This glossary focuses on terminologies used by dentists.  We have other glossaries for Dental Products and for Endodontic terminologies.

GLOSSARY OF DENTAL ANATOMY

Over 30  basic dental anatomy terminologies are listed below, as well as some graphical references to help you understand these terms better.

Reference to where in the mouth many of the terms below relate to can be found in this accompanying infographic.

 

Another tool for visual learners would be to watch this short video on dental anatomy.

Anterior

    The direction toward the front of the head or the lips, as opposed to posterior, which refers to the directions toward the back of an individual’s head. The term anterior teeth refers to incisors and canines, as opposed to premolars and molars, which are posterior teeth.

Apex

    The tip or end of the root end of the tooth

Apical

    The direction toward the root tip(s) or apex(es) of a tooth (the apices), as opposed to coronal, which refers to the direction toward the crown. It may also refer to something relating to the roots, such as apical support. When referring to direction in relation to entities on or of the crown, this term can be synonymous with both cervical and gingival.

Buccal

    The side of a tooth that is adjacent to (or the direction toward) the inside of the cheek, as opposed to lingual or palatal (both oral), which refer to the side of a tooth adjacent to (or the direction toward) the tongue or palate, respectively, the oral cavity. Although technically referring only to posterior teeth (where the cheeks are present instead of lips, use of this term has incorrectly extended to all teeth, anterior and posterior), this term has inaccurately been employed to describe the vestibular surface of (or directions in relation to) anterior teeth as well.

Cervical

    Means neck in Latin (as in cervical vertebrae), and refers to the narrowing of the contours of the tooth surface at or near the CEJ, where the crown meets the root. When referring to direction in relation to entities on or of the crown, it is nearly synonymous with both apical and gingival.

Coronal

    The direction toward the crown of a tooth, as opposed to apical, which refers to the direction toward the tip(s) of the root(s) or apex(es). It may also refer to something relating to the crown, such as coronal forces.

Distal

    The direction toward the gingiva beyond the tooth furthest from the anterior midline (the ‘most posterior tooth’ or last tooth) in each quadrant of a dental arch, as opposed to mesial, which refers to the direction toward the anterior midline. Each tooth can be described as having a distal surface and, for posterior teeth, a distobuccal (DB) and a distolingual (DL) corner or cusp.

Endodontics

    Endodontics is the branch of dentistry which is concerned with the morphology, physiology and pathology of the human dental pulp and periradicular tissues. Its study and practice encompass the basic and clinical sciences including biology of the normal pulp, the etiology, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of diseases and injuries of the pulp and associated periradicular conditions.  (Click here for a glossary of endodontic terminologies)

Gingival

    The direction toward the gingiva (gums), synonymous with cervical and similar to apical. However, locations on teeth already more apical to the interface of the crown and root, referred to as the CEJ, tend not to be described using this term, as it would lead to confusion, as the exact definition is ambiguous. Additionally, this term would not be used when referring to a tooth ex vivo.

Gingivitis

    Inflammation of gingival tissue without loss of connective tissue

Incisal

    The direction toward the biting edge of anterior teeth or something relating to this edge, such as the terms incisal guidance or incisal edge. This is the sister term to occlusal, which related to the analogous location on posterior teeth.

Interproximal

    An adjective meaning between teeth. For example, interproximal teeth refers to the space between adjacent teeth.

Labial

    The side of a tooth that is adjacent to (or the direction toward) the inside of the lip (labium), as opposed to lingual or palatal (both oral), which refer to the side of a tooth adjacent to (or the direction toward) the tongue or palate, respectively, the oral cavity. Although technically referring only to anterior teeth (where the lips (labia) are present instead of cheeks), use of the term buccal has inaccurately extended to all teeth, anterior and posterior (instead of vestibular, the umbrella term).

Lingual

    The side of a tooth adjacent to (or the direction toward) the tongue (lingua, compare linguistics and language), as opposed to buccal, labial, or vestibular which refer to the side of a tooth adjacent to (or the direction toward) the inside of the cheek or lips, respectively. Although this term is technically specific to the mandible, it enjoys extensive use in reference to the maxilla as well.

Mandibular

    Entities related to the mandible, or lower jaw.

