Alveolar
bone, bony sockets, or crypts for teeth placement in the maxillae and the mandibular bone
Anterior
before or in front of, front area of the mouth, from canine (cuspid) to canine (cuspid)"
Apex
the root end, the tip end of a tooth
Apical
relative to the root tip end of tooth, apex or root
Arch
curved-like or bow-like outline, half of the mouth, either maxillary or mandibular
Ameloblast(s)
enamel-forming cells, encourages cell growth to form the enamel covering tissue of the tooth
Amelogenesis
process of forming tooth enamel
Anodontia
absence of teeth, partial or total lack of teeth
Antagonist
opposing teeth, tooth that counteracts, occludes, or contacts with another tooth in the opposing arch.
Apposition
addition of parts, fourth stage of development, mineral salts, and organic matter are set down and in place for tissues and tooth formation.
Attrition
abrasion or chafing, last stage of development, happens as teeth interact with each other via mastication and speech.
Axial
root to crown, long
bicuspid(s)
premolars, mandibular teeth
Bifurcation
Branching into two parts, mandibular molars have two roots
Buccal
check side/surface, posterior tooth surface toward the cheeks
Calcification
deposit of lime salts, fifth stage of development, the hardening and setting of tooth tissues.
Cementoblast(s)
Cementum-forming cells, encourages cell growth to form the root-covering cementum tissue.
Cementoclast(s)
cells that destroy tooth cementum.
Cementum
tissue covering of tooth root
Cervical line
the place where the enamel of the crown meets the cementum of the root.
Crown
the top part of the tooth containing the pulp chamber, dentin, and enamel covering.
Cusp
a point of the crown of a tooth, elevation, or mound on the biting surface of the crown
Cuspid(s)
canines, single-rooted anterior teeth at the corner of the mouth, longest tooth, splits anterior from posterior.
Deciduous
falling off, first set of teeth
Dens in dente
tooth in tooth, a tooth enfolds on itself to form a small cavity that holds a hard structure or mass
Dental lamina
membrane band containing organs of future teeth, develops in the epithelium
Dentin
the main tissue of tooth surrounding the pulp
Dentinogenesis imperfecta
inadequate dentin formation, a genetic disorder characterized by weakened or gray-colored teeth or shell teeth resulting from poor formation
Dentition
tooth arrangement
Differentiation
acquiring different functions from the original
Distal
to the distant, away, side surface of a tooth farthest from the midline of the face
Eminence
a high place, projection, or prominence.
Enamel
a hard tooth covering
Epithelium
mucous tissue covering and connective tissue layer
Eruption
breaking out, six stage of development. Cutting of the teeth, It occurs when the tooth moves toward the oral cavity and enters through the tissues.
Exfoliate
scale off
Facial
surface of all teeth toward the cheek and/or the lips
Fibroblast
fiber-forming germ cells, encourages cell growth to form the periodontal ligaments.
Fissure
a groove or natural depression, slit, or break;
Fluorosis
reaction to overfluoridation, mottled enamel
Foramen
an opening or hole in the bone for nerve and vessel passage
Fossa
a shallow, rounded, irregular depression or concavity on the lingual surface of anterior teeth and on the occlusal surfaces of posterior teeth.
Furcation
Fork or branch off, the place where tooth roots branch apart
Furrow
a shallow concave groove located on either the crown or the root, developmental depression.
Fusion
joining together, union of tooth buds resulting in large crown or root.
Germination
development of germ cells, single tooth germ separating to form two crowns on a single root
Gingiva
mouth tissue, mucous tissue surrounding the teeth, gives protection.
Granuloma
granular tumor or growth, a growth or tumor usually found in the root area.
Groove
a rut, furrow, or channel. 2 types
Heterodont
teeth of various shapes
Histodifferentiation
branch into different tissues
Hypercementosis
overgrowth of cementum tissue, an anomaly resulting in a thickening of cementum, result of stress.
Hypocalcification
underbonding or incomplete calcification, lack of hardening of tooth tissue resulting in weak, susceptible teeth.
Hypoplasia
underdevelopment of tissue.
In utero
in the uterus
Incisal
to cut, cutting edge of anterior teeth (centrals, laterals, and cuspids/canines)
Incisors
cutters, single-rooted anterior teeth with a sharp cutting edge.
Initiation
beginning, bud stage of development
Interdental
between two teeth
Labial
lip surface, anterior tooth surface toward the lips
Lacuna
small open space, tiny cavities that may contain irregular cementum-forming cells
Lingual
tongue, the surface of all teeth toward the tongue.
Lobe
a well-defined part of an organ that develops into a tooth formation, a developing cusp that eventually unites with other lobes to form a complete tooth.
Macrodontia
abnormally large teeth
Mandibular
lower tooth area; moves up and down to meet the maxillary teeth.
Marginal
the portion that is unattached to underlying tissues and helps to form the sides of the gingival crevice, free margin gingiva.
Maxillary
upper tooth area; normally the maxilla slightly overlaps the mandible.
Mesial
in the middle, side surface of a tooth closest to the mid- line (middle) of the face.
Microdontia
unusually small teeth
Midline
imaginary vertical line bisecting the head at the middle; determines the right and left sides.
Molar
grinding tooth, most posterior teeth
Morphodifferentiation
change into different shape
Morphology
study of tooth form and shape
Mucogingival
combination of mucous and gingival tissue
Occlusal
to grind, meet, grinding or chewing surface of all posterior teeth (premolars/bicuspids, and molars)
Odontoblasts
dentin forming cells, encourages cell growth to form the dentin, the bulk of the tooth
Odontoclasts
cells that bring about absorption of primary tooth roots.
Odontogenesis
tooth production, to the formation and the origin of the tooth.
Odontology
the study of teeth
Osteoblasts
Bone-forming germ cells, encourages cell growth to form alveolar bone and the alveolar plate
Osteoclasts
cells that destroy or cause absorption of bone tissue
Papillary
the part of the marginal gingiva that occupies the interproximal spaces, triangular and filling the tooth embrasure area
Periodontal
around tooth, membrane and fibers that anchor the tooth in the alveolar socket.
Periodontium
tissues surrounding teeth, 4 tissues
Pit
pinpoint depression located at the junction of developed grooves or at the end of a groove.
Posterior
toward the rear, area back from the corners of the mouth
Premolar
before a molar, the fourth and fifth teeth posterior from the center of the mouth
Proliferation
second stage of development, reproduction of new parts
Proximal
side wall of tooth that meets with or touches side wall of another tooth
Pulp
the part in the center of a tooth made up of living connective tissue and cells called odontoblasts
Pulp cyst
a closed, fluid-filled sac within the pulp tissue.
Pulpitis
pulp inflammation, toothache
Quadrant
1/4, half of an arch, right or left, and containing eight teeth.
Succedaneous
permanent teeth, replace deciduous teeth when they exfoliate
Sulcus
long depression between ridges and cusps; valley on tooth surface.
Supernumerary
extra, more than the normal amount of teeth
Ridge
a linear elevation that receives its name from its location
Root
bottom part of a tooth
Trifurcation
branching into three parts, three roots, maxillary molar teeth
Tubercle
a small knob-like prominence, a distinguishing landmark of a tooth.