dental anatomy

What are the four types of teeth in the oral cavity?

Incisors, Canines, Premolars, and Molars.

What is the term for the baby teeth?

Deciduous teeth.

What structures comprise the periodontium?

Gingival tissue, periodontal ligaments, and the alveolar bone.

What is occlusion?

The way the upper and lower teeth meet when closing the jaws.

What is the hardest substance in the human body?

Enamel.

What type of dentin continues to form throughout the life of the tooth?

Secondary dentin.

What is the role of periodontal ligaments?

Connect the tooth to the underlying bone and allow minor movement.

What is the function of incisors?

To cut food.

What do we call the junction where the enamel and dentin meet?

Dentinoenamel junction (DEJ).

What surface of the tooth faces the tongue?

Lingual surface.

What is the purpose of the cementum?

To cover the root of the tooth and attach it to the alveolar bone.

What is the name given to the tissue that surrounds the teeth?

Gingiva.

What are the two divisions of attached gingiva?

Free gingiva and attached gingiva.

How many permanent teeth are there in the human mouth?

32 permanent teeth.

Define malocclusion.

A dentition that is not aligned in a normal functional relationship.

What is the function of molars?

To grind food.

What is the primary function of canines?

To tear food.

What do we call the small projection of tissue between adjacent teeth?

Interdental papillae.

What type of surface is the occlusal surface?

The chewing surface of posterior teeth.

Where is the region known as the mucogingival junction?

The area where the mucosa meets the attached gingiva.

What are the layers that make up a tooth?

Enamel, Dentin, Cementum, and Pulp.

What is the term for the space between two adjacent teeth?

Interproximal space.

What is the purpose of the fossa in the anatomical structure of a tooth?

A shallow depression in the tooth.