Terminology Flashcards
Alveolar Socket
The bony socket in the jaw occupied by the tooth and periodontal ligament.
Apical
Relating to the area of tooth closer to the roots.
Bolus
A ball of food that has been chewed and mixed with saliva and is ready for swallowing.
Buccal
Relating to the cheek, next to the buckle of the bridle/halter.
Cap
Remnant of the deciduous tooth that covers an erupting permanent cheek tooth and is later shed.
Caudal
Towards the tail/posterior end, the ‘back face’ of the tooth.
Cheeks
Lateral boundaries of the oral cavity.
Commisures
Junction between upper and lower lip at the angle of mouth.
Crown
A section of tooth sitting above the gum line.
Deciduous Teeth
The first dentition: milk teeth.
Dental Arcade
The arrangement of all the cheek teeth and associated tissues in any one of the dental quadrants of the horse.
Distal
Relating to the direction away from the midline of the mouth.
Eruption of Tooth
The process of movement of tooth from the alveolus into the oral cavity.
Halitosis
Bad breath.
Labial
Towards the lips of the equine, the ‘fronts’ of the incisors facing the lips.
Lateral
Away from the median plane of teeth. Opposite of medial.
Lingual
Relating to the tongue.
Malocclusion
A set of teeth that are out of alignment.
Mandibular
The lower jaw.
Maxillary
The upper jaw.
Medial
Relating to the direction towards the midline of the mouth. Opposite of lateral.
Occlusal
The surface of the tooth that meets another tooth opposite. Also called the ‘table surface’.
Occlusion
Surface to surface contact between opposing teeth.
Oral Cavity
Area extending from the alveolar ridge and teeth to the oral pharynx.
Palatal
Pertaining to the palate or roof of the mouth.
Periodontal Ligament
Tough fibres which secure the cement on the periphery of the tooth to the bony alveolus; acts as a shock absorbers to dampen occlusal pressures.
Proximal
Plane of direction- situated close to the centre of the body, the median plane.
Quadrant
One fourth of the dentition. The four quadrants are divided into he right and left, maxillary and mandibular.
Quidding
The act of dropping partially chewed food from the mouth.
Reserve Crown
A section of the tooth sitting below the gum line.
Rostral
Towards the nose, the ‘front face’ of the tooth.
TEMPAROMANDIBULAR
JOINT (TMJ)
The articulation between the head of the mandible and temporal bones, a combined hinge and gliding joint.
TRANSVERSE RIDGES
Each molar should naturally have two ridges to allow the horse to chew its
food. These occur perpendicular to the horses tooth on the occlusal surface of the tooth, creating an uneven wear to increase surface area.
Ventral
Opposite of dorsal. Plane of direction- which is below.
