Anatomy of the

Teeth

Tissues of the Tooth

Enamel the hard tissue that covers the
crown portion of the tooth (hardest
substance in the body).
Cementum the substance covering the
root surface of the tooth.
Dentin the material forming the main
inner portion of the tooth structure.

Pulp the vital tissues of the tooth

consisting of nerves, blood vessels, and
connective tissue.
Pulp

chamber open area in center of tooth,

found in the crown area; place for the pulpal
tissues.
Pulp canal small canal or trench area in the
center of the root, containing the pulpal
vessels.

Parts of a Tooth

Crown top portion of the tooth covered

by enamel.
Clinical

crown - portion of the tooth that is

visible in the mouth.
Anatomical crown the total portion of the
crown that is covered by the emanel.

Root bottom part of the tooth; may be

single-, double-, or triple-root.
Clinical

root portion of the root covered by

the gingival (gum) tissue.
Anatomical root total portion of the root
covered by the cementum.

Cervix neck the neck of the tooth at

the cementoenamel junction.
Apex the anatomic area at the end of the
tooth root.

Tissues surrounding the Teeth

Alveolar process the extension of the
maxilla and mandible that surrounds and
supports the teeth to form the dental
arches.
Alveolar bone the part of the alveolar
process that lines the bony sockets into
which the roots of the teeth are
embedded.

Periodontal ligament dense connective

tissue organized into fiber groups that
connects the cementum covering of the
root of the tooth with the alveolar bone of
the socket wall.

Gingiva the mucous membrane tissue

that immediately surrounds the tooth.
Attached

gingiva the portion of the gingiva

extending from the gingival margin to the
alveolar mucosa.
Free gingiva the part of the gingiva that
surrounds the tooth and is not directly
attached to the tooth surface.

Important Oral Cavity Structures

Labia lips
Superior

oris upper lip

Inferior oris lower lip
Commissure area at the corners of the mouth
where the lips meet.
Vermillion area where the pink-red lip tissue meets
the facial skin.
Philtrum the median groove on the external surface
of the upper lip.

Frenum a tissue fold attachment that connects

two parts.
Labial

frenum tissue that attaches the inside of lip to

the mucous membrane in the anterior of the oral
cavity.
Lingual fremun attaches the lower side of the
tongue to the floor membrane.
Buccal frenum attaches the side of the cheeck to
the oral cavity in the maxillary first molar area.

Palate roof of the mouth

Hard

palate composed of palatine

processes of the maxillae bones.

Rugae irregular folds or bumps on the anterior

surface of the hard palate.

Soft

palate flexible portion located in the

posterior region of the oral cavity.

Gag reflex protective mechanism located in the

posterior region of the soft palate.

Uvula tissue structure hanging from from the

soft palate in the posterior of the oral cavity.
Retromolar pad located at the rear of the
mouth distal to the molars on the mandibular
arch.
Tuberosities rounded area on the outer
surface of the maxillary bones in the area of the
posterior teeth.

Surfaces of the Teeth

Facial pertaining to the surface of the

cheek and lips (face).
Labial

pertaining to the lips: anterior surface

of the anterior teeth.
Buccal pertaining to the cheek: surface of
the posterior teeth touching the cheek.

Lingual surface of the tooth or area

touching the tongue.

Incisal edge cutting edge of the anterior

teeth.
Occlusal chewing surface of the
posterior teeth.

Proximal side wall of tooth which meet

with or touches the side wall of another
tooth.
Mesial

to the middle: side surface closest to

the middle of the face.
Distal pertaining to the far or away side: side
farthest from the midline of the face.

Keywords

Enamel
Cementum
Dentin
Pulp
Pulp chamber
Pulp canal
Crown
Clinical crown
Anatomic crown
Root

Clinical root
Anatomic root
Cervix
Apex
Alveolar process
Alveolar bone
Periodontal ligament
Gingiva
Attached gingiva
Free gingiva
Labial

More keywords

Superior oris
Inferior oris
Commissure
Vermillion
Philtrum
Frenum
Palate
Hard palate
Soft palate
Gag reflex

Uvula
Retromolar pad
Tuberosities
Facial
Labial
Buccal
Lingual
Incisal edge
Occlusal
Rugae