morphology glossary
Terms
undefined, object
copy deck
- 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