Dentistry vet tech prep power pages

apical

direction toward the root

attrition

wearing of the teeth from mastication or teeth rubbing together

buccal

direction toward the root

calculus

calcified plaque which hardens on the tooth and may not be brushed off

Cementum

hard connective tissue covering the tooth root and sometimes the crown

Crown

portion of the tooth that sits above the gum line and is covered in enamel

Dentin

the bulk of the tooth; hard connective tissue made mostly of calcium and collagen

Enamel

the white hard outer layer of the crown (made mostly of calcium)

Endodontics

treatment involving the pulp cavity (i.e. root canal procedure)

Floating

smoothing a horse's teeth with a file (called a float) to rid of sharp edges

Gingiva

mucosa/gums surrounding the teeth

Halitosis

bad breath

Lingual

direction toward the tongue

malocclusion

abnormal position of the teeth

Occlusal

the chewing surface of the tooth, which meets the tooth surface on the opposite jaw

Periodontal ligament

collagen fiber that attaches tooth to the bone and holds the tooth in place

Periodontium

supportive tissues around the tooth, including bone of alveolus, periodontal ligament, cementum, and gingiva

Plaque

a film which accumulates on the tooth made of food, bacteria, cells, and mucin

Pulp

the soft part inside the tooth made of nerves, vessels, odontoblasts, connective tissues and lymphatics

Ranula

a salivary cyst under the tongue

Recession

apical gingival movement away from the tooth crown

Root

lower part of the tooth that is in the alveolus

Stomatits

inflammation of the soft tissues in the mouth

Sulcus

pocket under the gingiva; normal is 0-3 mm, greater than this suggests periodontal disease

Hypsodont (radicular or aradicular)

High-crowned teeth. Seen in horses, cattle, deer (radicular - continuously erupting but not growing);

in rodents, lagomorphs, chinchillas (aradicular - continuously growing)

radicular teeth

continuously errupting but not growing, seen in horses, cattle, and deer

araducular teeth

continuously growing, seen in rodents, lagomorphs (rabbits), and chinchillas

Dog adult dental formula

2 (I3/3 C1/1 P4/4 M2/3) =42

cat adult dental formula

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

cows/sheep/goats adult dental formula

2 (I 0/3 C 0/1 P 3/3 M 3/3) = 32

Horse dental formula

2 (I 3/3 C 0-1/0-1 P 3-4/4 M 3/3) = 36-42 depends if they have canine or wolf teeth

Pig adult dental formula

2 (I 3/3 C 1/1 P 4/4 M 3/3) = 44

Lagomorphs (rabbits) adult dental formula

2 (I 2/1 C 0/0 P 3/2 M 3/3) = 28

Rat/Mouse adult dental formula

2 ( I 1/1 C 0/0 P 0/0 M 3/3) = 16

dental currete

used for subgingival removal of calculus and root planing; can also be used supragingivally; has a rounded back and tip

dental elevator

used for breaking down the periodontal ligament with pressure and leverage

dental luxator

used for breaking down/cutting the periodontal ligament; not used for leverage

Dental extraction forceps

used to extract (pull out) the tooth after the periodontal ligament has been broken down

Dental probe

has a blunted tip; inserted into gingival sulcus to measure pocket depth and evaluate mobility

Dental polisher

removes plaque and smoothes the scaled tooth surface; used with prophy paste and done on slow speed (not faster than 1000 rpm or may cause thermal damage)

Dental scaler

removes plaque and smoothes the scaled tooth surface; used with prophy paste and done on slow speed (not faster than 1000 rpm or may cause thermal damage)

tooth diagram