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Glossary of dentistry

Glossary of dentistry is a biology topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Glossary of dentistry rather than just read about it. In short: This is a list of definitions of commonly used terms of location and direction in dentistry. This set of terms provides orientation within the oral cavity, much as anatomical terms of location provide orientation throughout the body.

Glossary of dentistry — main illustration
Glossary of dentistry — illustration

Key takeaways

  • Glossary of dentistry belongs to biology; place it in that map before memorising details.
  • Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
  • Connect Glossary of dentistry to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
  • Reproduce the core statement of Glossary of dentistry from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

This is a list of definitions of commonly used terms of location and direction in dentistry. This set of terms provides orientation within the oral cavity, much as anatomical terms of location provide orientation throughout the body.

Terms

AnteriorThe 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.

ApicalThe 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.

ApproximalSurfaces which form points of contact between adjacent teeth.

AxialA plane parallel to the surface of a tooth. For example, if a drill bur would be inserted into a tooth from any side (proximal, vestibular, oral), the depth of the hole is defined from the axial wall of the hole (from the long axis walls (vertical surfaces bounding the tooth)).

BuccalThe 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. 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.

CervicalMeans 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.

CoronalThe 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.

DistalThe 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.

FacialThe 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), which refer to the side of a tooth adjacent to (or the direction toward) the tongue or palate, respectively, of the oral cavity. However, this term has been incorrectly used for both buccal and labial, being also applied to the side of a tooth that is adjacent to (or the direction toward) the inside of the cheek (instead of the more accurate term, vestibular).

GingivalThe 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.

IncisalThe 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.

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

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

LabialThe 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, of the oral cavity. Although technically referring only to anterior teeth (where the lips (labia) are present instead of cheeks), use of the term labial has inaccurately extended to all teeth, anterior and posterior (instead of vestibular).

LateralA tooth which is away from the midline, such as lateral incisor, or the sides of a tooth.

LingualThe 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 (see Palatal).

MandibularEntities related to the mandible, or lower jaw.

MarginalA number of different 'margins' 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.

MaxillaryEntities related to the maxilla, or upper jaw.

… excerpt ends here. Continue reading the full article.

Illustrations

Glossary of dentistry: An occlusal view of a complete maxillary denture. The green line, indicating the dental midline, is the defining line when it comes to mesial-distal direction. The blue arrow, which indicates a mesial direction, applies to the opposite side as well up until the green line. The red arrow is directly buccal to the right first maxillary molar, and the name label for the patient (Martin) is embedded in the resin directly palatal to the same tooth.
An occlusal view of a complete maxillary denture. The green line, indicating the dental midline, is the defining line when it comes to mesial-distal direction. The blue arrow, which indicates a mesial direction, applies to the opposite side as well up until the green line. The red arrow is directly buccal to the right first maxillary molar, and the name label for the patient (Martin) is embedded in the resin directly palatal to the same tooth.
Glossary of dentistry: Dental quadrants
Dental quadrants
Glossary of dentistry: This photo shows teeth #2-5 (Universal numbering system). Tooth #3, the upper right first molar, has an MO (mesial-occlusal) gold inlay. This molar is both posterior, as well as distal, to the premolars in front of it.
This photo shows teeth #2-5 (Universal numbering system). Tooth #3, the upper right first molar, has an MO (mesial-occlusal) gold inlay. This molar is both posterior, as well as distal, to the premolars in front of it.

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Glossary of dentistry

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Glossary of dentistry claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In biology, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Glossary of dentistry before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Glossary of dentistry ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Glossary of dentistry

In research
Glossary of dentistry appears in biology research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry
Engineering practice reuses Glossary of dentistry in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom
Glossary of dentistry is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Dentistry terminology, Glossaries of medicine, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life
Look for Glossary of dentistry outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.
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How to study Glossary of dentistry in 20 minutes

  1. Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
  2. Close the page and write down what Glossary of dentistry means in your own words.
  3. Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
  4. Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
  5. Explain Glossary of dentistry out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Glossary of dentistry in simple terms?

This is a list of definitions of commonly used terms of location and direction in dentistry. This set of terms provides orientation within the oral cavity, much as anatomical terms of location provide orientation throughout the body.

Why does Glossary of dentistry matter?

Because it connects several biology ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Glossary of dentistry?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Glossary of dentistry.

Tags

  • Dentistry terminology
  • Glossaries of medicine

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