Normal Anatomy of teeth Flashcards
What is the crown?
*In a healthy state, the part of the tooth visible above the
gingival margin.
*The healthy crown is covered with a layer of enamel
*A enamel thickness of less than 1 millimetre in dogs and cats
What is the neck of the tooth?
*Not clearly demarcated area: where the crown meets root
*It does correspond with the cemento-enamel junction.
(where the cementum meets enamel )
Where is the root of the tooth?
*The root is covered by cementum.
*In health it is situated below the gingival margin and
alveolar margin.
In general the roots of dogs and cats are at least how much longer than the crowns?
one and a half times longer that the tooth crown; in many cases
much more.
In teeth with multiple roots, the area between the coronal
aspects of two adjacent roots are called the?
Furcation.
Enamel is the hardest material in the body
it is completely formed before?
The tooth
erupts and no repair is possible after
eruption.
At 8 weeks post partum, the enamel of
the permanent teeth have been
completely formed.
Enamel consist of 96% of what?
mineral
Described the pulp cavity?
This space contains the pulp and runs along
the centre of the crown and root of the
tooth.
What is the pulp chamber called in the crown and in the root? The part of this space
The pulp chamber in the crown is called the pulp chamber.
It continues as the root canal in the root.
What happens at the apical extent of the root canal?
Multiple smaller canals allows access for
blood vessels, nerves and lymphatics.
These radiating canals are called the
apical delta.
What is the apical delta?
Area at the apical end of the root canal where multiple smaller canals allow access for blood vessels, nerves and lymphatics.
An extremely intimate anatomical and
functional relationship exists between dentin
and pulp. To refer to these structures as a single organ
that consist of two distinct parts is therefore
advisable. What names are given to this organ?
Dentin-pulp Organ (or Dentin-pulp Complex)
What is likely to happen to the Dentin-pulp Organ (or Dentin-pulp Complex) if one aspect of it is damaged?
Any condition that affects one of these parts also has a profound effect on the other.
What produces Dentin?
It is produced by the cells that line the pulp cavity (odontoblasts)
Odontoblasts have processes that extend where?
They extend to the interface between dentin and enamel in the crown as well as dentin and cementum in the root.
Discuss how dentinal tubules radiate out?
Dentinal tubules radiate outwards from the pulp canal to the dentine-enamel junction in the crown and the
dentino-cemental junction in the root. The tubules create
the porous nature of dentin.
What should any injury to the dentin be considered when knowing the route of dentinal tubules?
Any injury that exposes dentin should therefore be considered to at least be potentially painful.
What is primary dentin?
primary dentin is dentin produced before the tooth erupts.
What is secondary dentin?
Secondary dentin is deposited in the direction of the pulp
by odontoblasts after the crown had erupted.
When is Tertiary dentin/reparative dentin produced?
It is produced in response to exposure of dentinal tubules.
How is tertiary/reparative dentin produced?
Tertiary dentin/Reparative is produced in response to exposure of dentinal tubules.
Signals of such injury reaches the odontoblast
layer via the sensory nerve supply. The
odontoblast respond to this insult by
producing additional dentin in the direction
of the injury.
Why is tertiary dentin darker in colour?
If the damage/wear that has triggered production of tertiary dentin ( e.g abrasion )
continues and this reparative dentin is
exposed it stains more strongly because of
this less dense nature. Reparative (or
tertiary dentin) can prevent exposure of
the pulp if the damage does not occur too
rapidly.
Why does dentin have some sensitivity?
Nerve endings from the sensory nerves in the
pulp extend along the odontoblastic processes.
This nerve supply explains the sensitivity of dentin.
What is in the pulp?
Specialised connective tissue that contains blood vessels, nerves and lymphatics and various different
cell types that enters through the apical delta
What is one of the most important functions of the pulp?
To support the cells that line the pulp canal.
(odontoblasts)
Fine processes of pulp cells extend along the
dentinal tubules that radiate outwards to eventually reach the?
Junction between dentin and enamel in
the crown (the dentino-enamel junction) or the
junction of dentin and cementum in the tooth root (the dentino-cemental junction).
Sensory nerve supply dominates the innervation of
the pulp. All sensory perception (e.g.heat cold,
pressure) of the pulp is interpreted as?
Pain
What is cementum?
Cementum is a bone like mineralised tissue
attached to the surface to the root surface.
Cells are enclosed in this mineralised
matrix.
There is no innervation or blood vessels
to this tissue.
What happens to cementum during an animals lifetime?
Cementum is maintained and possibly thickens during the life time of the
tooth.
What are all the structures involved in the periodontium?
All structures involved in attachment of tooth is included in the periodontium.
It consist of:
* Gingiva
* Periodontal ligament
* Cementum
* Alveolar bone
Is oral mucosa part of the periodontium?
NO
What is the function of Gingiva which forms part of the periodontium?
Tough, resilient tissue that forms the interface
between teeth and the oral soft tissue.
Where does the gingiva cover?
Covers the coronal aspects of the alveolar bone.
What is most of the gingiva attached to?
Most of the gingiva is firmly attached to either the alveolar bone or the cementum by way of bundles of dense collagen fibres.
How does gingiva associate with the periodontal ligament?
Gingiva extends into and form part of the periodontal ligament.
Discuss how free gingiva is attached?
Free gingiva at the gingival margin is not attached.
Where is the gingival sulcus?
The gingival sulcus is between the crown of the tooth
and free gingiva.
How is the gingiva measured?
Measured with a periodontal probe from the gingival
margin to the junctional epithelium.
What is the normal gingival sulcus depth in cats and dogs?
*1mm for small breeds up to 3 mm for large breed dogs.
*Less than 1 mm deep, normal for cats.
Discuss the location of the junctional epithelium?
The gingiva inside the gingival sulcus eventually
attaches to the tooth surface by means of the
junctional epithelium.