Glossary Of Dental Terminology

Front 1

Abrade

Back 1

to wear away the external covering or layer of a part.

Front 2

Abrasion

Back 2

the wearing away of tooth substance by mechanical means.

Front 3

Alveolar

Back 3

pertaining to an alveolus.

Front 4

Alveolar process

Back 4

the ridge projecting from the lower surface of the body of the maxilla or the upper surface of the mandible containing the alveoli of the teeth.

Front 5

Alveoli

Back 5

plural of alveolus. The bony sockets in which the roots of the teeth rest.

Front 6

Alveolus

Back 6

a tooth socket. A cavity in the jaw bone which envelops the root of the tooth.

Front 7

Anatomical crown

Back 7

the portion of a tooth that is covered by enamel.

Front 8

Anomaly

Back 8

a marked deviation from the normal form.

Front 9

Anterior

Back 9

situated in front of or in the forward part of.

Front 10

Anterior tooth

Back 10

any one of the incisors or cuspids of either jaw.

Front 11

Apex

Back 11

the pointed extremity of any conical part. The terminal end of the root of a tooth.

Front 12

Apical

Back 12

pertaining to or located at the apex.

Front 13

Apical foramen

Back 13

the opening of the pulp canal at the apex of the root of a tooth.

Front 14

Apices

Back 14

the opening of the pulp canal at the apex of the root of a tooth.

Front 15

Atrophic

Back 15

pertaining to or characterized by atrophy.

Front 16

Atrophied

Back 16

pertaining to or characterized by atrophy.

Front 17

Atrophy

Back 17

a wasting away or diminution in the size of a part.

Front 18

Attrition

Back 18

the wearing away of the incisal edges and occlusal surfaces of the teeth in the act of mastication or by the opposing teeth of the opposite jaw.

Front 19

Axial

Back 19

of or pertaining to the axis of a structure or part.

Front 20

Axial line angle

Back 20

the line angles that are parallel with the long axes of the teeth. The axial line angles are the mesiobuccal, distolabial, mesiobuccal, distobuccal, mesiolingual and distolingual line angles.

Front 21

Axial surfaces

Back 21

any surface of a tooth that is parallel with its long axis. The labial, buccal, mesial, distal, and lingual surfaces are axial surfaces.

Front 22

Axial wall

Back 22

any wall of the pulp chamber or preparation that is parallel to the long axis of the tooth. These are the labial, buccal, lingual, mesial and distal walls.

Front 23

Bifurcate

Back 23

forked; divided into two branches.

Front 24

Bifurcatio

Back 24

division into two branches. The division of a root into two parts. The division of a groove into two branches.

Front 25

Border

Back 25

the outer edge. The extreme part or surrounding line. A limit or boundary; a margin.

Front 26

Buccal

Back 26

pertaining to the cheek. The buccal surface of a tooth is the surface next to the cheek.

Front 27

Buccal cusp

Back 27

the cusp which is located on the buccal portion of the occlusal surface of bicuspids. Plural – buccal cusps: the cusps that are located on the buccal portion of the occlusal surface of any of the posterior teeth taken collectively.

Front 28

Buccal groove

Back 28

a primary groove that begins in the central pit of molars and extends across the buccal border of the occlusal surface onto the buccal surface.

Front 29

Buccally

Back 29

toward the cheek.

Front 30

Buccal pit

Back 30

a pit frequently found in the buccal surfaces of molars, where it marks the termination of the buccal groove.

Front 31

Buccal ridge

Back 31

a ridge on the buccal surface of a posterior tooth that extends from the tip of a cusp toward the bucco-gingival ridge.

Front 32

Buccal root

Back 32

the terminal root of a multiple-rooted tooth that is located closest to the cheek. Maxillary first bicuspids normally have one buccal root and maxillary molars two.

Front 33

Buccal surface

Back 33

the surface of a posterior tooth that lies closest to the cheek.

Front 34

Buccogingival ridge

Back 34

a prominent ridge near the cervical line on the buccal surface of molars. Syn. - buccocervical ridge, buccal deflecting ridge

Front 35

Bucco-occlusal line angle

Back 35

the line angle formed by the junction of the buccal and occlusal surfaces of bicuspids and molars.

