Tooth Morphology Basics

Howard Chi, D.M.D.

 Learning Objectives

• Primary and permanent dentition

• Tooth identification system
• Trait categories
• Tissues of the tooth
• Dental terminology
• Anatomy of tooth structure
Primary and Permanent Dentition
 Dentition
Maxillary arch

Mandibular arch

Refers to all of the teeth in the maxillae and

the mandible
* maxillary arch - maxillary teeth
* mandibular arch - mandibular teeth
 Humans Have Two Dentitions
Throughout Life

Primary
Permanent

1) Primary Dentition - during childhood

2) Permanent Dentition - during adulthood
 Primary Dentition

Permanent 1st Molars

• There are 20 teeth in the primary dentition

• 10 maxillary - 10 mandibular
• This dentition is also termed the deciduous
dentition
 Primary Dentition

2 1 1 2 1
2 1 1 2 1

The dental formula for one side of the mouth is:

I 2 C 1 M 2 = 10 teeth on either side
2 1 2
 Deciduous Teeth

Those teeth that “fall out” due to a natural

process of tooth succession
 Permanent Dentition
Also called the succedaneous
dentition - that which
succeeds the primary dentition

There are 8 teeth in each

quadrant
I 2 C 1 PM 2 M 3 = 16 teeth
2 1 2 3 each side
 Permanent Dentition

First signs of this dentition appear at age 6

 Permanent Dentition

A A A
P P P P P

Anterior Teeth - incisors and canines

Posterior teeth - premolars and molars
Tooth Identification Systems
 Tooth Identification Systems

There are three main systems used in modern

dentistry for the numbering of teeth. They
are:
* Universal Numbering System
* Palmer Notation System
* International Numbering System
Universal Numbering System

1. Suggested by Parreidt in 1882

2. Adopted by the A.D.A. in 1975
3. Uses numbers 1 through 32
Universal Numbering System

1 16

1 for upper right third molar around to 16

upper left third molar
Universal Numbering System
32 17

Dropping down same side to 17 lower left

third molar and around to 32
Universal Numbering System

A B C D E F G H I J

T S R Q P O N M L K

For deciduous dentition, letters

A through T are used
 Universal
Numbering
System
 Palmer Notation System

Upper Right Upper Left

Lower Right Lower Left

Utilizes brackets to represent the four quadrants

 Palmer Notation System

• Permanent teeth are labeled 1 to 8 on each

side of the midline
• On deciduous teeth same brackets with
letters A through E
Palmer System
International Numbering System

• Uses two digits for each tooth

• First digit represents dentition, arch and
side
• Second number denotes the tooth (1-4
perm. and 5-8 prim.)
International Numbering System
1 = permanent dentition, maxillary, right
2 = permanent dentition, maxillary, left
3 = permanent dentition, mandibular, left
4 = permanent dentition, mandibular, right
5 = primary dentition, maxillary, right
6 = primary dentition, maxillary, left
7 = primary dentition, mandibular, left
8 = primary dentition, mandibular, right
International Numbering System
Trait Categories
 Trait Categories

Set Traits: (dentition traits) distinguish teeth

in the primary from secondary dentition
 Trait Categories

Arch Traits:
distinguish maxillary
from mandibular
 Trait
Categories

Class Traits: Distinguish the four categories

of teeth ... incisors, canines, premolars,
molars
 Trait Categories

Type Traits: Distinguish teeth within one class

Tissues of the Tooth
Tissues Of A Tooth

1) Dentin
2) Enamel
3) Cementum
4) Pulp
 Enamel

• Makes up the protective outer

surface of the anatomic crown
• Mostly inorganic and calcified
hard, white shiny surface of the
anatomic crown
 Dentin

• Found in the crown and root, making up

bulk of tooth
• Found beneath the enamel and cementum
and surrounding the pulp tissue
• Not normally visible
• Mostly inorganic and calcified
 Cementum

