introduction to dental anatomy

Universal Notation System

uses letters and numbers to denote tooth

clinical crown

visible part of tooth above the gum line

Crown to root ratio

ratio of the portion of tooth occlusal to the alveolar crest (crown) vs. the portion of tooth embedded in bone (root)

Root

Part of tooth embedded in the alveolar process and covered by cementum

Apex

tapered end of root tip

Apical Foramen

opening at the root tip

Does enamel have vitality?

No

Can enamel repair itself?

no

can pulp repair itself?

yes

Enamel

Makes up anatomic crown
Hardest material in the human body

What is enamel made of?

Hydroxyapatite enamel rods in a crystalline structure

Dentin

Makes up bulk of tooth (volume)
Covered by enamel on crown and cementum on the root
Not as hard as enamel
Exposed dentin is often sensitive to cold, hot, air, and touch (via dentinal tubules)

Cementum

Covers root of tooth
Overlies the dentin and joins the enamel at the cemento-enamel junction (CEJ)
Primary function is to anchor the tooth to the bony socket with attachment fibers

Dental pulp

Soft, non-mineralized connective tissue
contains Blood vessels, nerves

functions of dental pulp

Formative
Sensory
Nutritive
Defensive/Reparative

Surfaces of teeth

- Lingual
- Buccal/labial/facial
- Medial
- Distal
- Occlusal/incisal

Proximal

Refers to either the mesial or distal surface (surface/side of a tooth next to a neighbor tooth)

Interproximal

"between teeth, or between two proximal surfaces"

contact

the place where two teeth touch (side by side, or top and bottom)