Front 36

Canal

Back 36

any tubular and relatively narrow passage or channel

Front 37

Canine

Back 37

the third tooth from the midline, lying between the lateral incisor and the first premolar. The incisal edge of a canine is raised to form a single point or cusp. Syn. - cuspid

Front 38

Canine eminence

Back 38

the thick layer of bone on the facial surface of the maxilla that overlies the canine root.

Front 39

Cemento-enamel junction

Back 39

the line on the surface of a tooth which marks the meeting of cementum and enamel. Syn. - cervical line.

Front 40

Cementum

Back 40

the layer of bone-like tissue covering the root of a tooth.

Front 41

Central fossa

Back 41

the depressed area in the occlusal surface of the molars which surrounds the central pit.

Front 42

Central groove

Back 42

a primary groove found on the occlusal surfaces of posterior teeth where it extends from the mesial to the distal pit.

Front 43

Central incisor

Back 43

the first tooth on either side of the median line in either jaw. Also called the first incisor.

Front 44

Centric occlusion

Back 44

maximum intercuspation. The occlusion of the teeth when the jaws are closed together in the normal position.

Front 45

Centic relation

Back 45

the most superior position of the condyles in the glenoid fossae with the articular disks in place.

Front 46

Central pit

Back 46

the sharp, pointed depression situated at or near the middle of the occlusal surfaces of molars and Y-type mandibular second bicuspids.

Front 47

Cervical

Back 47

pertaining to the neck or cervix of the tooth.

Front 48

Cervical line

Back 48

(1) the line of the anatomical neck of the tooth; to be distinguished from the gingival line. (2) the line around the surface of a tooth where the enamel and cementum meet.

Front 49

Cervical third

Back 49

that portion of the crown or root of a tooth nearest the cervical line.

Front 50

Cervix

Back 50

the neck or any necklike part. The cervix of a tooth is the portion of the tooth surface adjacent to the junction of the crown and root.

Front 51

Cingulum (pl.- cingula)

Back 51

- the lingual lobe of anterior teeth which is located mostly in the cervical third of the lingual surface.

Front 52

Clinical crown

Back 52

(1) the portion of the tooth that projects from the tissues in which the root is fixed. (2) the portion of the tooth that is visible in the mouth.

Front 53

Comminution

Back 53

the act of breaking, or condition of being broken into small fragments.

Front 54

Condyle

Back 54

the rounded eminence at the articular end of a bone.

Front 55

Contact

Back 55

the touching of two surfaces of adjoining teeth.

Front 56

Contact area

Back 56

the portion on the surface of a tooth that touches the adjacent tooth in the same arch.

Front 57

Cusp

Back 57

a pronounced elevation or point on the crown of a tooth.

Front 58

Cusp of Carabelli

Back 58

the cusp located on the lingual surface of many maxillary first permanent molars. It is also known as the Carabelli tubercle and as the fifth cusp. (Named after Georg C. Carabelli, Viennese dentist, 1787-1842).

Front 59

Cuspid

Back 59

the third tooth from the midline, lying between the lateral incisor and the first premolar. The incisal edge of a canine is raised to form a single point or cusp. Syn. - canine

Front 60

Deciduous tooth

Back 60

Syn. primary tooth - preferred. One of the teeth of the first dentition. So called because they are shed to give place to the permanent teeth. Also called temporary or milk teeth.

Front 61

Dentin

Back 61

the hard tissue which forms the main body of a tooth. It surrounds the pulp and is covered by the enamel and cementum.

Front 62

Dentino-cemental junction

Back 62

Dentino-cemental junction - the line of meeting between the dentin and cementum.

Front 63

Dentino-enamel junction

Back 63

the line of meeting of the dentin and enamel.

Front 64

Dentition

Back 64

the kind, number, and arrangement of the teeth.

Front 65

Developmental groove

Back 65

a depressed line in the enamel of a tooth that marks the union or coalescence of the lobes.

Front 66

Distal

Back 66

away from the midline following the curve of the dental arch.

Front 67

Distally

Back 67

the direction away from the midline of the face following the curve of the dental arch.

