Dental Anatomy and Occlusion

Maxilla

upper jaw

mandible

lower jaw

labial

refers to the lips

nasolabial fold

the crease on the sides of nose

vermillion border

the top edge of lips

vermillion

the lips themselves, pink

philtrum

column that is right under nose

cupid’s bow

the fold on the top of lips

Oral commissure

the corder of lips

labiomental crease

under lips and above the chin

Rugae

ridges on the hard palate

palatine raphae

the midline that runs through the hard palate and the soft palate

Palatoglossal arch

the outer curve around the uvula, the more lateral of the two

palatopharyngeal arch

the curve that is closes to the uvula, nearest the throat

uvula

the suspended ball towards the back of throat

Retromolar pad

the area that is behind the third molar

Pterygomandibular raphae

the area where we inject patients, it is close to the third molar

lingual

refers to the tongue

ventral tonge

underside of tonge

lingual frenum

small tissue that secures the tonge

wharton’s duct

thing under the tongue that secretes saliva

Buccal

refers to the cheeks

labial frenum

connective tissue that is right under the lips, inside of the mouth

buccal frenum

connective tissue of the cheek

tubercle

small bump, projection

diastema

A gap between two teeth

Mucosa

the moist, protective tissue lining internal body cavities and organs exposed to the outside environment

Alveolar mucosa

top layer of gum, darker red color

Mucogingical junction

the line between the alveolar mucosa and the attahced gingiva

Attached gingiva

the pinkish gums right above the teeth

Buccal corridor

The visible shadow seen from the outside when you smile

Interdental Papilla

the small, triangular piece of gum tissue that fills the space between two adjacent teeth

Buccal Vesitbule

The physical pocket inside the mouth between the cheek and the teeth

Labil mucosa

protective tissue of the lips

wide smile, narrow buccal corridor

Preferred smile

Gingival margin

the curved line where the teeth and the gums meet

gingival sulcus

the free gingiva over the potential space

popcorn kernels get stuck here all the time

Alveolar crest fibers

periodontal ligament fibers that are located at the top

Horizontal fibers

periodontal fibers that are right under, their oritation is perpendicular to the tooth

Oblique fibers

slanted periodontal fibers

actively resisting the forces of chewing.

Apical fibers

periodontal fibers that are furthest down, nearest deep gums

Transseptal

periodontal ligament that exists between teeth, connects one tooth to anotherI

Interradicular

located only between roots of multirooted teeth, not every tooth has it.

It is that number 14 in the photo

Enamel

• Protective external surface layer of the anatomic crown

• highly calcified/mineralized and is the hardest substance in the body

• Thickest at the occlusal/ incisal portion (biting and

  chewing)

  • Thinnest at cementoenamel junction where it

  terminates

  • Made up of rods that are perpendicular to the

  dentinoenamel junction except at the gingival/

  cervical area

Dentinoenamel junction

the interace where the enamel (outer crown) meets the dentin (inner tooth structure)

junction between the enamel inner surface where it joins dentin

Cementoenamel Junction

the external boundary at the tooth’s neck where the enamel stops and the root’s cementum begins

junction between the enamel covering the anatomic crown and the cementum covering the anatomic root

Cementum

external layer of the anatomic

root

• very thin, especially next to the

part of the root where the

crown joins with the root

50-60% mineralized

periodontal ligaments are embedded hear and attach to alveolar bone

Dentin

• tissue underlying the enamel and cementum

• makes up the bulk of the inner portion of each

tooth crown and root

• about 70% mineralized

• less hard (and less brittle) than enamel

• Has tubules where processes of odontoblasts lie

• area that allows teeth to have sensitivity

Pulp

• soft, nonminrealized connective tissue containing a rush supply of blood vessels contained in its chamber (in the crown) and root canals

• it’s alive

• dentil-producing cells (odontoblasts) produce dentin thorughout the life of a tooth

anatomic crown

portion of the tooth covered by enamel

anatomic root

portion of the tooth covered by cementum

Clinical Crown

the portion of the tooth that is visible in the oral cavity ( not covered with gingiva) this includes the anatomic crown

Clinical root

the portion of the tooth that is not visible since it is covered with gingiva

Palatal surface

inside surface that applies to maxillary teeth ONLY (anterior or posterior)

Incisal Edge

cutting surfaces of anterior teeth

Occlusal surface

chewing surface of posterior teeth

Mesial surface

the proximal tooth surface faces towards the arch midline (closer to the midline)

Distal surface

the proximal tooth surface faces further from the midline

lingual surface

the surface of a maxillary or mandibular tooth nearest to the tongue (anterior and posterior)