Fundamental/Preventative Curvatures Flashcards
What is the function of fundamental curvatures?
-maintenance of teeth in the dental arch
-prevent disease, damage, bacterial invasion, calculus build up
-disperse excessive occlusal trauma to protect the periodontium
What are proximal contact areas?
areas where the proximal surfaces of teeth touch each other
What are the functions of the proximal contacts?
-prevent food impacting
-protect interdental papillae
-offers support and anchorage to teeth
-offers resistance to displacement from traumatic forces
Describe the clinical significance of interproximal teeth
since 2 adjacent teeth share the same interproximal bone, damage to that bone will affect both teeth, as the bone supports distal root of one tooth and mesial tooth of another tooth
Where are the contact areas on anterior teeth? (facial view)
closer to the incisal edges
Where are the contact areas located on posterior teeth? (facial view)
-closer to middle third of teeth
-more posteriorly, more cervical the contact
What are the exceptions to location of the contact areas?
-mandibular 1st premolar: mesial contact more cervical then the distal
-mandibular central incisors- contact is in same area mesially and distally
What is the location of the contact area for anterior teeth on the occlusal view?
in the center between labial and lingual surfaces of the tooth
what is the location of the contact area for posterior teeth in the occlusal view?
contacts are slightly facial/buccal to the center of the tooths midline
What is a contact point? different from a contact area
spot where the occlusal cusp of one tooth touches the occlusal portion of another tooth in the opposing arch
Describe interproximal spaces
triangular shaped (v shaped) spaces between the teeth
Name the boundaries of interproximal spaces
-contact area (forms the apex)
-proximal surfaces (forms lateral borders)
-alveolar bone (forms base)
What are the functions of interproximal spaces?
overall preventative
-provide place for bulk of bone for better anchorage and support
-provides vascular support to nourish bone and tissue
What are interdental papilla?
gingival tissue filling in the interproximal spaces (in health)
-helps keep food from collecting between the teeth
Describe embrasures
aka “spillways”, the spaces between teeth around the contact areas
-narrowest closest to the contact area
List the functions of embrasures
-allows passage of food around teeth (away from contact areas)
-reduce force of occlusal trauma by dissipating
-self cleaning
-protects the gingiva and allows gingival stimulation
Lingual embrasures are ______ than facial embrasures because teeth are ______ on the lingual side than on the buccal.
wider;narrower
How are embrasures named?
their location in relation to the contact area
ex/ facial (buccal or labial), lingual, incisal, occlusal
Describe gingival embrasures?
aka cervical embrasures
-gingival to contact area
-not always present (unless bone loss)
-same as interproximal space
What is another name for height of contour?
crest of curvature
What is the height of contour?
location of the widest part of the crown
List the functions of facial and lingual contours?
-directs food off teeth and against gingiva at a proper angle
-provide correct amount of stimulation to gingiva
-cleaning (tongue resting against the tooth)
Where is the height of contour in the facial view? (anterior&posterior)
anterior: cervical 1/3rd
posterior: cervical 1/3rd
Where is the height of contour in the lingual view? (anterior&posterior)
-anterior: cervical 1/3rd
-posterior: middle 1/3rd
What are the features of curvature of the CEJ?
-more anteriorly; greater the curvature
-posterior teeth in both arches show little variation
-curvature of the CEJ is usually about 1mm less on the distal surface than on the mesial
Describe the proximal curvature of the CEJ
-curves towards the incisal/occlusal surface (convex curve)
-depends on height of contact area and width of the tooth
-mandibular anterior teeth have less curvature than maxillary
The curvature of the CEJ on the facial and lingual views curves toward what structure?
curves towards the apex of the root
What function do posterior central grooves serve?
help distribute mastication forces
What is the clinical significance of tooth contours?
-in restorative dentistry, contours must be reproduced correctly
-too much contour=too little stimulation
-too little contour=too much stimulation
What is the clinical significance of open or light contacts?
-teeth don’t touch in contact area the way they should
-causes food impacted between teeth
-resulting in papilla being destroyed and bone loss
What are rough margins and what do they cause
-rough surfaces of restorations
-causes increase plaque retention, recurrent decay, mechanical irritation
What are overhanging margins and what can they cause?
-when the restoration is not flush with the tooth but extends beyond the tooth
-causes increased plaque retention, bacteria colonization, increased food retention, recurrent decay
How do normal marginal ridge contours appear?
-heights relatively the same in adjacent teeth
-occulsal embrasures are small to act as spillways
Posterior central grooves align in…
one linear groove
