ORAL HEALTH 101: TERMINOLOGY
RICHMOND INSTITUTE FOR CONTINUING DENTAL EDUCATION
ANATOMY: MOUTH & THROAT
UVULA: THE SMALL PIECE OF SOFT TISSUE HANGING DOWN FROM THE SOFT PALATE OVER THE BACK OF THE TONGUE
(HELPS KEEP FOOD FROM GOING DOWN THE WRONG WAY AND/OR DOWN THE BREATHING PASSAGE WHEN SWALLOWING).
SOFT PALATE: THE SOFT TISSUE MADE OF MUSCLE FIBERS SHEATHED IN MUCOUS MEMBRANE MAKING UP THE BACK OF THE
ROOF OF THE MOUTH (RESPONSIBLE FOR CLOSING OFF THE AIRWAY/NASAL PASSAGES WHEN SWALLOWING- IT IS
DISTINGUISHED FROM THE HARD PALATE IN THAT IT DOES NOT CONTAIN BONE).
HARD PALATE: THE THIN, HORIZONTAL PLATE OF PALATINE BONE THAT SPANS THE ARCH FORMED BY THE UPPER TEETH; IS
LOCATED IN THE FRONT OF THE ROOF OF THE MOUTH (THE INTERACTION BETWEEN THE TONGUE AND THE HARD PALATE IS
ESSENTIAL IN THE FORMATION OF CERTAIN SPEECH SOUNDS).
GINGIVAE (GUMS): CONSISTS OF THE MUCOSAL TISSUE THAT LIES OVER THE ALVEOLAR BONE; MAKES UP PART OF THE
SOFT TISSUE LINING OF THE MOUTH (HELPS RESIST THE FRICTION OF FOOD WHEN CHEWING).
PALATINE TONSILS: THE TONSILS SEEN ON THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDES OF THE BACK OF THE THROAT (CONTINUOUSLY
ENGAGED FOR LOCAL IMMUNE RESPONSES TO MICROORGANISMS).
PALATINE RAPHE: A NARROW, LOW ELEVATION (OR RIDGE) IN THE CENTER OF THE HARD PALATE.
PAPILLAE OF TONGUE: RAISED PROTRUSIONS FROM THE MUCOUS MEMBRANE OF THE TONGUE WHERE THE MAJORITY OF
TASTE BUDS ARE LOCATED (MOST ASSIST IN GROOMING, FOOD PREHENSION & MOVEMENT; SOME CARRY ORIFICES FOR
GLANDS AND OTHERS FOR TASTE).
PERIODONTIUM (PERIODONTAL): REFERS TO THE SPECIALIZED TISSUES THAT SURROUND AND SUPPORT THE TEETH WHILE
MAINTAINING THEIR PLACE IN THE MAXILLARY (UPPER JAW) AND MANDIBULAR (LOWER JAW) BONES.
DENTAL ARCH: THE CURVING STRUCTURE FORMED BY THE TEETH IN THEIR NORMAL POSITION (INFERIOR DENTAL ARCH=
MANDIBULAR TEETH/ SUPERIOR DENTAL ARCH= MAXILLARY TEETH).
APEX (APICAL): REFERS TO THE AREA TOWARD THE ROOT TIP(S) OF A TOOTH. IT MAY ALSO REFER TO SOMETHING
RELATING TO THE ROOTS, SUCH AS ‘APICAL SUPPORT’ (THIS TERM IS NEARLY SYNONYMOUS WITH BOTH CERVICAL AND
GINGIVAL).
CORONA (CORONAL): REFERS TO THE AREA TOWARD THE CROWN OF A TOOTH. IT MAY ALSO REFER TO SOMETHING
RELATING TO THE CROWN, SUCH AS ‘CORONAL FORCES’.
ANATOMY: TEETH & JAW

DECIDUOUS TEETH: THE PRIMARY 20 TEETH OF A CHILD’S DENTITION (A.K.A. “BABY TEETH”)

PERMANENT TEETH: THE 32 TEETH OF THE ADULT DENTITION

MIXED DENTITION: PHASE WHEN GROWING MOUTH CONTAINS BOTH PRIMARY AND PERMANENT TEETH

MAXILLA: THE UPPER JAW

MANDIBLE: THE LOWER JAW

ANTERIOR TEETH: THE FRONT SIX TEETH IN BOTH THE UPPER AND LOWER JAW

POSTERIOR TEETH: THE FIVE BACK TEETH IN ANY QUADRANT

CENTRAL INCISOR: THE TWO FRONT TEETH ON EACH SIDE OF THE MIDLINE (UPPER & LOWER JAW)

LATERAL INCISOR: TEETH ON EITHER SIDE OF THE CENTRAL INCISORS (UPPER AND LOWER JAW)

CUSPID (CANINE): SINGLE-CUSPED TOOTH POSITIONED BEHIND LATERAL INCISORS (ON UPPER AND LOWER JAW)