Front 68

Distal marginal ridge

Back 68

a prominent elevation of enamel that extends along the distal border of the occlusal surface of bicuspids and molars and the lingual surface of anterior teeth.

Front 69

Distal pit

Back 69

the pit occurring in the distal part of the occlusal surface of a posterior tooth.

Front 70

Distal root

Back 70

the terminal root of a multiple-rooted tooth that is located farthest from the median line following the curve of the dental arch. Mandibular molars are the only teeth that normally have distal roots.

Front 71

Distal surface

Back 71

the surface of a tooth that lies farthest from the median line following the curve of the dental arch.

Front 72

Distobuccal triangular groove

Back 72

a primary groove which extends from the distal pit of bicuspids and molars toward the distobuccal angle of the occlusal surface.

Front 73

Distolingual triangular groove

Back 73

a primary groove which extends from the distal pit of bicuspids and molars toward the distolingual angle of the occlusal surface.

Front 74

Embrasure

Back 74

a V-shaped space that opens away from contact; the spaces adjacent to contact

Front 75

Buccal embrasure

Back 75

the embrasure opening outward from the contact toward the cheek in the posterior teeth.

Front 76

Gingival embrasure

Back 76

the embrasure opening from the contact toward the alveolar process. The gingival embrasure is also known as the cervical embrasure or inter-proximal space.

Front 77

Incisal embrasure

Back 77

the embrasure opening from the contact toward the incisal edges of anterior teeth.

Front 78

Labial embrasure

Back 78

the embrasure opening from the contact toward the lips in anterior teeth.

Front 79

Lingual embrasure

Back 79

the embrasure opening from the contact toward the tongue

Front 80

Occlusal embrasure

Back 80

the embrasure opening occlusally from the contact in posterior teeth.

Front 81

Enamel

Back 81

the hard, mineralized tissue that covers the dentin of the crown of a tooth.

Front 82

Epithelium

Back 82

the covering of the skin and mucous membrane, consisting of one or more layers of cells varying in form and arrangement.

Front 83

Erosion

Back 83

the loss of tooth substance due to a combination of chemical action and abrasion. Etiology unknown.

Front 84

Eruption

Back 84

the emergence of a tooth through the soft tissues to appear in the oral cavity.

Front 85

Facet

Back 85

a small abraded spot on a tooth.

Front 86

Facial

Back 86

pertaining to the face. The outer surfaces of the teeth collectively (labial and buccal).

Front 87

Facial

Back 87

the labial and buccal surfaces.

Front 88

Faciolingual taper

Back 88

the mesio-distal convergence of the proximal surfaces of the teeth. This begins at the midline of the proximal surfaces and occupies the lingual half of the tooth. Contact ends lingually as this convergence opens the lingual embrasure.

Front 89

Fault

Back 89

a defect or imperfection in the enamel.

Front 90

Fissure fault

Back 90

a fault in the surface of a tooth caused by imperfect joining of the enamel of the different lobes. A linear fault
between two lobes. Fissures occur along the lines of developmental grooves. A pit fault occurs when three or more lobes fail to unite.

Front 91

Floor of pulp chamber

Back 91

the wall of the pulp chamber situated beneath the dental pulp.

Front 92

Foramen

Back 92

a hole or perforation; especially a hole in a bone. See apical foramen.

Front 93

Fossa

Back 93

a round or angular depression in the surface of a tooth. Fossae occur mostly in the lingual surface of incisors and the occlusal surface of posterior teeth.

Front 94

Gingiva

Back 94

the gum; the fibrous tissue covered by mucous membrane that covers the alveolar processes of the jaws and surrounds the necks of the teeth.

Front 95

Gingival

Back 95

pertaining to the gum or gums; pertaining to the gingiva.

Front 96

Gingival curvature

Back 96

the deviation from a straight line taken by the gingival line in its course around the crown of a tooth.

Front 97

Gingival embrasure

Back 97

cervical embrasure. See embrasure.

Front 98

Gingival line

Back 98

the line of contact of the extreme border of the gingiva to the tooth; to be distinguished from the cervical line.

Front 99

Gingivally

Back 99

a direction from any part of the tooth toward the gingival line.

