Dental Anatomy Basics

Question 1

How many primary teeth are there? What are they?

Answer 1

20, 10 in maxilla and 10 in mandible; 4 incisors, 2 canines, and 4 molars on each side

Question 2

How are permanent teeth oriented in the young child’s skull?

Answer 2

Permanent teeth lie underneath the primary teeth

Question 3

How are the quadrants of primary teeth numbered?

Answer 3

Teeth quadrants are numbered onwards from 5 to 8. Quadrants continue in the same way right maxillary -> Left maxillary -> Left mandibular -> Right mandibular

Question 4

How many teeth does the normal adult have? What are they?

Answer 4

32 teeth, 8 incisors (4 central and 4 lateral incisors), 4 canines, 8 premolars, 12 molars

Question 5

How are teeth numbered?

Answer 5

Quadrants first then the teeth are counted from the midline to the back of the mouth.

Question 6

What is oligodontia?

Answer 6

The presence of less than normal teeth

Question 7

What is anodontia?

Answer 7

Lack of teeth

Question 8

What is hyperdontia?

Answer 8

Presence of too many teeth

Question 9

What is hypodontia?

Answer 9

Presence of too little teeth

Question 10

What does down syndrome do to teeth numbers?

Answer 10

Down syndrome is related to both hypo and hyperdontia

Question 11

What is the mesial surface of the tooth?

Answer 11

Surface facing towards midline

Question 12

What is the distal surface of the tooth?

Answer 12

Surface facing away from the midline

Question 13

What surface do the central incisors touch at?

Answer 13

2 central incisors touch at the mesial surface

Question 14

What is the occlusal surface?

Answer 14

Occlusal surface is the surface that is bitten on

Question 15

What edge of the teeth is the incisal edge?

Answer 15

The cutting edge of incisors and canines is called the incisal edge.

Question 16

Why do teeth often protrude in people with special needs?

Answer 16

In patients with special needs often the teeth are being constantly pushed by the tongue leading to teeth protruding outwards

Question 17

What is the apex of the tooth?

Answer 17

It is the pyramid shaped tip of the roots of the tooth.

Question 18

What is the dental cervix?

Answer 18

The interface between the crown and the root

Question 19

What is the surface of the teeth facing outwards called?

Answer 19

Surface facing the lips or cheeks is called the vestibular, buccal, or facial surface

Question 20

Which surface faces the tongue?

Answer 20

The lingual surface

Question 21

What are the 3 classes of occlusion and how are they different?

Answer 21

Class 1 Teeth are aligned in Cusp Fossa relationship with their antagonist teeth. This is noted as “NORMAL” occlusion.

Class 2 occlusion is with mandible protruding posteriorly

Class 3 occlusion is with mandible protruding anteriorly.

Question 22

How are different parts of the teeth differentiated on xray?

Answer 22

Dentin is less white than enamel and is radiolucent. Pulp is dark because it is more radiolucent than dentin and enamel. Dentin is radio-opaque

Question 23

What kind of relationship do roots have with root canals?

Answer 23

Normally a 1:1 relationship however sometimes there are more root canals per root.

Question 24

How long does it take for a tooth to develop?

Answer 24

Takes around 2.5 - 3 years for a tooth to develop

Question 25

Which incisors are larger usually?

Answer 25

The medial incisors

Question 26

How are upper canines different to lower canines?

Answer 26

Upper canines have more buccal convexity than lower canines.

Question 27

Which primary teeth are exactly the same structure as the adult teeth?

Answer 27

55 and 16 are very similar in appearance

46 75 are identical

Question 28

How do people from Asian and mexican descent differ in dentition compared to white people?

Answer 28

People from Asian and Mexican descent have deeper grooves on their premolars and molars. They also have pronounced cingula on their incisors. (Implications for forensics)

Question 29

When should children develop their primary teeth completely?

Answer 29

5 months in utero there are teeth present. Around the age of 3 – 3 and a half patients should have 20 teeth. First teeth erupt at 6 months. (in white people)