DENTAL ANATOMY

DENTAL ANATOMY
Structures of the oral cavity

The oral cavity or mouth is the first part of the gastrointestinal tract and the airway – the
place where food and air enter the body.

The oral cavity is surrounded by the cheeks (called Buccae in Latin) & the lips (called Labia in
Latin)

The upper or superior lip & the lower or inferior lip are attached to the gingiva by folds of
soft issue called labial frenula

The vestibule is the space between the cheeks/lips and the teeth.

The palate forms the roof of the mouth & the floor of the nasal cavity (nose)

The bony anterior part of the palate is called hard palate

Palatine raphe is the midline of the palate

The soft, mobile posterior part of the palate is called soft palate

The uvula is a soft tissue projection of the soft palate and helps with the formation of some
sounds.

The palatine tonsils are part of the immune system and protect the body from disease

Palatoglossal and palatopharyngeal arches are the border between the oral cavity and the
pharynx (throat)

The pharynx behind the mouth is called the oropharynx

The tongue (called Lingua in Latin and Glossa in Greek) is a muscular organ

The tongue helps with: mastication (chewing), deglutition (swallowing), articulation (sound
formation and taste sensation

The tongue is attached to the floor of the mouth by the lingual frenulum.

The gingiva or gums are part of the soft tissue lining the inside of the mouth

The gingiva surrounds the teeth and forms a tight seal around them.

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The teeth

Teeth are small calcified, whitish structures found in the jaws of humans and many other
animals.

In humans the teeth have the following functions:

1. To chew food during mastication

2. To help with sound formation during speech

3. To provide support for the jaws, cheeks and lips and so contribute to facial appearance.

Quadrants of the mouth

Each human being has 2 jaws:

Upper jaw maxilla - maxillary teeth.

Lower jaw mandible - mandibular teeth.

A midline divides the oral cavity into 2 equal halves. So the teeth in oral cavity are divided
into 4 Quadrants .

1. Maxillary Right quadrant OR Upper Right

2. Maxillary Left quadrant OR Upper Left
3. ,Mandibular Right quadrant OR Lower right
4. Mandibular Left quadrant. OR Lower Left

.Types of teeth

There are 4 types of teeth:

Two types called Anteriors – incisors, canine

The other 2 types are called Posteriors – premolars, molars

. Anterior teeth -Incisors There are 2 incisors in each quadrant 1 central next to midline 1
lateral Canines There is 1 canine in each quadrant Has 1 cusp so called (cuspid)

Posterior teeth - Premolars There are 2 in each quadrant 1st & 2nd premolars Mainly have
2 cusps Molars There are 3 in each quadrant 1st , 2nd , 3rd The are multicuspid and
multirooted.

Types of dentition:

There are 3 types of dentition in humans:

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1. Deciduous dentition
2. Mixed dentition
3. Permanent dentition

1. Deciduous dentition: They are also called primary, milk, or temporary teeth. The teeth
start to appear at 6 months and continue to erupt till age of 2.5-3 years. They are 20 in
number. 5 for each quadrant. 2 Incisors, 1Canine , 2 Deciduous Molars . These teeth are
called (Predecessors)

2. Mixed dentition: It is type of dentition where both deciduous and permanent teeth are
present in the oral cavity. It usually starts with eruption of 1st permanent molar. Begins
from 6-12 years with the shedding of last deciduous tooth

17. Succedaneous teeth: 20 decideous teeth are replaced by 20 permanent teeth.

2 D Incisors are replaced by 2 P Incisors

1 D Canine is replaced by 1 P Canine

2 D Molars are replaced by 2 Premolars

The 3 Permanent Molars are not considered as a succedaneous teeth (no predecessors)

3. Permanent dentition: They are also called secondary or adult teeth They start to erupt
at 6 years till nearly 21 years with eruption of permanent 3rd molar (wisdom tooth). They
last for long time and are not replaced.