Front 100

Gingival papilla

Back 100

that part of the gingiva which lies in the gingival embrasure

Front 101

Gingival sulcus

Back 101

the space which develops in the soft tissues surrounding the tooth, bounded by the tooth surface on one side and the epithelial lining of the gingiva on the center.

Front 102

Glenoid fossa

Back 102

same as mandibular fossa.

Front 103

Groove

Back 103

a linear depression in the surface of a tooth.

Front 104

Height of contour

Back 104

crest of contour. The most prominent portion of the axial surfaces of the teeth in an occlusogingival or incisogingival direction.

Front 105

Incisal

Back 105

cutting, as the incisal or cutting edge of a tooth.

Front 106

Incisal edge

Back 106

the sharp angle formed by the union of the labial and lingual surfaces of anterior teeth. The cutting edge of newly erupted anterior teeth.

Front 107

Icisally

Back 107

toward the incisal edge.

Front 108

Incisal surface

Back 108

the surface of an anterior tooth that cuts the food. Incisal surfaces only appear after wear has dulled the sharp incisal edge found on newly erupted teeth.

Front 109

Incisor

Back 109

any one of the four front teeth of either jaw.

Front 110

Inclined plane

Back 110

a sloping area found on the occlusal surfaces of bicuspids and molars. It is bounded by the primary grooves and the crests of the ridges. Each normal cusp has two inclined planes named according to the cusp they are part of and to which side of the inclined ridge they are positioned, i.e., the mesial inclined plane of the buccal cusp.

Front 111

Labial

Back 111

pertaining to the lips.

Front 112

Labially

Back 112

toward the lips.

Front 113

Labial surface

Back 113

the surface of an anterior that lies next to the lips.

Front 114

Labio-incisal line angle

Back 114

the line angle formed by the junction of the labial and incisal surfaces after the sharp incisal edge has worn away.

Front 115

Lateral incisor

Back 115

the second tooth from the midline on each side in either jaw.

Front 116

Line angle

Back 116

the angle formed by the junction of two surfaces.

Front 117

Lingual

Back 117

pertaining to the tongue.

Front 118

Lingual cusp

Back 118

the cusp which is located on the lingual portion of the occlusal surface of bicuspids. Plural - lingual cusps. The cusps which are located on the lingual portion of the occlusal surface of any of the posterior teeth.

Front 119

Lingual fossa

Back 119

the depressed area in the lingual surface of upper incisors bounded by the incisal border, the marginal ridges and the cingulum.

Front 120

Lingually

Back 120

toward the tongue.

Front 121

Lingual ridge

Back 121

- a ridge that extends from the tip of a cusp toward the cervix. Canines and posterior teeth have lingual ridges on the lingual surfaces.

Front 122

Lingual root

Back 122

the terminal root of a multiple-rooted tooth that is located closest to the tongue. Maxillary first bicuspids and molars normally have lingual roots.

Front 123

Lingual surface

Back 123

the tooth that is next to the tongue.

Front 124

Linguogingival fissure

Back 124

a fault occasionally found in the lingual surfaces of maxillary incisors.

Front 125

Linguo-incisal line angle

Back 125

the line angle formed by the junction of the lingual and incisal surfaces after the sharp incisal edge is worn away.

Front 126

Linguo-occlusal line angle

Back 126

the line angle formed by the junction of the lingual and occlusal surfaces of bicuspids and molars.

Front 127

Linguo-occlusal groove

Back 127

Syn. - lingual developmental groove, lingual groove.
A primary groove which begins in the central pit of molars and extends across the lingual border of the occlusal surface onto the lingual surface.

Front 128

Lobe

Back 128

one of the main morphological divisions of the crown of a tooth.

Front 129

Long axis

Back 129

an imaginary line passing lengthwise through the center of a tooth.

Front 130

Malocclusion

Back 130

an irregular position of the teeth that will interfere with their efficiency during the movements of the jaw, essential to the function of mastication.

Front 131

Malposed

Back 131

not in the normal position.

Front 132

Malposition

Back 132

abnormal position.

Front 133

Mamelon

Back 133

one of the three rounded prominences on the incisal edge of anterior teeth when they first erupt.

Front 134

Mandible

Back 134

the bone forming the lower jaw.