Malocclusion

    Improper alignment of biting or chewing surfaces of upper and lower teeth

Marginal

    A number of different ‘margins’ that are involved in dentistry. The edge of tooth structure that is prepared to meet the edge of a prosthetic crown is called a margin, as is the aforementioned edge of the crown; an example of this usage would be “a poorly fitting crown might exhibit marginal leakage.” The gingiva and bone that abut the teeth are referred to as ‘marginal’, as in marginal periodontitis. The bulk of tooth structure on the occlusal surface at the point of contact of posterior teeth is referred to as the marginal ridge.

Maxillary

    Entities related to the maxilla, or upper jaw. 

Mesial

    The direction toward the anterior midline in a dental arch, as opposed to distal, which refers to the direction toward the gingiva beyond the tooth furthest from the anterior midline (the ‘most posterior tooth’ or last tooth) in each quadrant. Each tooth can be described as having a mesial surface and, for posterior teeth, a mesiobuccal (MB) and a mesiolingual (ML) corner or cusp.

Occlusal

    The direction toward the biting surface of posterior teeth or something relating to this surface, such as the terms occlusal interference or occlusal surface. This is the sister term to incisal, which related to the analogous location on anterior teeth.

Oral

    The side of a tooth adjacent to (or the direction toward) the oral cavity, as opposed to buccal, labial or vestibular, which refer to the side of a tooth adjacent to (or the direction toward) the inside of the cheek, lips or vestibule respectively. Oral includes both palatal and lingual. Alternatively, lingual has been used as a blanket term instead although this specifically refers only to the side of a tooth that is adjacent to (or the direction toward) the tongue, technically specific to the mandible.

Palatal

    The side of a tooth adjacent to (or the direction toward) the palate, as opposed to buccal, labial or vestibular which refer to the side of a tooth adjacent to (or the direction toward) the inside of the cheek, lips and vestibule of the mouth respectively. This term is strictly used in the maxilla.

Palate

    The hard and soft tissues forming the roof of the mouth that separates the oral and nasal cavities.

Posterior

    The direction toward the back of an individual’s head, as opposed to anterior, which refers to the directions toward an individual’s lips. The term posterior teeth refers to premolars and molars, as opposed to incisors and canines, which are anterior teeth.

Prophylaxis

     Removal of plaque, calculus and stains from the tooth structures. It is intended to control local irritational factors.

Proximal

    The surfaces of teeth that normally lie adjacent to another tooth. It is an umbrella term that includes both mesial and distal, such as when referring to the proximal surfaces of teeth.

Pulp

    Connective tissue that contains blood vessels and nerve tissue which occupies the pulp cavity of a tooth.

Pulpectomy

    Complete removal of vital and non-vital pulp tissue from the root canal space.

Quadrant

Dental quadrants:

The dentition is divided into four quarters. The two dental arches form an oval, which is divided into quadrants:

 

    Upper right quadrant: upper right first incisor to upper right wisdom tooth

    Upper left quadrant: upper left first incisor to upper left wisdom tooth

    Lower right quadrant: lower right first incisor to lower right wisdom tooth

    Lower left quadrant: lower left first incisor to lower left wisdom tooth

 

Root

    The anatomic portion of the tooth that is covered by cementum and is located in the alveolus (socket) where it is attached by the periodontal apparatus; radicular portion of tooth.

Root canal

    The portion of the pulp cavity inside the root of a tooth; the chamber within the root of the tooth that contains the pulp.

Root canal therapy

    The treatment of disease and injuries of the pulp and associated periradicular conditions.

Superior

    The direction toward the head of a human’s body, as opposed to inferior, which refers to the direction toward the feet. However, use of these terms should enjoy only limited use when discussing features of a tooth, as, for example, something more superior on a mandibular tooth will be situated more inferior on a maxillary tooth, as they exhibit an inverted relationship. It is for this reason that the terms coronal and apical are substituted.

Temporomandibular (TMJ)

    The connecting hinge mechanism between the base of the skull (temporal bone) and the lower jaw (mandible).

Vestibular

    The side of a tooth that is adjacent to (or the direction toward) the inside of the cheeks and lips, as opposed to lingual or palatal (both oral), which refer to the side of a tooth adjacent to (or the direction toward) the tongue or palate, respectively, the oral cavity. This term is an umbrella term for both the term buccal and labial. Alternatively, the term facial has been used as the umbrella term instead although this specifically refers only to the side of a tooth that is adjacent to (or the direction toward) the inside of the lips, as opposed to lingual or palatal (both oral), and not the cheeks.