This document provides information about dental anatomy and terminology. It describes the primary and permanent dentitions, including the number of teeth and eruption sequence. The permanent dentition consists of 32 teeth that erupt between ages 5-12, replacing the primary teeth. Tooth structures are defined, including the crown, neck, root, surfaces, and angles. Oral cavity terminology is outlined, such as divisions of the tooth, anatomic vs clinical features, and terms relating to tooth surfaces. Review resources are also provided.

1. The Dentition
Eruption Sequence
Functions
Line/Point Angles
Oral Cavity Terminology
CHAPTER 1, 2

2. Review

3. The Dentition
Teeth arranged to form two arches, named by the
bone which composes it
Maxilla forms the maxillary or upper arch
Mandible forms mandibular or lower arch
Two arches make up one dentition or set of teeth
Two dentitions over a lifespan
Primary (deciduous) and permanent

4. Primary or Deciduous Dentition
Begin to emerge into mouth about 6-8 months age
Teeth erupt following a developmental schedule
20 teeth
10 maxillary and 10 mandibular
Fully erupt by age 2½-3 years
Eventually replaced by permanent teeth

5. Permanent Dentition
32 permanent teeth
16 maxillary and 16 mandibular
Mandibular first molar is the first permanent
tooth
Between ages 5 & 6
Erupts next to last primary molar

6. Permanent Dentition

7. Permanent Dentition
Between ages 5-12, mixed dentition is present
Both deciduous and permanent teeth in the mouth
together
Permanent teeth that replace the deciduous are
referred to as succedaneous

8. Permanent Teeth
Incisors are the four sharp-edged front teeth
Two central, two lateral
Incises/cuts food
Canines, aka cuspids, corner teeth with one pointed
cusp
Holds/tears food

9. Permanent Teeth
Premolars aka bicuspids, posterior teeth with two
cusps
Named by sequence from front to back in arch
Crushes/tears food
Molars are broad back teeth, several cusps
Named by sequence from front to back in arch
Chews/crushes/grinds food: mastication

10. The Arrangement of the Teeth
Anterior teeth
Front of the mouth, include incisors and canines
Posterior teeth
Back of the mouth, include premolars and molars

11. The Eruption Sequence
Teeth begin to form in utero, eruptions begin to
occur at approximately 6-8 months of age
Mandibular teeth generally precede maxillary teeth
Active eruption period continues until crown is almost
completely exposed and tooth is in proper alignment
In later life, the “gums” or gingival line, may recede,
exposing more of the tooth, this is called passive
eruption.

14. Eruption Sequence
 Eruption dates vary from person to person by a few
months
 By the age of 2.5-3 years old, all deciduous teeth have
erupted
 At about 6, the permanent teeth start to erupt
Which tooth?
 First molars are the first permanent tooth to erupt
Posterior to the deciduous second molar
Nonsuccedaneous

15. The Eruption Sequence
Tooth height can decrease throughout life due
to wearing away of biting and chewing surfaces
Wearing away is called attrition
Teeth grinding (bruxism) also causes attrition
Abrasion is caused by mechanical wear from
biting or vigorous brushing

17. Line Angle
 The area of the tooth
where two surfaces
meet, such as the line
that joins the buccal
and mesial surfaces
would be called the
mesio-buccal line
angle

18. Point Angle
The area of the tooth
where three surfaces
meet
The joining point of the
occlusal, lingual, and
mesial surfaces

19. Oral Cavity Terminology

20. Divisions of the tooth
 The crown
 Portion of the tooth normally visible in the mouth
 Covered with enamel
 Teeth have different shaped crowns, each adapted to perform a specific function in reducing
food for digestion
 The cervix (neck)
 The crown joins the root at the Cementoenamel junction (CEJ)
 Junction between the anatomic crown and the anatomic root
 The root
 Located in the bone and not normally visible
 Covered with cementum
 Stabilize/support teeth when the pressure from mastication is exerted

21. Anatomic vs Clinical
 The anatomic crown is covered with enamel
 The anatomic root is covered with cementum
 After eruption is complete, only the anatomic crown is seen in the
mouth
 Later in life, as part of the aging process, the gingiva and bone may
recede, exposing a portion of the root.
 All of the tooth that is visible in the mouth, the crown AND the
exposed root together are referred to as the clinical crown
 The clinical crown extends from the biting surface of the tooth to the
gingival margin

22. Surfaces of the tooth
 Mesial: surface closest to the midline
 Distal: surface farthest, or most distant, from the midline
 Facial: the surfaces closest to the face or outer sufaces of the teeth
 Labial: facial surface of anterior teeth or surfaces closest to the lip
 Buccal: facial surface of posterior teeth or surfaces closest to the cheek
 Lingual: surfaces closest to the tongue or palate; all inner surfaces
 Occlusal: chewing surfaces of posterior teeth
 Incisal edge: biting surface of anterior teeth

24. Terms relating to tooth surfaces
Proximal: the surface of the
tooth that is next to, or
beside, the adjacent tooth
Mesial and distal are both
proximal surfaces

25. Interproximal
A triangular space
between adjacent teeth
that is normally filled
with the portion of the
gingiva called interdental
papilla

26. Contact Area
An area on both the
mesial and distal
surfaces that touches,
or contacts, the
adjacent tooth

27. Apex
Tip of the root

28. Review
 https://www.animated-teeth.com/questions-answers/kids-deciduous-
tooth-identification/baby-teeth-types.html
 https://youtu.be/bEhsUtiHVXI
 https://www.purposegames.com/game/tooth-surfaces-game