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morphology glossary

Terms

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incisal ridge
the incisal portion of a newly erupted anterior tooth
oblique ridge
an elevated prominence on the occlusal surfaces of a maxillary molar extending obliquely between the tips of the distobuccal and mesiolingual cusps
tranverse ridge
made up of the triangular ridges of a buccal and a lingual cusp which join to form a more or less continuous elevation extending tranversely across the occlusal surface of a posterior tooth
root
that portion of a tooth normally embedded in the alveolar process and covered with cementum
root bifurcation
that point at which a root trunk divides into two separate branches
root trifucation
that point at which a root trunk divdies into three separate branches
root trunk (base)
that portion of a multirooted tooth between the cervical line and bifurcation or trifurcation of the separate roots
sulcus
an elongated valley in the surface of a tooth formed by the incines of adjacent cusps or ridges which meet at an angle
thrids
imaginary division of a tooth crown or root as to length (ie, occlusal, middle, and gingival _____ ) or mesiodistal breadth (ie, mesial, middle, and distal _____ )
tubercle
a slightly rounded elevation on the surface of a tooth, eg, the lingual tubercle of the maxillary anterior teeth
angle
the junction of two or more surfaces
apex
the terminal end or tip of a root
apical
toward the apex of a root
axial
pertaining to the longitudinal (long) axis of the tooth, i.e., labial, buccal, lingual, mesial, and distal surfaces
axial root center
an imaginary line passing through the geometric center of a tooth parallel to its long axis
buccal
next to or toward the cheek
buccal surface
the surface of a posterior tooth positioned immediately adjacent to the cheek
distal
away from the median line
distal surface
the surface of a tooth facing away from the median line following the curve of the dental arch
facial surfaces
refer to labial and buccal surfaces collectively
labial
next to or toward the lips
labial surface
that surface of an anterior tooth positioned immediately adjacent to the lip
lingual
next to or toward the tongue
lingual surface
the surface of a tooth that faces towards the tongue
line angle
that angle formed by the junction of two surfaces along a line, e.g., the mesiobuccal
mesial
toward the median line
mesial surface
the surface of a tooth facing toward the median line following the curve of the dental arch
occlusal
toward the biting surface of the posterior tooth
occlusal surface
the surface of a premolar or molar within the marginal ridges which contacts the corresponding surfaces of antagonists during closure of the posterior teeth
point angle
that angle formed by the junction of three surfaces at a point, e.g., the mesiolabioincisal angle
proximal surface
the surface of a tooth which faces toward an adjoining tooth ni the same arch, i.e., both mesial and distal surfaces are proximal surfaces
cementoenamel junction
junction of enamel and cementum, i.e., cervical line
cervix (neck)
a narrow or constricted portion of a tooth in the region of the junction of crown and root
cervical line
a curved line formed by the junction of enamel and cementum of a tooth, ie, cementoenamel junction
cingulum
a bulbous convexity on the cervial third of the lingual surface of an anterior tooth
contact area
that region of the mesial or distal surface of a tooth that touches the adjacent tooth in the same arch
crown
that portion of a tooth, covered with enamel, which is normally visible in the oral cavity
cusp
1) a pronounced elevation on the occlusal surface of a tooth terminating in a conical, rounded, or flat surface

2) any crown elevation which begins calcification as an independent center
embrasure
a V-shaped space between the proximal surfaces of two adjoining teeth in contact
fissure
a cleft or crevice in a tooth surface thought to result from the imperfect fusion of the enamel of adjoining cusps or lobes
fossa
a rounded or angular depression on the surface of a tooth. There are three common types
lingual fossa
a broad shallow depression on the lingual surface of an incisor or canine
central fossa
a relatively broad deep angular valley in the central portion of the occlusal surface of a molar
triangular fossa
a comparatively shallow pyramid-shaped depression on the occlusal surfaces of posterior teeth located just within the confines of the mesial and/or distal marginal ridges
groove
a shallow linear depression on the surface of a tooth. there are two common types
developmental groove
marks the boundaries between adjacent cusps and major divisional parts of a tooth
supplemental groove
an indistinct linear depression, irregular in extent and direction, which does not demarcate major divisional portions of a tooth
lobe
a major division of a tooth erroneously believed to be formed during development from a separate center of calcification
mamelon
a rounded or conical prominence on the incisal ridge of a newly erupted incisor
proximal root concavity
a depression extending longitudinally on the mesial or distal surface of an anterior or posterior tooth
pit
a sharp, pointed depression usually located at the junction of two or more intersecting developmental grooves or at the termination of a single developmental groove
ridge
a linear elevation on the surface of a tooth. there are several common types
marginal ridges
elevated crests which form the mesial and distal margins of
a) the occlusal surfaces of posterior teeth
b) the lingual surfaces of anterior teeth
triangular ridges
prominent elevation triangular in cross-section, which extend from teh tip of a cusp towards the central portion of the occlusal surface of a tooth
cusp ridges
elevations which extend in a mesial and distal direction from cusp tips. ____ form the buccal and lingual margins of the occlusal surfaces of posterior teeth

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