Dental Anatomy Lecture 7

Question 1

Buccal

Answer 1

Towards Cheeks

Question 2

Lingual

Answer 2

Towards Tongue

Question 3

Labial

Answer 3

Towards lips

Question 4

Distal

Answer 4

Back side of tooth

Question 5

Mesial

Answer 5

Forward side of tooth

Question 6

Posterior

Answer 6

Teeth at back of mouth

Question 7

Anterior

Answer 7

Teeth at front of mouth

Question 8

Mammal tooth anatomy

Answer 8

Consists of crown and one or more roots
Made up primarily of dentine
Crown covered in layer of enamel
Root coated with cementum
Crown and root hollow
Crown’s interior chamber connects with a canal in each root
Chamber and canal filled with pulp, soft tissues containing nerves and blood vessels

Question 9

What’s the crown covered in

Answer 9

Enamel

Question 10

What are roots coated in

Answer 10

Cementum

Question 11

Dividing line between enamel and dentin

Answer 11

The cervix or enamel-dentin junction

Question 12

Where are mammal teeth held

Answer 12

In the alveolar sockets of the premaxilla, maxilla and mandible

Question 13

what are teeth held in place by?

Answer 13

periodontal ligaments, which contain stretch receptors which provide information on tooth loading during chewing

Question 14

Mammalian teeth can be divided by position in mouth, and by function, into four types

Answer 14

Anterior teeth
1. Incisors
2. Canines
Postcanines/cheek teeth
3. Premolars
4. Molars

Question 15

position of incisors

Answer 15

Front teeth; uppers rooted in premaxilla (or when premaxilla is absent, the front
of the maxilla);
lowers implanted anteriorly in mandible

Question 16

incisors shape

Answer 16

Chisel-like or shovelshaped

Question 17

incisors function

Answer 17

Grasping, nipping, stripping, scraping

Question 18

canines position

Answer 18

Next to incisors; usually first teeth in maxilla

when premaxilla is present; behind incisors in mandible

Question 19

canines shape

Answer 19

Typically unicuspid with single roots; can be long

and dagger-like, eg in cats and primates

Question 20

function of canines

Answer 20

Stabbing, biting, holding prey

Question 21

premolars position

Answer 21

Just behind canines

Question 22

premolars shape

Answer 22

Size and shape hugely variable depending on life history and diet; may also vary anterior to posterior

Question 23

premolars function

Answer 23

Varied. Crushing (eg hyaenas), slicing (cats),

shearing and grinding (antelope)

Question 24

molars position

Answer 24

back teeth

Question 25

molars shape

Answer 25

great variation depending on diet. Peglike (eg

dolphin) to elaborate crushing structures (elephants)

Question 26

molars function

Answer 26

Shearing, slicing, crushing, grinding

Question 27

dental formulae

Answer 27

Dental formulae present the number of upper/lower teeth of each type (incisors, canines, premolars and molars) on each side of the jaw
• In humans, the normal adult dentition is I 2/2, C 1/1, P 2/2, M 3/3
• Note that this gives the formula for one side of the jaw only, since with two exceptions all known living mammals have symmetrical dentitions

Question 28

muscles of mastication

Answer 28

temporalis
masseter
lateral pterygoid
medial pterygoid

Question 29

secondary palate

Answer 29

Mammals have a bony secondary palate separating oral cavity and nasal passages allowing breathing and chewing or sucking to occur simultaneously
Linked to high metabolic rate and requirement for constant respiration
• Also linked to suckling of young, since it helps to create a vacuum within mouth without interfering with respiration
• Strengthens upper jaw and increases bite force