Dental Assisting : Anatomy (Class 1)

• Frontal Plane


  Divides anterior & posterior
• Midsagittal Plane


  Divides left and right
• Horizontal Plane


  Divides upper and lower
• Mandible


  Lower jaw that holds teeth
• Maxilla


  Upper jaw that holds teeth
• Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ)


  Joint on each side of the head that allows movements of the mandible
• Mental Foramen


  One of two holes located on front surface
• Ramus


  Part of mandible that turns towards the skull vertically
• Condyles


  Round prominence at end of the TMJ
• Nasal Spine


  Anterior nasal spine; bony projection in the skull
• Labial Frenum


  Band of tissue inside mouth attached at the center of lips on both maxillary and mandibular arches
• Lingual Frenum


  Thin fold of skin that extends from floor of mouth to bottom of tongue
• Submandibular Gland


  Gland under tongue that secretes saliva
• Hard Palate


  Thing horizontal bony plate made up of two bones of the facial skeleton; roof of mouth
• Soft Palate


  Skin posterior to the hard palate
• Tonsil


  Mass of lymphatic tissue
• Uvula


  Pear shaped projection
• Buccal Vestibule


  Area between cheek and teeth
• Crown


  Functional part of the tooth that is visible above the gums
• Neck


  Portion of tooth that rests between crown and rest of tooth
• Root


  Part of the tooth under the gums that extends into bone and holds tooth in place
• Bone


  Hard tissue in teeth
• Periodontal Ligament


  Group of hair-like ligaments between bone and root (shock absorber)
• Cementum


  Outer layer covering of the anatomic root of a tooth
• Apex


  Tapered end of each root tip where nerve exits tooth
• Pulp Chamber/Cavity


  Space occupied by pulp
• Dentin


  Hard portion of root that surrounds the pulp and covered by enamel on crown
• Enamel


  Outer layer covering crown of the tooth; hardest material in body
• Crown


  Part of tooth that protrudes through gingiva
• Primary dentition


  • A-T
• Primary dentition


  Kids' teeth
• Primary dentition is different from permanent dentition because there are NO premolars or third molars
• Permanent Dentition


  • #1-#32
• Mixed Dentition


  Transitional phase
• Kinds of teeth


  • Central incisors
  • Lateral incisors
  • Cuspid/Canine
  • Bicuspid/Premolar
  • Molar
• Central incisors


  Two front teeth closest to the midline on the upper and lower arch
• Lateral incisors


  Second tooth from the midline
• Cuspid/Canine


  One cusp; pointed experience; longest root
• Bicuspid/Premolar


  All premolars have two cusps and one root except upper first bicuspid which has two roots
• Molar


  Molars have four or more cusps and two or more roots. Uppers; three roots. Lowers; two roots