Prefi exam

• Alveolar process


  Contains alveolar bone that surrounds and supports the teeth
• Alveolar process


  • Anchoring teeth is the primary function
  • Compact bone tissue primarily makes up the alveolar process
• Alveolar bone surrounds and supports the teeth
• Blood vessels and nerve structures are found in the alveolar process
• Alveolar process responds to pressure from chewing

  By increasing in density
• Periodontal ligament (PDL)


  Anchors the tooth to the alveolar bone
• Bone remodelling occurs in the alveolar process
• Periodontitis causes bone loss around the teeth due to periodontal disease
• Mucous membrane


  Provides protection as the primary function in the oral cavity
• Squamous epithelial cells are a component of the mucous membrane in the oral cavity
• Epithelium of the oral mucosa

  Is primarily composed of stratified squamous epithelium
• Masticatory mucosa


  Found on the gingiva and hard palate
• Lamina propria


  • Provides structural support and nourishment to the epithelium
  • Not a function of producing saliva
• Papillae


  • Small elevations found on the tongue
  • Circumvallate papillae are the largest papillae
• Gustatory function


  The tongue has taste buds
• Saliva production


  1. Connects the tongue to the floor of the mouth

  2. Function of salivary glands
• Salivary glands


  • Parotid glands
  • Submandibular glands
  • Sublingual glands
• Amylase


  Helps break down starches
• Parotid glands


  • Produce watery saliva rich in amylase
• Submandibular glands


  • Produce a mixture of mucus and serous saliva
• Mucus in saliva


  Lubricates food for swallowing
• Acetylcholine


  Neurotransmitter that stimulates salivary secretion
• Sialolithiasis is a blockage in the salivary duct
• Tooth eruption


  1. The process of teeth moving into their final positions

  2. Primary teeth typically begin erupting at 8 months

  3. First permanent molars erupt around 6-8 years
• Dental follicle nourishes the developing tooth
• Sequence of permanent tooth eruption

  • Incisors
  • Canines
  • Premolars
  • Molars
• Genetics, nutrition, and oral hygiene can affect the timing and sequence of tooth eruption
• Impacted tooth fails to erupt fully
• Deciduous (baby) teeth are shed between 6-14 years, with incisors being the first to be shed
• Succedaneous


  Term for permanent teeth
• Eruption of permanent teeth and exfoliation of deciduous teeth occur simultaneously
• Resorption of the roots


  Primary mechanism responsible for shedding of deciduous teeth
• Age of the parents cannot influence the timing of deciduous tooth shedding
• Completion of permanent tooth eruption typically occurs between 12-14 years, with third molars being the last to erupt
• Periodontal ligament (PDL)


  Anchors the tooth to the jawbone
• PDL

  • Contains abundant collagen
  • Composed of connective tissue
• Sharpey's fibers


  Function of attaching the PDL to the teeth and bone
• Producing saliva for lubrication is not a role of the PDL
• PDL


  Exerts tension to move the tooth upward through the bone
• PDL plays a crucial role in tooth extraction