Front 135

Mandibular

Back 135

pertaining to the lower jaw.

Front 136

Marginal ridge

Back 136

an elevation of enamel near the mesial or distal borders of the lingual surfaces of anterior teeth and the occlusal surfaces of posteriors. See mesial marginal ridge and distal marginal ridge.

Front 137

Mastication

Back 137

the chewing of food.

Front 138

Maxilla (pl. - maxillae)

Back 138

the irregularly shaped bone forming the upper jaw.

Front 139

Maxillary

Back 139

pertaining to the maxilla or upper jaw.

Front 140

Mesial

Back 140

toward the midline following the curve of the dental arch.

Front 141

Mesially

Back 141

same as mesial
toward the midline following the curve of the dental arch.

Front 142

Mesial marginal ridge

Back 142

a prominent elevation of enamel that extends along the mesial border of the occlusal surface of bicuspids and molars and the lingual surface of anterior teeth.

Front 143

Mesial pit

Back 143

the pit occurring in the mesial part of the occlusal surface of a posterior tooth.

Front 144

Mesial root

Back 144

the root of a multiple-rooted tooth that is located closest to the midline following the curve of the dental arch. Mandibular molars are the only teeth that normally have mesial roots.

Front 145

Mesial surface

Back 145

the surface of a tooth that lies closest to the midline following the curve of the dental arch.

Front 146

Mesiobuccal (developmental) groove

Back 146

- a primary groove which begins in the central pit of mandibular first and five-cusp-type third molars and extends across the bucco-occlusal angle to end on the buccal surface.

Front 147

Mesiobuccal triangular groove

Back 147

a primary groove which extends from the mesial pit of bicuspids and molars toward the mesiobuccal angle of the occlusal surface.

Front 148

Mesiodistally

Back 148

from mesial to distal (direction or dimension).

Front 149

Mesio-incisal line angle

Back 149

the angle formed by the junction of the mesial surface with the incisal edge or surface of incisors and cuspids.

Front 150

Mesiolingual cusp

Back 150

the cusp which is located in the mesial and lingual portion of the occlusal surfaces of molars and Y-type mandibular second premolars.

Front 151

Mesiolingual triangular groove

Back 151

a primary groove which extends from the mesial pit of premolars and molars toward the mesiolingual angle of the occlusal surface.

Front 152

Midline

Back 152

the antero-posterior, perpendicular, central line of the body. The imaginary line dividing the body into right and left.

Front 153

Molar

Back 153

one of the large grinding teeth of which there are three on either side in both jaws. They are situated distal to the premolars and named from the front backward as maxillary or mandibular first, second and third molars. The first molar is also called the six-year molar; the second molar, the twelve-year molar; and the third molar, the wisdom tooth.

Front 154

Oblique ridge

Back 154

a ridge running obliquely across the occlusal surface of upper molars. It is formed by the union of the inclined ridge of the mesio-lingual cusp with the inclined ridge of the disto-buccal cusp.

Front 155

Occlude

Back 155

to fit close together; to close tight; to shut.

Front 156

Occlusal embrasure

Back 156

see embrasure

Front 157

Occlusal pit

Back 157

a pit in the occlusal surface of a tooth.

Front 158

Occlusal surface

Back 158

the surface of a bicuspid or molar that makes contact with a tooth of the opposite jaw when the mouth is closed.

Front 159

Occlusally

Back 159

toward the occlusal surface.

Front 160

Occlusion

Back 160

the contact of the teeth of both jaws when closed or during those excursive movements of the mandible.

Front 161

Periodontal ligament

Back 161

the fibrous tissue that is attached to the cementum of the tooth and to the surrounding structures.

Front 162

Periodontium

Back 162

the investing and supporting tissues surrounding the tooth: namely, the periodontal membrane, the gingiva, and the alveolar bone.

Front 163

Permanent tooth

Back 163

one of the adult teeth as distinguished from the primary teeth. A tooth of the permanent or second dentition.

Front 164

Pit

Back 164

a sharp, pointed depression in the enamel.

Front 165

Point angle

Back 165

the point of junction of three surfaces, as the mesiolinguo-occlusal point angle.

