Tooth Surfaces

Tooth surfaces and Orientations

1. %%Facial%%

   a. Buccal: Posterior tooth surface towards the cheeks

   b. Labial: Anterior tooth surface towards the lips

2. %%Posterior%%

   a. Lingual: Posterior surface of all the lower teeth towards the tongue

   b.Palatal: Posterior surface of all the upper teeth towards the palate

3. %%Proximal%%: side surfaces of teeth

   a. Mesial: side surface of a tooth closest to the midline

   b. Distal: side surface of a tooth farthest from the midline of the face

4. %%Incisal%%: Cutting edge of anterior teeth
5. %%Occlusal%%: Grinding or chewing surface of all posterior teeth

Crown divisions in thirds:

the crown is divided into three halves ^^to make study and communication easier^^

1. Cervical third
2. Middle third
3. Incisal/Occlusal third

Root divisions in thirds:

the root is divided into three halves to ^^make study and communication easier^^

1. Cervical third
2. Middle third
3. Apical third (root)

• Apical: Relative to the root tip end of the tooth (apex or root)
• Cervical: Related to the middle or the gingival level of the tooth
• Coronal: Related to the crown part
• Furcation: Place where tooth roots branch apart   * it could be bifurcation or trifurcation

Depressions on the tooth surface

1. Pit: A sharp pinpoint depression on the surface of the enamel
2. Fossa: An irregular depression or concavity on the surface of a tooth

3. Groove: A shallow linear depression on the surface of a tooth

Elevations on the tooth surface

1. Cusp: An elevation on the crown of a tooth

2. Cingulum

   - The lingual lobe of an anterior tooth

   - makes up the bulk of the cervical third of the lingual surface

3. Ridge: A linear elevation on the surface of a tooth

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