Tooth Morphology

Question 1

List some functions of teeth

Answer 1

Mastication
- Chewing
- Aids digestion
- Avoid choking
- Aids nutrition

Phonetics
- Articulating words
- Create sounds

Aesthetics
- Appearance of teeth and face

Question 2

What are the identifying features of Incisors?

Answer 2

• Front of mouth
• Sharp straight biting surface
• Cutting or shearing of food

Question 3

What are the identifying features of Canines?

Answer 3

• At the ‘corners’ of the mouth
• Sharp pointed biting surface
• Grip and tear food

Question 4

What are the identifying features of Premolars?

Answer 4

• Behind canines, next to cheeks
• Flat surface with ridges
• Crushing and grinding food into smaller pieces
• Not present in primary dentition

Question 5

What are the identifying features of Molars?

Answer 5

• Biggest and strongest teeth
• Behind premolars in permanent dentition, or behind canines in primary dentition
• Food pushed to back of mouth
• Grinds food ready for swallowing

Question 6

Cheek

Answer 6

Buccal

Question 7

Lips

Answer 7

Labial

Question 8

Tongue

Answer 8

Lingual

Question 9

Palate

Answer 9

Palatal

Question 10

Inter-proximal surface

Answer 10

In-between teeth

Question 11

Mesial

Answer 11

Inter-proximal surface facing front of mouth (midline)

Question 12

Distal

Answer 12

Inter-proximal surface facing towards back of mouth

Question 13

Occlusal

Answer 13

The biting surface of posterior teeth

Question 14

Incisal edge

Answer 14

The biting surface of anterior teeth

Question 15

What does the Line angles define?

Answer 15

Defines the junction of two surfaces

Question 16

What does the Point angles define?

Answer 16

Defines the junction of three surfaces