Veterinary Dentistry & Oral Anatomy – Vocabulary Review

Collection of key vocabulary terms and concise definitions covering tooth anatomy, numbering, periodontal structures, species differences, and preventative oral care from the lecture notes.

What is the Triadan No. for maxillary Carnassial Tooth

The upper fourth premolar (Triadan 108/208) in carnivores, adapted for shearing flesh.

What is the Triadan No. for mandibular Carnassial Tooth

The lower first molar (Triadan 309/409) in carnivores, forms the main shearing pair with the maxillary carnassial.

Which cranial nerve provides sensory innervation to all teeth and oral mucosa.

Trigeminal Nerve (CN V)

What are deciduous Teeth

Primary teeth that erupt first and are later shed and replaced by permanent teeth.

What are permanent Teeth

Secondary dentition that replaces deciduous teeth and remains for life.

What is a Diastema

Natural gap between the canine teeth and cheek teeth, common in herbivores.

Cheek Teeth

Collective term for premolars and molars used for grinding food.

What are the properties of Enamel

Hardest, avascular, brittle tissue covering the crown; cannot regenerate once formed.

What are the properties of Dentine

Bulk of the tooth; sensitive, avascular tissue produced throughout life by odontoblasts.

Tertiary Dentine

Rapidly produced dentine laid down in response to trauma or wear.

what are the properties of Cementum

Bone-like tissue covering the root (and crown in hypsodonts); anchors periodontal ligament.

Mesial Surface

Side of a tooth facing rostral, or toward the midline in the canine and incisors.

Distal Surface

Side of a tooth facing opposite form rostral or caudal surface of tooth and mouth, or away from midline for canine and incisors.

Apical directional term referring to?

Direction toward the root apex (bottom of root) of a tooth.

Coronal directional term

Direction toward the crown tip of a tooth.

Occlusal Surface

Chewing or contact surface of premolars and molars.

Vestibular / Buccal / Labial

Surface of a tooth facing the lips or cheek. Buccal for molars and premolars, labial for incisors and canines.

Lingual Surface

Surface of a mandibular tooth facing the tongue.

Palatal Surface

Surface of a maxillary tooth facing the palate.

Brachydont

Tooth type with a short crown and closed root; seen in dogs and cats.

Hypsodont

High-crowned tooth with prolonged eruption; typical of horses and ruminants.

Radicular Tooth

Tooth that eventually forms a true root and stops erupting.

Aradicular Tooth

Rootless tooth that grows and erupts continuously (e.g., rabbit incisors).

Reserve Crown

Portion of a hypsodont tooth remaining below the gingiva, replacing worn crown over time.

Anisognathic Jaw

Condition where upper jaw is wider than lower jaw; evident in horses and cattle.

What is the Wolf Tooth

Vestigial first premolar in horses; often absent or extracted for performance.

What is the Tush

Equine canine tooth, more prominent in males than mares. May not be present at all

Dental Pad

Keratinised, toothless pad in upper jaw of ruminants and camelids replacing incisors.

Fighting Teeth

Sharp canines and incisors used for aggression in camelids.

Peg Teeth

Vestigial second maxillary incisors located behind primary incisors in rabbits.

Needle Teeth

Sharp deciduous third incisors and canines in piglets that may injure the sow or littermates.

Tusk

Continuously growing canine tooth of adult boars.

Periodontium

Supporting structures surrounding a tooth: gingiva, periodontal ligament, cementum, alveolar bone.

Periodontal Ligament

Fibrous connective tissue anchoring the cementum to alveolar bone, allowing slight movement.

Alveolar Bone

Bone forming the tooth socket (alveolus); shows as lamina dura on radiographs.

Lamina Dura

Radiopaque line representing the cribriform plate on dental radiographs.

Gingiva

Mucosal tissue—"gums"—forming a cuff around teeth and covering alveolar bone.

Gingival Sulcus

Shallow groove between tooth and free gingiva; measured during periodontal probing.

Periodontal Probing

Technique using a graduated probe to measure sulcus depth and assess periodontal health.

Pulp Cavity

Central soft tissue space in a tooth containing nerves, vessels, and lymphatics.

Root Canal

Portion of the pulp cavity within the root, leading to the apex.

Calculus (Tartar)

Mineralised plaque firmly attached to tooth surfaces.

Gingivitis

Reversible inflammation of gingiva, earliest stage of periodontal disease.

Periodontal Disease

Progressive inflammatory condition leading to destruction of periodontium and tooth loss.

Aradicular Hypsodont

Continuously growing, rootless high-crown dentition seen in rabbits and many rodents.

Radicular Hypsodont

High-crown tooth that eventually develops a root, typical of equine cheek teeth.

Reserve Crown Wear Rate

Approximate annual tooth wear of 2-3 mm in equine cheek teeth, balanced by eruption.

Lamina Propria (Gingival)

Connective tissue layer beneath gingival epithelium providing vascular supply.

Hooked Roots

Curved tooth roots visible on radiographs, complicating extractions.