Normal Oral and Tooth Anatomy

Maxilla: Incisal and maxillary bones that hold the teeth.
Hard Palate: Contains rugae palatinae, which are ridges that assist in the structure of the mouth.
Incisive Papilla: Located behind the central incisors; significance is anatomical landmark.
Soft Palate:
- Posterior portion of the roof of the mouth.
- Lacks underlying bone.
- Separates the oral cavity from the pharynx.
Lateral Palatine Fold: Zone where the two jaws connect at the back of the mouth.

Mandible: The lower jaw, critical for mastication.
Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ): Joint that connects the mandible to the skull.
Mandibular Symphysis: The fusion point of the two halves of the mandible at the front.
Tongue: Organ that plays a crucial role in tasting, swallowing, and speech.
Cheeks and Lips: Essential structures for the oral cavity, assisting in food manipulation and speech.
Oral Mucosa:
- Mucous membrane lining the oral cavity, ending at the lips, excluding the gingiva.
Vestibule: Space between the cheeks or lips and the teeth.

Crown: The visible portion above the gumline.
Enamel:
- Hard outer layer of the crown, the hardest substance in the human body.
- Produced by ameloblasts during tooth development.
Neck: The area where the enamel thins at the gumline.
Root:
- The portion of the tooth below the gumline.
- The deepest part is the apex, where blood vessels and nerves enter.

Dentin:
- The main mass of the tooth, produced continuously throughout an individual's life.
- Created by odontoblasts that line the pulp chamber.
Pulp Chamber:
- Contains nerves, blood vessels, and various types of cells and fibrous tissue.
- The root canal is located below the gumline, serving as a conduit for nerves and blood vessels.
Apex: The deep part of the root, containing small channels (apical delta) where blood vessels and nerves enter.

Hardness: The hardest substance in the body, only present above the gumline, produced by ameloblasts during development.
Cementoenamel Junction (CEJ): The area where enamel and cementum meet.

Cementum:
- A porous substance covering the tooth's root.
- Apex is the terminal end of the root allowing entry for nerves and blood vessels.
- It features small channels (apical delta) and larger channels (apical foramen).

Attached Gingiva:
- Lesions of gum tissue are epithelial in nature.
- Tightly adheres to the underlying supportive structures; keratinization provides durability against chewing.
Free Gingiva:
- Not attached to the tooth or its supporting structure.
- The space between the tooth and healthy free gingiva is termed the sulcus. If diseased, it forms a pocket.
Alveolar Mucosa:
- Less keratinized tissue covering the bone beneath the gingiva.
Periodontal Ligament:
- Functions as the attachment apparatus holding the tooth in its socket (alveolus).
- Connects to the cementum with Sharpey’s fibers.

Free Gingiva:
- Not directly attached to the tooth or supporting structures.
- Sulcus exists between free gingiva in a healthy mouth.
- A pocket is referred to in the same space when disease is present.
Attached Gingiva:
- Composed of thicker epithelial tissue, firmly bonded to supportive structures.

Periodontal Ligament: Holds the tooth securely in the alveolus or socket.
Cementum:
- Attaches the periodontal ligament to the tooth, enhancing the capacity for self-repair.
Alveolar Bone: The specific bone structure in which the tooth rests.

Labial: Directed towards the lips or the vestibule.
Buccal: Directed towards the cheeks.
Palatal: Orientated towards the center of the mouth for maxillary teeth.
Lingual: Direction towards the tongue for mandibular teeth.
Mesial: The side of the tooth closest to the first incisor.
Distal: The side of the tooth furthest from the first incisor.
Coronal: Towards the crown of the tooth; also known as occlusal.
Apical: Direction leading towards the root.
Interproximal Area: Region located between two adjacent teeth.
Furcation:
- Area where multiple roots converge at the crown.
- When there are two roots, it is termed bifurcation; with three, trifurcation occurs.

Pharynx, Tonsils, Tongue: Key areas of examination.
Occlusion: Normal dental alignment and contact.
- Normal Scissors Bite: Mandibular teeth make contact with the palatal side of maxillary teeth.
- The mandibular incisors rest on the ledge of the palatal side of maxillary incisors, termed the cingulum.
- The mandibular canine fits into the gap between the lateral incisor and maxillary canine tooth.
- The mandibular P1 is positioned midway between the maxillary canine and P1.