Veterinary Dentistry: Intro

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts from the Veterinary Dentistry notes, including anatomy, dentition, numbering systems, eruption timelines, and charting.

Veterinary dentistry

A veterinary discipline involving consultation, evaluation, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases and conditions of the oral cavity and maxillofacial area, provided by a licensed DVM.

Dental terminology

Terminology based on the teeth and their relationships to each other and to the mouth.

Mesaticephalic

A medium-skull-length head type common in some dogs and cats.

Brachycephalic

A short-headed (short skull) skull type.

Dolichocephalic

A long-headed (long skull) skull type.

Maxilla

The upper jaw bone.

Rugae palatinae

Ridge-like folds on the hard palate.

Incisive papilla

A small projection on the hard palate behind the upper incisors marking the incisive openings.

Hard palate

The bony anterior part of the palate separating the oral and nasal cavities.

Soft palate

The soft tissue posterior portion of the palate that separates the nasopharynx from the oropharynx.

Mandible

The lower jaw bone.

Mandibular symphysis

The joint where the two halves of the mandible fuse; slight mobility can occur in dogs and cats.

Puppy dentition

Total of 28 teeth in a puppy.

Adult dog dentition

Total of 42 teeth in an adult dog.

Kitten dentition

Total of 26 teeth in a kitten.

Adult cat dentition

Total of 30 teeth in an adult cat.

Crown

The visible portion of a tooth above the gingiva.

Enamel

Hard outer tooth layer produced by ameloblasts. Hardest substance in body

Cementoenamel junction

The neck region where enamel meets cementum.

Root

The part of the tooth embedded in the socket.

Apex

The tip or end of the root.

Dentin

Calcified tissue beneath enamel; formed by odontoblasts. Nerve endings

Pulp chamber

Central space within the tooth containing the pulp.

Gingival sulcus

The groove between the tooth and free gingiva. can have a pocket

Gingiva

Gums; the soft tissue surrounding teeth.

Root canal

The canal within the root containing pulp tissue.

Cementum

Calcified tissue covering the tooth root that helps anchor to the periodontal ligament.

Alveolar bone

The bone of the jaw that surrounds and supports teeth.

Periodontal ligament

Fibrous tissue that attaches a tooth to the alveolar bone; part of the attachment apparatus.

Attachment apparatus

Combination of periodontal ligament, cementum, and alveolar bone that stabilizes a tooth.

Deciduous dentition

Primary (baby) teeth; eventually shed to be replaced by permanent teeth.

Permanent dentition

The adult set of teeth.

Mixed dentition

A stage with both deciduous and permanent teeth present.

Exfoliation

Shedding of deciduous teeth to allow eruption of permanent teeth.

Dental formula

Notation showing the number and type of teeth in the mouth; separate for deciduous and permanent dentitions.

Puppy dental formula

2(3/3i, 1/1c, 3/3p) = 28 teeth.

Dog dental formula (adult)

2(3/3I, 1/1C, 4/4P, 2/3M) = 42 teeth.

Kitten dental formula

2(3/3i, 1/1c, 3/2p) = 26 teeth.

Cat dental formula (adult)

2(3/3I, 1/1C, 3/2P, 1/1M) = 30 teeth.

Rule of 4 and 9

• A convention: the canine tooth is always 04

• the first molar is 09

• 104 always upper right canine in any species.

Triadan numbering system

A quadrant-based tooth numbering system used in veterinary dentistry; assigns numbers by position (e.g., right upper, left upper, etc.).

Anatomic numbering

A tooth numbering method using letters for tooth types (I, C, P, M) with uppercase for permanent and lowercase for deciduous teeth.

Quadrant

A section of the mouth used in numbering teeth within the Triadan or anatomic systems.

Eruption table (Table 1.3)

Timeline of when teeth erupt in dogs and cats, for both deciduous and permanent dentitions.

Furcation

The area where a tooth root divides into two or more branches.

Bifurcation

A split into two roots or branches.

Trifurcation

A split into three roots or branches.

Positional terminology

Terms describing tooth positions: labial, buccal, palatal, and lingual (relative to the mouth).

Dental charting

Systematic recording of a patient’s dental history, disease progression, and treatment; also a legal document.

Alveolar mucosa

Mucous membrane covering the alveolar bone, adjacent to gingiva.

Gingival margin

The edge of the gingiva closest to the tooth crown.