Terms

Vocabulary Words

• Alveolar crest – The highest part of the alveolar bone that surrounds and supports the teeth.

  Alveolar socket – The bony hole (socket) in the jaw where the root of a tooth sits.

  Ameloblasts – Cells that produce enamel, the hard outer layer of the tooth, during tooth development.

  Anatomical crown – The entire portion of the tooth covered by enamel, whether it is visible or hidden beneath the gums.

  Apex – The tip or end of a tooth root.

  Apical foramen – A small opening at the tip (apex) of the root where blood vessels and nerves enter and leave the tooth.

  Cementoblasts – Cells that produce cementum, the tissue covering the tooth root.

  Cementum – A hard, bone-like tissue that covers the root of the tooth and helps anchor it to the jaw.

  Clinical crown – The part of the tooth that is visible above the gumline. It can change if the gums recede or cover more of the tooth.

  Coronal pulp – The portion of the pulp located inside the crown of the tooth.

  Dentin – The hard tissue beneath the enamel and cementum that makes up most of the tooth.

  Dentinal tubules – Tiny microscopic channels within dentin that contain fluid and transmit sensations like pain and temperature.

  Exfoliation – The natural process of primary (baby) teeth falling out so permanent teeth can erupt.

  Lamina dura – The dense layer of bone lining the tooth socket, seen as a white line on a dental X-ray.

  Mandibular – Relating to the mandible, or lower jaw.

  Mixed dentition – The stage when a person has both primary (baby) teeth and permanent (adult) teeth.

  Odontoblasts – Cells that produce dentin and line the outer surface of the pulp.

  Osteoblasts – Bone-forming cells that build new bone.

  Periodontium – The supporting structures of the teeth, including the gingiva (gums), periodontal ligament, cementum, and alveolar bone.

  Pulp chamber – The hollow space inside the crown of the tooth that contains the dental pulp.

  Resorption – The process of breaking down and removing hard tissue. In baby teeth, the roots are resorbed so the teeth can fall out naturally.

  Periosteum – A tough membrane covering the outer surface of bones that contains blood vessels, nerves, and cells involved in bone growth and repair.

  Ameloblasts → Enamel (“A” for Ameloblasts and A for Armor = enamel protects)

  Odontoblasts → Dentin (“Odonto” means tooth)

  Cementoblasts → Cementum

  Osteoblasts → Bone (“Osteo” means bone)

  Anatomical crown = All enamel

  Clinical crown = What you can see

  Apex = Tip of the root

  Apical foramen = Hole at the root tip

  Exfoliation = Baby teeth fall out

  Resorption = Roots dissolve away (in primary teeth)