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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.