Teeth Flashcards
crown
Covered with enamel and is the tooth seen in the mouth. It changes throughout the life cycle of the tooth.
root
There can be one, two (bifurcation), or three (trifurcation) roots depending on the type of tooth.
Apex = the tapered end of each root tip. Apical = describes anything that is located at the apex.
cervix
This is the area of the tooth where crown and root meet.
enamel
It makes up the anatomical crown.
This is the hardest material in the body and similar to bone in hardness and mineral content.
Although, hard, it is also brittle and can chip and fracture.
It forms the protective covering for the softer dentin.
dentin
This material makes up the main portion of the tooth, extending almost the entire length of the tooth.
It is covered by enamel on the crown.
It is covered by cementum on the root.
It is harder than bone and cementum, but not as hard as enamel.
Cementum:
It covers the root of the tooth.
It anchors the tooth into the bony socket by attachment fibers with the periodontium.
pulp
The vital tissues of the tooth consisting of the blood vessels, connective tissues and nerves.
Pulp functions to: Exchange blood between the body and the tooth for nutrition, gas exchange and immune function; to transmit nervous stimuli; and to contain connective tissues.
gingiva
Also known as the gums.
Rich in blood and nerve supplies.
root canal
Lower part of the root in which the pulp is contained.
Allows blood vessels and nerves to pass between the pulp and the body.
occlusal surface
Chewing surface of the posterior teeth.
The surfaces between the maxillary and mandibular contact with each other.
incisal edge
The biting edge of the anterior teeth.
axial surface
The longitudinal surface of the tooth from the occlusal surface, or incisal edge, through the apex of the root.
buccal surface
The axial surface of a posterior tooth that is next to a cheek.
labial surface
The axial surface of an anterior tooth that is next to the lip.
facials surfaces
Describes both labial and buccal surfaces of teeth.
Therefore, all teeth next to the cheeks and lips.
lingual surface
The axial surface of a tooth that is nearest to the tongue
proximal surfaces
Those axial tooth surfaces that are next to each other (where one tooth surface touches the next tooth surface).
The mesial and distal surfaces of adjacent teeth are both proximal surfaces.
distal surface
The axial surface of a tooth facing away from the midline or toward the back of the mouth.
mesial surface
The axial surface of a tooth facing in the direction of the midline or toward the front of the mouth.
4 types of teeth
incisors, cuspids (canines), bicuspids (premolars), molars
incisors
- You have eight incisors - 4 on top and 4 on the bottom.
* These are the front and the teeth you see the most. They are made for tearing food.
cuspids (canines)
- These are the 4 pointy teeth right beside your incisors.
- They are for grasping and tearing food.
- When you bite into a piece of pizza, the incisors and canines work together to cut the cheese away!
- They are called canines because you often see them among dog’s teeth
bicuspids (premolars)
- These are the next 8 teeth you find as you go back along your teeth.
- They are the flat, stubby teeth that grind food down for swallowing.
- Children do not have these teeth in their primary dentition.
molars
- The 12 molars are behind premolars.
- They are wide and flat, perfect for grinding up food.
- Last 4 molars are also called wisdom teeth.