They are 32 teeth In each quadrant:

2 incisors central and lateral

1 canine

2 premolars

3 molars

Dental formula

A number and letter designation of the various types of teeth found in a dentition. It
indicates the dentition of only one side of the mouth, but includes upper and lower teeth, so
dental formula includes just half of the teeth .

deciduous teeth: 2 1 2/ 2 1 2; adult = 2 1 2 3/2 1 2 3.

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.Numbering systems

It is used to serve as abbreviations instead of writing the entire name of a tooth These
symbols will let us know the tooth is either -Deciduous or permanent ,Upper or lower ,Right
or left ,the tooth type There are 3 numbering or notation systems:

A .Palmer numbering system.

B. International (two digit) system.

C. Universal numbering system.

Universal system: Permanent : Teeth take numbers from 1-32. Starting from upper right 3rd
molar(1) proceeding clockwise, and ending by lower right third molar (32). It is always
preceded by # sign

Parts of the teeth-

1. Crown
2. Neck
3. Root

Crown

• Crown is the part of the tooth that seen in the oral cavity.

• Crown is covered by enamel.

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Root

• Root is the part of the tooth that immersed within the jaw bone and not seen by the
viewer. • Root is covered by cementum.

Cervical line • Cervical line is the line of meeting of crown and root.

• Cervical line is termed: 1. Neck of the tooth. 2. Cementoenamel junction (CEJ).

Root number-

1.Single rooted teeth:

Anterior teeth.

Premolars except maxillary first premolar.

2. Two rooted teeth:

Maxillary first premolar.

Mandibular molars.

3. Three rooted teeth:

Maxillary molars.

TISSUES OF THE TEETH

1. Enamel
2. Cementum
3. Dentine
4. Pulp

Enamel: Enamel is the hard tissue that cover the crown. • Enamel is the hardest tissue
allover the body.

Cementum : Cementum is the hard tissue that cover the root

. Dentin: Dentin is the hard tissue that form the main bulk of the tooth. • Dentin is covered
by enamel at crown and by cementum at root. • Dentin surround a central cavity within the
tooth termed pulp.

Pulp: • The dental pulp is a loose delicate connective tissue occupying the cavity in the
center of tooth and surrounded by dentin.

. Anatomy of the pulp cavity:

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1- Pulp chamber: found within the crown. Coronal pulp: found within the pulp chamber.
2- Root canals: found within the root. . Radicular pulp: found within the root canal
3- Apical foramen: opening of the tooth in which blood vessels and nerves enter the tooth.
Anatomy of the pulp tissue:

SURFACES OF THE TEETH

1. Facial ( Labial / Buccal)
2. Lingual
3. Mesial
4. Distal
5. Incisal / Occlusal

Facial surface

 Labial surface The outside surface of anterior teeth facing lip

 Buccal surface The outside surface of posterior teeth facing cheeks (buccinator
muscle)

Lingual/ palatal surface: The inner surface of teeth facing tongue or palate.

Mesial surface: toward Midline 4. Distal surface: Distant from midline

. Incisal surface Biting surface of anterior teeth

Occlusal surface Chewing surface of posterior teeth

Elevation of Crown of tooth

1.Mamelon: Mamelon is any one of three small rounded elevations located on the incisal
ridge of newly erupted permanent incisors only.

2. Cusp : Cusp is an elevation of various size and shape

Canine teeth( cuspids)- possess a single cusp.

Premolars (bicuspids)- possess two cusp.

Molars - possess four or five cusps.

Supporting Structures of the Teeth

1. Alveolar Process. - The alveolar process is the thickened ridge of the bone ( maxillae /mandible)
that contains tooth sockets
2. Periodontal Ligament – attaches cementum to alveolar bone
3. Gingiva /gums- is a mucous membrane that covers alveolar process and surrounds
neck of teeth.
4. Cementum - is the hard tissue that cover the root