Lecture 1
Introduction
Definition
 Dental anatomy: is the study of the development,
morphology, function, and identity of each tooth
in the human dentitions, as well as the way in
which the teeth relate in shape, form, structure,
colour, and function to the other teeth in the same
dental arch and in the opposing arch.
 Thus, the study of dental anatomy, physiology, and
occlusion provides one of the basic components of
the skills needed to practice all phases of dentistry.
Nomenclature
“system of names or terms ”
 Dense=tooth
 Dental=anything related to tooth
 Man is a hetrodent, which means that he has
different-shaped teeth.
 Man is a diphyodent, which means that he
has two sets of teeth; primary teeth
(deciduous teeth or milk teeth or baby teeth)
and permanent teeth (succedaneous teeth).
The teeth
Teeth are grouped into:
 1. Anterior teeth: which include the incisors
and the canines.
 2. Posterior teeth: which include the
premolars and molars.
The jaw
The jaw is the bone which caries the teeth.
There are two jaws:
 1.The upper jaw: which is fixed , and is called
“The maxilla”.
 2.The lower jaw: which is movable, and is
called ”The mandible”.
Upper teeth
Lower teeth
The deciduous teeth and their
formula (mammalian teeth)
 The deciduous teeth are 20 in number.
 They have the following formula:
(For each side of the upper and lower jaw)
I = Incisors (central and lateral incisors)
C = Canine
M = Molars (first and second molars )
 At birth, there are no teeth present in the mouth,
but many teeth in various stages of development
are found in the jaws.
 After birth,(post-natal period), the eruption of
deciduous teeth start at six months and lasts until
two and a half years.
 The deciduous teeth stay until the permanent
teeth erupt at about six years of age, when the
transition of the permanent dentitions begins.
The permanent teeth and their
formula (mammalian teeth)
 The permanent teeth are 32 in number, including
third molars when present.
 They have the following formula:
(For each side of the upper and lower jaw)
I = Incisors (central and lateral incisors)
C = Canine
P = premolars (first and second Premolars)
M = Molars (first and second molars )
The permanent teeth
 The transition to permanent dentition begins with the
emergence and eruption of the 1st permanent molars at
the age of six years , followed by shedding of the
deciduous teeth and the emergence and eruption of
the remaining permanent teeth.
 This process requires about 20 years to be completed.
Tooth Eruption
Deciduous
Permanent
Incisors
6 - 10 months
7 - 8 years
Canine
16 - 20 months
11 years
Premolars
Molars
11 - 13 years
10 - 24 months
6 - 25 years
 Note: The deciduous teeth of the primary dentition are
smaller than the teeth of the same type in the permanent
dentition, but they generally resemble in form.