Vocab Match for Sep 22

Anterior

Forward, toward front of the mouth and the midline

Apical

Towards the root of the tooth; apex of the tooth

Bifurcated

Single tooth with two roots

Buccal

The surface that is facing the cheeks in the back mouth

Caries

Toot decay; chronic infectious disease that damages the enamel of a tooth’s surface

Cementum

Tissue covering the root of the tooth

Cementoenamel junction (CEJ)

Line where the enamel and the cementum of the tooth joint

Cingulum

A small bump near the cervical third of an anterior tooth on the lingual side

Crown

The portion of the tooth above the gumline starting at the cementoenamel junction

Cusp

The top portion of the tooth; the tip or point

Deciduous Teeth

The first set of teeth, also known as primary teeth

Dentin

The tissue of the tooth between the pulp and the enamel and cementum; the majority of the tooth

Dentition

Set of teeth

Dentoenamel junction (DEJ)

Junction where the enamel meets the dentin

Distal

Surface of the tooth away from the midline of the face

Dorsal

The top surface

Embrasure

Space between the teeth that begins at the contact area and widens down toward the gingiva.

Enamel

The tissue covering the crown of the tooth; hardest substance in the body

Epithelial attachment

At the base of the sulcus where the epithelial tissue is attached to the tooth

Facial

Towards the lips or cheeks.

Fissure

A natural groove in the tooth

Fossa

A shallow depression in the tooth

Furcation

In multi-rooted teeth, the area where the roots divide

Gingiva

The tissue that surrounds the teeth; gums

Groove

A depression in the tooth that is narrow and linear

Incisal

Toward the cutting edge of the anterior teeth. This is the end opposite the apex of the tooth

Interdental

Space between two adjacent teeth

Interproximal

Between the adjacent surfaces of two teeth

Keratinized

Firm stippled texture, such as the tissue of the attached ginigva

Labial

Facial side; typically used in reference to the anterior teeth

Lateral

Sides

Lingual

Toward the tongue

Mandibular

Referring to the lower jaw

Maxillary

Referring to the upper jaw

Mesial

Surface of the tooth toward the midline of the face

Midline

An imaginary line that divides the body into equal right and left halves

Mucogingival junction

An area where the mucosa meets the attached gingiva

Occlusal

The chewing surface of the posterior teeth

Occlusion

A term used to define how the upper and lower teeth meet when closing the jaws

Palate

Root of the mouth. Divided into two parts; hard and soft palate

Papillae

A small projection of tissue

Periapical

Around the apex of the tooth

Periodontal ligament

A thin series of fibers that connect the tooth to the bone

Periodontium

The surrounding and supporting strcutures of the teeth

Posterior

Toward the back of the mouth, behind

Pulp

The inner most part of the tooth that contains the blood vessels and nerves

Quadrant

The mouth is divided into 4 quadrants; 2 maxillary and 2 mandibular

Ridge

A rounded, elevated, linear area on the enamel of the tooth. 5 types of ridges; marginal, triangular, oblique, transverse and cingula

Succedaneous

The permanent teeth that replace the 20 primary teeth

Sulcus

The area formed by the free gingiva (non attached) lying next to the tooth. It’s a tough area and also known as the gingiva crevice

Ventral

Toward the bottom surface; the underside of the tongue is also known as the ventral surface