Front 166

Posterior tooth

Back 166

one of the teeth situated distal to the cuspids. Premolars and molars are posterior teeth.

Front 167

Primary groove

Back 167

a sharp V-shaped groove. A groove of first importance in developing a pattern for the descriptive matter in this text.

Front 168

Proximal concavity

Back 168

the flat to slightly concave area found between the proximal ridge and cervical line on the mesial and distal surfaces of posterior teeth. When two posterior teeth are in proximal contact, these areas are responsible for forming the cervical embrasure.

Front 169

Proximal ridge

Back 169

a convex linear elevation on the proximal surfaces of posterior teeth extending from the bucco-proximal line angle to the linguo-proximal line angle and containing the contact area and crest of contour of the proximal surface.

Front 170

Proximal surface

Back 170

one of the surfaces of a tooth, either mesial or distal, which lies next to an adjacent tooth.

Front 171

Pulp

Back 171

the soft tissue occupying the central cavity of a tooth.

Front 172

Pulp canal

Back 172

the part of the pulp cavity that traverses the root of a tooth.

Front 173

Pulp cavity

Back 173

the entire central cavity in a tooth that contains the dental pulp.

Front 174

Pulp chamber

Back 174

the enlarged portion of the pulp cavity that lies mostly in the central portion of the crown.

Front 175

Pulp horn

Back 175

an extension of the pulp chamber toward the occlusal surface or incisal edge of a tooth.

Front 176

Resorption

Back 176

the gradual loss of the tooth structure or of bone resulting from an altered biochemical state in a localized area.

Front 177

Ridge

Back 177

a long, elevated portion of the tooth surface.

Front 178

Root

Back 178

the portion of a tooth that is covered with cementum.

Front 179

Root canal

Back 179

same as pulp canal.
the part of the pulp cavity that traverses the root of a tooth.

Front 180

Secondary groove

Back 180

a groove of lesser importance. Secondary grooves differ from primary grooves in that they are usually rounded or U-shaped at the bottom and they do not mark the boundaries of the lobes.

Front 181

Septum

Back 181

a dividing wall or partition. One of the thin plates of bone separating the alveoli of the jaw.

Front 182

Succedaneous tooth

Back 182

a permanent tooth that succeeds or takes the place of one of the primary teeth. The incisors, cuspids, and premolars are succedaneous teeth.

Front 183

Sulcus (pl., sulci)

Back 183

a well-defined, long-shaped depression in the surface of a tooth, the inclines of which meet at an angle.

Front 184

Supplemental groove

Back 184

same as secondary groove. An auxiliary groove tat branches from a developmental groove.

Front 185

Tooth

Back 185

any one of a number of hard, mineralized appendages that are found in the jaws and serve for the mastication of food.

Front 186

Transverse ridge

Back 186

a ridge formed by the union of a lingual ridge of a buccal cusp and a buccal ridge of a lingual cusp to form a continuous elevation of enamel from buccal to lingual across the occlusal surface.

Front 187

Triangular groove

Back 187

one of the grooves of the occlusal surface of a tooth extends from the mesial or distal pit toward an angle. They are named mesiobuccal triangular groove, mesiolingual triangular groove, distobuccal triangular groove, and distolingual triangular groove.

Front 188

Triangular ridge

Back 188

a term used to designate a ridge which extends from the tip of a cusp toward the central portion of the occlusal surface of a tooth, i.e., the lingual ridges of the buccal cusps and the buccal ridges of the lingual cusps of bicuspids and molars.

Front 189

Trunk

Back 189

the main body of the root of a multi-rooted tooth. That portion of the root from the cervical line to the division of the root.

Front 190

Tubercle

Back 190

a small, rounded or pointed elevation of enamel. Tubercles occur frequently on the cingula of anterior teeth and occasionally on various parts of other teeth.

Front 191

Wisdom tooth

Back 191

see molar

Front 192

Working occlusion

Back 192

the dynamic relationship of the mandibular and maxillary teeth to one another during the excursion of the mandible from working position to centric position.

Front 193

Working position

Back 193

the static relationship of the mandibular and maxillary teeth to one another on one side of the dental arch when the mandible is moved laterally to that side.