Dental Crown Anatomy - Key Terminology (Cusp, Ridge, Fossa, and More)

Vocabulary flashcards covering the key terms related to tooth anatomy: cusp, tubercle, cingulum, ridges (marginal, triangular, transverse, oblique), fossae, sulcus, grooves, pits, lobes, and mamelons as described in the notes.

Cusp

An elevation or mound on the crown portion of a tooth that forms a divisional part of the occlusal surface.

Tubercle

A smaller elevation on the crown produced by extra formation of enamel; deviations from the typical form. Regularly in the maxillary 1st molar as cusp of caraberri. Irregularly in the lingual surface of the maxillary laterals.

Cingulum

The lingual lobe of an anterior tooth; occupies the bulk of the cervical third of the lingual surface and resembles a girdle around that area.

Ridge

A linear elevation on the surface of a tooth, named according to its location (e.g., buccal ridge, incisal ridge, marginal ridge).

Marginal ridge

Rounded borders of enamel forming the mesial and distal margins of occlusal surfaces of posterior teeth and the lingual margins of incisors/canines.

Triangular ridge

Ridges that descend from cusp tips toward the central part of the occlusal surface; named for their triangular shape and the cusp they belong to.

Transverse ridge

The union of a buccal triangular ridge and a lingual triangular ridge crossing transversely the occlusal surface of a posterior tooth.

Oblique ridge

A ridge crossing obliquely the occlusal surfaces of maxillary molars, formed by the union of the distobuccal triangular ridge and the mesiolingual cusp ridge.

Fossa

An irregular depression or concavity; lingual fossae occur on the lingual surface of incisors; central fossae on the occlusal surfaces of molars.

Sulcus

A long depression or valley between ridges and cusps where inclines meet at an angle; contains a developmental groove at the junction.

Developmental groove

A shallow groove between the primary parts of the crown or root.

Supplemental groove

A shallower groove that is supplemental to a developmental groove and does not mark the junction of primary parts.

Pits

Small pinpoint depressions at the junction of developmental grooves or at their terminals; central pit refers to a landmark in the central fossa of molars.

Lobe

One of the primary sections of crown formation; cusps and mamelons are examples of lobes.

Mamelon

One of the three rounded protuberances found on the incisal ridges of newly erupted incisors.