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