Enamel
the outermost layer of a tooth; the hardest material in the body; protects nerves and softer material inside the tooth
Dentin
Makes up the bulk of the tooth structures located around the pulp cavity and under the enamel within the anatomical crown.
Pulp Chamber
the center or innermost portion of the tooth containing the pulp
Root
the part of a tooth that is embedded in the jaw and serves as support
Root Apex
The entrance point of the nerve, blood vessels and connective tissue that constitutes the pulp.
Incisors
The 4 front teeth, known as the biting edge of the anterior teeth.
Cuspids
Teeth next to the incisors. One tooth per quadrant, primarily used in tearing/ripping food.
Premolars
function is holding and grinding; 4 mandible, 4 maxillary; 2-3 cusps; posterior teeth
Molars
The back 12 teeth, used to chew, 3 teeth per quadrant.
Buccal
Surface of the tooth adjacent to the cheek.
Labial
Lip/ front part of the facial surface for incisors and canines.
Facial
Outer surface of teeth (labial + buccal)
Lingual
Surface of tooth adjacent to the tongue.
Distal
Surface of the tooth away from the midline
Mesial
Surface of the tooth towards the midline
Occlusal
The biting surface of posterior teeth
Individual cusps are named how?
Mesiobuccal, Mesiolingual, Distobuccal and Distolingual.
Secondary teeth
total of 32 secondary teeth, 8 incisors, 4 cuspids, 8 premolars, and 12 molars.
Primary Teeth (Deciduous)
total of 20 primary teeth, 8 incisors, 4 cuspids, and 8 molars. No premolars are developed. Incisors are the first to erupt.
Maxilla
two bones forming the upper jaw, rigidly attached to the skull.
Mandible
a horseshoe shaped bone wich articulates with thte skull by way of the TMJ.
Catenary Arch
the distinctive shape of the dental arches.
Diphyodont
Formation of two sets of teeth in the life span, "two generations of teeth
Monophyodont
one generation of teeth
Polyphyodont
a lifetime of generations of teeth, like a conveyor belt. such teeth have a breif life and are simple in design
Homodont
all of the teeth in the jaw are alike.
Heterodont
distictive classes of teeth that are regionally specialized
Anodontia
the developmental absence of teeth
Anatomical Crown
the enamel covered part of a tooth above the gum
Clinical Crown
the portion that you can see when veiwing the mouth.
Cervical Line
the line that separates the anatomic crown from the anatomic root. Also called the cemento-enamel-junction (CEJ) junction between the cementum and the enamel
Pulp Cavity
the space that contains the pulp or 'nerve' of the tooth
Pulp
The central innermost portion of the tooth.
Cusp
small elevation on the grinding surface of a tooth
Cingulum
an encircling girdle-like structure (as the ridge around the base of a tooth)
Lobe
one of the primary centers of formation in the development of the crown of the tooth.
Mamelon
Rounded prominences on the incisal edge of newly erupted anterior teeth. (3 bumps on permanent teeth)
Ridge
any linear elevation on the surface of a tooth.
Marginal Ridges
Linear elevations found at the mesial and distal terminations of the occlusal surfaces of posterior teeth. Also found on anterior teeth but are less prominent, forming the lateral margins of the lingual surface
Triangular Ridges
main ridges on each cusp that run from the tip of the cusp to the central part of the occlusal surface