Fundamental & Preventive Curvatures

Question 1

Define Proximal Contact Area

Answer 1

areas on the surfaces of the teeth where the proximal surfaces touch one another

Question 2

Purposes of curvatures

Answer 2

1. Prevent disease
2. Prevent damage
3. Prevent bacterial invasion
4. Prevent calculus build-up
5. Disperse excessive occlusal force
6. Protect the gingiva and periodontium
7. Preserve the teeth, increasing life expectancy & productivity

Question 3

Define Alignment

Answer 3

Refers to the way teeth are positioned in the jaw

Question 4

Define Contact Area

Answer 4

flattened portion of the tooth where it actually touches the next
tooth in the same arch

Question 5

Purpose of Contact Area

Answer 5

1. Prevention of food impaction
2. Help teeth offer support and anchorage to one another
   - Adjacent teeth share interproximal bone
3. Help resist displacement from traumatic forces

Question 6

Location of Contact Area

Answer 6

• Mesial and distal surfaces of each tooth
• occur at the widest portion and the greatest curvature
  of the proximal surfaces
• Distal of one tooth touches the mesial of the tooth
  posterior to it
• Central incisors - two mesial surfaces touch each other

Question 7

Specific Locations Contact Area ( Facial View )

Answer 7

• Anteriors - closer to incisal
• Posteriors - more cervical
• The more posterior you go, the more cervical the contact…EXCEPT…Mn 1st
• Premolar - mesial contact is more cervical than distal contact, mn
• Central - contact area is the same mesial and distal
• The more posterior you go, the wider the contact area

Question 8

Specific Locations Contact Area ( Occlusal View )

Answer 8

• Anterior - center of the proximal surface
• Posterior - facial, buccal to the center of the proximal surface

Question 9

Define Contact Points

Answer 9

areas where the occlusal cusp of one tooth touches the occlusal portion of another tooth from the opposite arch

Question 10

Define Interproximal Spaces

Answer 10

triangular-shaped spaces/ V-shaped spaces between teeth

Question 11

Boundaries (Interproximal Spaces)

Answer 11

1. Contact area from the apex
2. Proximal surfaces form the lateral border
3. Alveolar bone form the base

Question 12

Functions (Interproximal Spaces)

Answer 12

1. Preventive
2. Provides a place for the bulk of the bone for better anchorage and support
3. Provides vascular support to nourish the bone and tissue

Question 13

Interdental papilla / papillary gingiva - gingival tissue filling in the Interproximal spaces

Answer 13

1. In health interdental papilla fill in the space
2. Helps to keep food from collecting in between the teeth

Question 14

Define “Cervical” embrasure

Answer 14

Void caused by loss of bone and gingiva.
- Creates an area for accumulation of bacteria, calculus, and food debris

Question 15

Characteristic (Interproximal Spaces)

Answer 15

1. Shorter as you go posteriorly

Question 16

Define Embrasures

Answer 16

spaces between the teeth that are occlusal to the contact area

Question 17

Function (Embrasures)

Answer 17

1. Allow passage of food around teeth
2. Reduce force of occlusal trauma by dissipating occlusal force
3. Self-cleansing
4. Protect the gingiva and allows gingival stimulation
   Poor contour leads to gingival irritation

Question 18

Naming embrasures

Answer 18

1. Lingual, palatal - spaces lingual to contact area
2. Incisal, occlusal - spaces incisal or occlusal to contact area

Question 19

Gingival/ Cervical Embrasures

Answer 19

gingival to the contact area

Question 20

Characteristics (Embrasures)

Answer 20

1. Wider as you go posteriorly
2. Lingual embrasures are wider than facials

Question 21

Function (Facial and Lingual Contours)

Answer 21

1. Direct food off teeth and against the gingiva at a proper angle
2. Cleansing also occurs by tongue, lips, & cheek

Question 22

Height of contour/crest of curvature

Answer 22

location of the widest part
of the crown of the tooth.
1. Facial
a. anterior - cervical 1/3rd b. posterior - cervical 1/3rd
2. Lingual
a. anterior - cervical 1/3 rd b. posterior - middle 1/3rd

Question 23

Curvature of the CEJ

Answer 23

A. Line where the cementum & the enamel meet
B. Also called the cervical line
C. Proximal Curvature
D. Facial/Lingual Curvature - curves toward the apex of the root

1. Proximal aspect - toward the incisal/occlusal, convex curve coronally
2. Depends on the height of the contact & the width of the tooth faciolingually
3. More anterior - the greater the curvature
4. Mesial curvature is greater than the distal, generally 1mm less on the distal

Question 24

Restorative Dentistry

Answer 24

A. Must reproduce contours
1. Too much contour - food won’t touch the gingiva
2. Too little contour - food hits gingiva too much, resulting in recession
B. Open contacts/light contacts - teeth do not touch as they should
1. Causes food impaction between the teeth
a. Papilla destroyed
b. Bone loss occurs
C. Margins
1. Overhanging margin, restoration is not flush with the tooth,
but extends beyond the tooth; causes plaque, bacteria, food retention
2. Rough surfaces of restorations cause increase plaque
retention, recurrent decay, mechanical irritation

Question 25

Marginal Ridge Contours

Answer 25

A. Adjacent teeth - heights should be relatively the same
B. Occlusal embrasures should be small in order to act as spillways for self-cleansing

Question 26

Posterior Central Grooves

Answer 26

A. Groove aligns into one linear groove
B. One trough anterior-posteriorly down the center of the occlusal
surface for efficient mastication
C. Help with distribution of forces during chewing