that are situated distally next to the centeral incisors

dental formula

this is used in the clinic to simplify tooth identification

zsigmondy’s method or palmers notation

this is the oldest method of numbering teeth, is used in most countries for its simplicity, but has many potential sources of errors regarding noting sides

universal system

this is the tooth numbering system that is less liable to make mistakes but needs more practice for quick and correct notation

FDI system

this is also known as the two digit system, and is most suitable for computer handling, the first number indicated the quadrant and the second digit indicated the individual tooth within the quadrant

oral anatomy

this is the study of the structures within the oral cavity related to dental medicine, I.e. teeth mucosa and the glands that actively cooperate with these

dental anatomy

the study of the structure, function, and development of teeth, including both primary (baby) and permanent teeth

dentition

this pertains to the development of teeth and their arrangement in the mouth

dentition

refers to the arrangement, type, and number of teeth in an individual's mouth, encompassing both primary (baby) and permanent teeth

incisor

a narrow-edged tooth at the front of the mouth, adapted for cutting. In humans there are four incisors in each jaw.

cuspid

a tooth with a single cusp or point; a canine tooth

bicuspid

also known as premolars, are a type of permanent tooth located between the canines (cuspids) and molars in the back of the mouth.

5

the amount of cusps typically on a 1st molar

4

the amount of cusps typically on a 2nd molar

3

the amount of cusps typically on a 3rd molar

2

the amount of cusps typically on a maxillary premolar/bicuspid

3

the amount of cusps typically on a mandibular premolar/bicuspid

molar

a grinding tooth at the back of a mammal's mouth.

bolus

a small round soft mass, esp of chewed food

homodont

means having teeth that are all the same shape and size

heterodont

is an animal that possesses different types of teeth, each with a specific function

monophyodont

refers to an animal that has only one set of teeth throughout its life

diphyodont

refers to the dental pattern where an organism develops two sets of teeth during its lifetime: a temporary set (milk teeth or deciduous teeth) and a permanent set that replaces the temporary one

polyphyodont

is any animal whose teeth are continually replaced

mandible

this is the hinged jaw or jawbone and is defined as the lower jawbone in animals and fishes

maxilla

this is defined as the upper jaw in vertebrates. This also includes extraoral loci such as the nose and eye socket

premaxilla

this is a paired bone located in the front of the upper jaw of vertebrates, positioned between and in front of the maxillae

dentition

this is the arrangement or condition of the teeth in a particular species or individual

primary or deciduous dentition

this is the type of dentition present in diphyodonts that serves as the first set of teeth that erupts in a child’s mouth

permanent or secondary dentition

this is the type of dentition present in diphyodonts that serves as the final set of teeth that is fully present usually by thirteen years of age

succedaneous dentition

this is the type of dentition that “succeeds” or replaces another set. In diphyodonts like humans, this is also known as their permanent or secondary dentition

dental arch

this refers to the curve or “arched” arrangement of teeth on the maxilla or mandible

midline

this is also referred to as the median line as it serves as the imaginary line dividing the body (or in a dental setting the mouth) into right and left equal halves

quadrant

these are the determined sections of the mouth (upper and lower right and left) that organizes the mouth for the dental clinician to make treatment plans, chart conditions, and describe procedures.

alveolus

this is also known as the “tooth socket” and is a bony socket within the jawbone that supports the teeth

anterior

in general this refers to a part of the body that is “front oriented”, in dentistry this refers to the anterior teeth namely the incisors and canines

posterior

in general this refers to a part of the body that is “back oriented”, in dentistry this refers to the posterior teeth namely the premolars and molars

superior

in general this refers to a part of the body that is “above”, in dentistry this could reder to the maxilla or any area above a specified region.

inferior

in general this refers to a part of the body that is “below”, in dentistry this could refer to the mandible or any area below a specified region

concave

these are surfaces that curve inward, in dentistry this can include pits and fissures

convex

these are surfaces that curve outward, in dentistry this can include parts like buccal surfaces or cusps.

angle

a line or a point where two or more surfaces or borders meet is called this

line angle

an angle formed by the meeting of two surfaces and the name of such is derived from both the surfaces (e.g. distolingual-angle)

point angle

the point of junction of 3 surfaces is called this, and the name is derived from all three surfaces e.g. mesiolinguoincisal angle

apex

the terminal end or tip of the root of a tooth

apical

this means towards the end of the root of a tooth

apical foramen

this is the opening of the pulp canal at the apical and of the root of a tooth, and at this region the pulp is not surrounded by dentin

axial

this means it is pertaining to the longitudinal axis of the tooth

axial surface

this is the surface that is parallel to the long axis of the tooth

axial wall

it is any wall of the pulp chamber which is parallel to the long axis of the tooth

axial angles

these are ethe line angles that are parallel to the long axis of the teeth e.g. distobuccal/mesiolingual

axial root center

it is an imaginary line passing through the geometric center of a tooth root parallel to its long axis

buccal

this means it is related to the cheek

buccal

it is the surface of posterior tooth facing the cheek

centroenamel junction

it is the junction on the surface of the tooth where enamel meets the cementum

cervix

it is a narrow or constricted portion of a tooth in the region of the junction of crown and root

cervical line

it is a curved line formed by the junction of enamel and cementum of a tooth

cingulum

it is a bulbous convexity on the cervical third of the lingual surface of an anterior tooth, the convexity of which resembles a girdle encircling the lingual surface at the cervical third

contact point

it is an area on the proximal surfaces of two adjacent teeth on the same arch that come in contact with each other

height of contour

this is the greatest area of circumference of the crown

clinical crown

it is the part of the tooth which is visible in the oral cavity

anatomical crown

it is the type of crown or part of the tooth which is covered by enamel

crypt

it is the cavity in the alveolar bone that contains the developing tooth germ

cusp

it is a pronounced elevation on the occlusal surface of a tooth terminating in a conical or rounded surface and has an independent center of calcification

dentition

is is the type, number, and arrangement of the teeth

diastema

it is the space between two adjacent anterior teeth in the same arch

distal

this means away from the midline

distal surface

the surface of the tooth away from the median line following the curve of the dental arch

embrasure

this is also known as the spillway spaces that are the triangular-shaped spaces adjacent to the contact points of the teeth

fissure

it is a cleft or crevice in a tooth surface due to imperfect fusion of the enamel of adjoining cusps or lobes

fossa

it is a rounded or angular depression on the surface of a tooth

lingual fossa

it is a broad and shallow depression on the lingual surface of an incisor or canine

cental fossa

it is a relatively broad, deep, and angular depression in the central portion of the occlusal surface of a molar

triangular fossa

it is a comparatively shallow pyramid-shaped depression on the occlusal surfaces of posterior teeth located within the confines of the mesial/distal marginal ridges and triangular ridges of adjacent

grooves

it is a shallow linear depression on the surface of a tooth