BICUSPID (PREMOLAR): THE TWO TEETH DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE FIRST MOLAR IN ANY QUADRANT

MOLAR: LARGE, BROAD, MULTI-CUSPED TEETH IN BACK OF THE MOUTH (FOR GRINDING & CHEWING FOOD)
TEETH SURFACES

BUCCAL: THE FACIAL SURFACE OF POSTERIOR TEETH THAT FACES THE CHEEKS

DISTAL: THE SURFACE THAT FACES THE BACK OF THE MOUTH

LABIAL: THE FACIAL SURFACE OF ANTERIOR TEETH THAT FACES THE LIPS

INCISAL: THE SURFACE OR EDGE ON THE TOP OF ANTERIOR TEETH THAT IS PRIMARILY USED TO TEAR FOOD

LINGUAL: THE SURFACE OF TEETH IN THE LOWER JAW (MANDIBLE) THAT FACES THE TONGUE

PALATAL: THE SURFACE OF TEETH IN THE UPPER JAW (MAXILLA) THAT FACES THE PALATE

MESIAL: THE SURFACE THAT FACES TOWARD THE FRONT (MIDLINE) OF THE MOUTH

OCCLUSAL: THE CHEWING SURFACE OF THE POSTERIOR TEETH

PROXIMAL: THE SURFACE OF A TOOTH THAT IS FACING ANOTHER TOOTH

INTERPROXIMAL: THE SURFACE AREA BETWEEN TWO TEETH
LABIAL
INCISAL
BUCCAL
PALATAL
MESIAL (#14)
DISTAL (#14)
PROXIMAL
OCCLUSAL
LINGUAL
INTERPROXIMAL
PATIENT EDUCATION: ANATOMY OF THE ORAL CAVITY
RICHMOND INSTITUTE FOR CONTINUING DENTAL EDUCATION
BASIC DENTAL ANATOMY
LABIAL SURFACE
Incisal (of 10)
8
9
6
11
5
BUCCAL
SURFACE
Interproximal
Areas
10
7
12
PALATAL SURFACE
4
13 Mesial (of 14)
MAXILLA
3
14
2
Distal
(of 14)
15
OCCLUSAL SURFACE
RIGHT
LEFT
18
31
19
Basic Dental
Anatomy
MANDIBLE
30
BUCCAL
20
29
SURFACE
21
LINGUAL SURFACE
28
22
27
26
PRIMARY TEETH (20)
k
25
24
LABIAL SURFACE
23
PERMANENT TEETH (32)
TOOTH ANATOMY
The anatomy of a tooth is very simple compared to the human body. Every tooth in your mouth has two major portions: a
crown and a root. The crown of the tooth is normally the portion that you can see inside your mouth. It is covered in a
glassy, white-colored substance called enamel, which is the hardest substance in the body. The root is the part of the tooth
that you can't see unless you have severe gum disease. It is what anchors the tooth in the mouth and supports all of the
forces that are placed on the tooth while food is being chewed. The root is covered by a very thin layer of a substance called
cementum. The cementum anchors the tooth to the bone by way of the periodontal ligament.
Enamel
Enamel is the hardest substance in the body and gives each tooth the strength to bite through all of the food that we eat. Although enamel
is extremely strong, it can easily be dissolved by the acids produce by plaque and those found naturally in many popular beverages.
Dentin
Dentin is the layer right under the enamel. Although not as hard as enamel, it is about as hard as bone. Dentin also is flexible. For
example, if you bite down on a very hard object, the dentin is able to flex a little bit and can keep your tooth from cracking like it might if
teeth were just made of enamel.
Pulp
The pulp is the inner-most layer of the tooth. The pulp provides nutrition to the tooth. It has been suggested that when the pulp is
removed from a tooth, for example during root canal treatment, the tooth becomes more brittle and prone to breaking. The pulp also
provides the nerves to the tooth. Have you ever noticed that if you eat ice cream right after a hot meal your teeth don't transmit a
message of cold, they just transmit a message of pain? Interestingly, the only nerves that go to the brain from the tooth transmit
pain. There is no temperature or pressure sensation in a tooth.
Cementum
Cementum is a thin layer that coats the roots and attaches the teeth to the periodontal ligament, which is connected to the bone.
Gingiva (Gums)
The gums form a collar or sheath around the teeth that protects the underlying bone. When you stop brushing your teeth for an extended
period of time, the gingiva become red and puffy. This is their method of defending against the plaque that has built up. If you completely
stop brushing, the gingiva will eventually start to lose the war against plaque and "fall down" from around the teeth resulting in gum
disease that can eventually make your teeth fall out!
Periodontal Ligament
The main function of the periodontal ligament is to attach the teeth to the bone. The periodontal ligament also sends sensory information
to the brain. For example, if you are eating some popcorn and bite down hard on a popcorn kernel, your jaw suddenly opens to alleviate
the pressure. The periodontal ligament sends that pressure signal to your brain, causing that reflex. The tooth doesn't feel the pressure
since the tooth is only capable of sending pain messages to your brain.