Anatomic Key Terms Only Flashcards
Use this deck to study all terms related to dental anatomy
distal
the tooth surface away from the midline of the mouth
fossa
a broad, shallow, scooped-out or depressed area of bone (appears radiolucent)
zygomatic process of the maxilla
a bony projection of the maxilla that articulates with the zygoma (appears as a J-shaped or U-shaped radiopacity)
axial plane
- a horizontal plane that divides the body into superior and inferior parts
- runs parallel to the ground
edentulous patient
a patient without teeth
palatoglossal air space
refers to the space found between the palate and the tongue (on a panoramic image, appears as a horizontal radiolucent band located superior to the apices of maxillary teeth)
alveolar crest / crestal bone
- the most coronal portion of alveolar bone found between teeth
- composed of cortical bone (appears radiopaque)
periodontium
specialized tissues that surround and support teeth, such as the gingiva, cementum, periodontal ligament, and alveolar bone
midsagittal plane
an imaginary line or plane passing through the center of the body that divides it into right and left halves
process
a marked prominence or projection of bone (appears radiopaque)
floor of the nasal cavity
a bony plate formed by the palatal process of the maxilla and the horizontal portions of the palatine bones (appears radiopaque)
nasal septum
a vertical bony wall or partition that divides the nasal cavity into the right and left nasal fossae (appears radiopaque)
incipient
small, or beginning to exist or appear
pulp canal obliteration
the calcification, or deposition, of hard tissue within the pulp cavity, causing no visible pulp chamber or canals on the dental image
septum (plural: septa)
bont wall or partition that divides a cavity into separate areas (appears radiopaque)
zygoma / zygomatic bone / malar bone
the cheekbone (appears as a diffuse radiopaque band posterior to the zygomatic process of the maxilla)
edentulous zone
an area where teeth are no longer present
medial
toward the midline of the body
torus (plural: tori)
a bony growth in the oral cavity
inferior border of the mandible
a linear prominence of cortical bone that defines the lower border of the mandible (appears radiopaque)
median palatal suture
the immovable joint between the two palatine processes of the maxilla (appears radiolucent)
mesial
the tooth surface towards the midline of the mouth
tubercle
a rounded prominence of bone (appears radiopaque)
contact areas
the areas where adjacent tooth surfaces touch each other
orbit
the bony cavity that contains the eyeball
nonvital
not living
anterior
towards the front
periapical cyst / radicular cyst
a lesion characterized by an epithelial-lined cavity or sac located around the apex of a nonvital tooth that results from pulpal death (appears radiolucent)
intrusion
the abnormal displacement of teeth into bone
body of the mandible
the U-shaped horizontal portion of the mandible that extends from ramus to ramus
condensing osteitis / chronic focal sclerosing osteomyelitis
a well-defined radiopacity seen below the apex of a nonvital tooth that has a history of long-standing pulpitis (appears radiopaque)
alveolar process
portion of the maxilla or mandible that encases and supports teeth
apex
the area of a tooth that allows for blood vessels and nerves to enter the tooth and maintain the vitality of the tooth
glenoid fossa
a concave, depressed area of the temporal bone where the mandibular condyle rests
endodontic patient
a patient who has undergone endodontic therapy
alveolar bone loss
a loss of bone that surrounds and supports teeth in the maxilla and mandible
furcation area
the area between the roots of multi-rooted teeth
mandibular foramen
a round or ovoid hole in bone on the lingual aspect of the ramus of the mandible (appears radiolucent)
internal oblique ridge
a linear prominence of bone located on the internal surface of the mandible that extends downward and forward from the ramus (appears radiopaque)
suture
an immovable joint that represents a line of union between adjoining bones of the skull (appears radiolucent)
maxillary sinuses
paired cavities or compartments of bone located within the maxilla and located superior to the maxillary posterior teeth (appear radiolucent)
curve of Spee
the anterior-posterior anatomic curvature of the occlusal surfaces of the teeth
overlapped contacts
on a dental image, the area where the contact area of one tooth is superimposed over the contact areas of an adjacent tooth
supernumerary teeth / hyperdontia
extra teeth that develop in addition to the normal human dentition
canal
a tubelike passageway through bone that houses nerves and blood vessels (appears radiolucent with radiopaque borders)
dentulous
- with teeth
- areas that exhibit teeth
intersecting
cutting across or through
vertical
an up-and-down plane
infraorbital foramen
a hole or opening in bone found inferior to the border of the orbit (on a panoramic image, appears radiolucent)
anterior teeth
central incisors, lateral incisors, and canines/cuspids
extraoral
outside the mouth
open contacts
on a dental image, appears as a thin radiolucent line between adjacent tooth surfaces
internal root resorption
the destruction of dentin around the pulp cavity within the crown or root of a tooth (appears radiolucent)
mandibular canal
a tubelike passageway through bone that travels the length of the mandible (appears radiolucent with radiopaque borders)
periapical abscess
a lesion characterized by a localized collection of pus around the apex of a nonvital tooth that results from pulpal death (appears radiolucent)
posterior teeth
first and second premolars/bicuspids, and first, second and third molars
endodontic
found within a tooth
inverted Y
a landmark viewed on dental images above the maxillary canine that represents the intersection of the anterior border of the maxillary sinus and the lateral wall of the nasal fossa (appears radiopaque)
edentulous
- without teeth
- an area where teeth are no longer present
nutrient canal
a tiny tubelike passageway through bone which contains blood vessels and nerves that supply teeth and interdental areas (appears radiolucent)
occlusal
the chewing surfaces of posterior teeth
pulp cavity
a cavity within a tooth that includes both the pulp chamber and the pulp canals, containing blood vessels, nerves, and lymphatics (appears radiolucent)
pericoronal
around the crown of a tooth
mandibular teeth
teeth located in the mandible or lower arch
periapical
around the apex of a tooth
vertical bone loss / angular bone loss
bone loss that does not occur in a plane parallel to the cemento-enamel junctions of adjacent teeth
facial / labial
the tooth surface towards the cheek/lips on anterior teeth
anterior nasal spine
a sharp projection of the maxilla located at the anteroinferior portion of the nasal cavity (appears radiopaque)
temporomandibular joint (TMJ)
the jaw joint, including the temporal bone, the mandible, and the articular disc between the two bones
cavitation / cavity
a hole in a tooth that results from the caries process (appears radiolucent)
opposing
maxillary and mandibular teeth that occlude together
cementum
calcified connective tissue that covers the outer root surface of the tooth
superior foramina of the incisive canal
two tiny openings or holes in bone that are located on the floor of the nasal cavity (appear radiolucent)
generalized bone loss
bone loss that occurs evenly throughout the dental arches
periapical granuloma
a lesion characterized by a localized mass of granulation tissue around the apex of a nonvital tooth (appears radiolucent)
luxation
the abnormal displacement of teeth
lipline
an area of soft tissue seen on panoramic images formed by the positioning of the patient’s lips