The Dentition: Dentition Periods, Surfaces, Occlusion, and Numbering Systems

Vocabulary flashcards covering dentition periods, tooth types and surfaces, occlusion concepts, and tooth numbering systems.

Primary dentition

The first set of 20 teeth in the dental arches; also called deciduous or baby teeth.

Permanent dentition

The set of 32 secondary teeth that replace the primary teeth and remain through adulthood.

Succedaneous teeth

Permanent teeth that replace primary teeth (incisors, canines, and premolars); molars are not succedaneous.

Mixed dentition

The period when both primary and permanent teeth are present, typically between ages 6 and 12.

Non-succedaneous teeth

Teeth that do not replace primary teeth, such as primary molars which are replaced by permanent premolars.

Incisors

Front teeth designed for cutting; typically single-rooted and located at the front of the mouth.

Canines

Cornerstone teeth with long roots, designed for tearing; often the longest and most stable teeth.

Premolars

Teeth between canines and molars; have buccal and lingual cusps; none are present in the primary dentition.

Molars

Large posterior teeth for chewing and grinding; have multiple cusps and roots; differ between maxillary and mandibular arches.

Maxillary arch

Upper jaw and the teeth set in the maxilla; generally immovable relative to each other.

Mandibular arch

Lower jaw and the teeth set in the mandible; movable via the TMJ and opposing the maxillary arch.

Quadrants

Four sections of the arches: maxillary right, maxillary left, mandibular left, and mandibular right.

Sextants

One-sixth portions of the dentition; each arch can be divided into three sextants.

Anterior teeth

Teeth toward the front of the mouth: incisors and canines.

Posterior teeth

Teeth toward the back of the mouth: premolars and molars.

Facial surface (labial/buccal)

Surface of a tooth facing the lips (labial) or the inner cheek (buccal for posterior teeth).

Lingual surface

Surface facing the tongue; for maxillary teeth the palatal surface is a related term.

Incisal surface

Chewing edge of the anterior teeth.

Occlusal surface

Chewing surface of the posterior teeth.

Mesial surface

Tooth surface facing toward the midline.

Distal surface

Tooth surface facing away from the midline.

Proximal surfaces

Adjacent tooth surfaces that are near each other and touch; the contact areas lie on these surfaces.

Interproximal space

The space between adjacent proximal surfaces of teeth.

Contact area

The area on the mesial or distal surface where adjacent teeth touch.

Contact point

The exact spot where two teeth touch each other.

Height of contour

The widest point or bulge on a tooth surface, providing contour to protect gingiva.

Embrasure

Triangular gingival-space between the proximal surfaces of two adjacent teeth.

Line angle

Junction of two tooth surfaces (e.g., mesiobuccal line angle).

Point angle

Junction of three tooth surfaces at a single point.

Occlusion

The relationship of the maxillary and mandibular teeth when the jaws are closed, and the overall tooth-to-tooth relationships during function.

Centric occlusion

The position that produces maximal stable contact between the occluding surfaces.

Functional occlusion

Occlusion during biting and chewing movements; also called physiologic occlusion.

Malocclusion

An abnormal or mispositioned relationship of the teeth when in centric occlusion.

Angle’s classification

A system to describe and classify occlusion based on the relationship of the permanent maxillary first molar.

Class I (neutroclusion)

Ideal mesiodistal relationship with the mesiobuccal cusp of the maxillary first molar occluding with the mesiobuccal groove of the mandibular first molar.

Class II (distoclusion)

Mesiobuccal cusp of the maxillary first molar occludes mesial to the mesiobuccal groove of the mandibular first molar; mandibular arch is distal to the maxillary arch.

Class II Division 1

Maxillary incisors are proclined with the lips usually flat; prominent incisor display.

Class II Division 2

Maxillary incisors inclined lingually or retroclined with possible lateral incisor variation.

Class III (mesioclusion)

Mandible in a mesial relationship to the maxilla; often a prognathic mandible appearance.

Curve of Spee

Anteroposterior curvature of the occlusal plane formed by the maxillary and mandibular arches in occlusion.

Curve of Wilson

Transverse cross-arch curvature of the posterior occlusal plane.

Universal numbering system

Permanent teeth numbered 1–32; primary teeth labeled A–T.

ISO/FDI numbering system

Two-digit system: first digit indicates quadrant, second digit the tooth in the quadrant; globally used.