• Makes up the surface of the anatomic root

• Very thin next to cervical line
• Mostly inorganic calcified
• Dull yellow in color
 Pulp
• Is non calcified found within the
pulp chamber
• Develops from the dental papilla
(from mesoderm)
• Surrounded by dentin except at the
apical foramen
 Pulp
• Normally not visible except on
dental radiographs
• In the coronal portion termed
the pulp chamber
• In the root portion termed the
pulp canal(s)
 Pulp - Functions
• Formative - dentin producing cells
(odontoblasts) produce dentin thoughout the
life of a tooth

• Sensory - nerve endings permit the sense of

pain
 Pulp - Functions
• Nutritive - nutrient transport from the blood
stream to extensions of the pulp that reach
into dentin

• Defensive/Protective - responds to injury

and decay by forming reparative dentin
 Junctions Of Tooth Structure

Cementoenamel Junction - also

called the cervical line,
separates the anatomic crown
from the anatomic root.
 Junctions Of Tooth Structure

Dentinoenamel Junction - is the inner surface

of the enamel cap visible in cross section or
in badly worn teeth
Junctions Of Tooth Structure
Cementodentinal Junction - a.k.a.
dentinocemental junction is the inner
surface of cementum lining the root visible
in cross section or badly worn teeth
 Anatomic Versus
Clinical Crown

Anatomic Crown - that part of the tooth

covered in enamel
Clinical Crown - that part of the tooth that is
visible in the oral cavity
Dental Terminology
Terminology Used To Distinguish
Tooth Surfaces

Facial Surface - the surface next

to the face, the outer surface
of a tooth resting next to the
cheeks or gums. Used in both
anterior and posterior teeth
Terminology Used To Distinguish
Tooth Surfaces

Buccal Surface - the facial

surface of posterior teeth.
Meaning next to the cheek
Terminology Used To Distinguish
Tooth Surfaces

Labial Surface - the

facial surface next to
the lips, generally
used for anterior
teeth
Terminology Used
To Distinguish
Tooth Surfaces

Proximal Surface - the surface or side of a

tooth that is next to an adjacent tooth, not
considered self-cleansing
Terminology Used
To Distinguish
Tooth Surfaces

Mesial Surface - is the surface of the tooth

nearest to the midline of the dental arch
Terminology Used
To Distinguish
Tooth Surfaces

Distal Surface - is the surface of the tooth

farthest from the midline of the dental arch
Terminology Used To Distinguish
Tooth Surfaces

Lingual Surface - is the

surface of maxillary and
mandibular teeth nearest
the tongue
Terminology Used To Distinguish
Tooth Surfaces

Palatal Surface –
is the surface of
maxillary teeth
nearest the palate
Terminology Used To Distinguish
Tooth Surfaces

Occlusal Surface - is the

chewing surface of the
posterior teeth found
within cusp and
marginal ridges
Terminology Used To Distinguish
Tooth Surfaces

Incisal Edge - is the cutting

edge, ridge or surface of
anterior teeth
Anatomy of Tooth Structure
Divisions Of The Crown And Root
Of A Tooth
Divisions Cervico-occlusally

Cervical 3rd Cervical 3rd

Middle 3rd Middle 3rd
Incisal 3rd Occlusal 3rd
Anterior Posterior
Divisions Of The Crown
Of A Tooth
Divisions Mesiodistally

Distal 3rd

Middle 3rd

Mesial 3rd
Divsions Of The Crown
Of A Tooth
Divisions Faciolingually

Lingual 3rd

Middle 3rd

Facial 3rd
Divisions Of The Crown And Root
Of A Tooth
Divisions Cervico-occlusally

Apical 3rd Apical 3rd

Middle 3rd Middle 3rd
Cervical 3rd Cervical 3rd
Cervical 3rd Cervical 3rd
Middle 3rd Middle 3rd
Incisal 3rd Occlusal 3rd
Anterior Posterior
Morphology Of An
Anatomic Crown

Cusp - is a point, or
peak on the chewing
surface of premolar or
molar tooth
 Morphology Of An
Anatomic Crown
Cusp Slopes Or Ridges - are the
inclined surfaces that form an
angle at the cusp tip
How Many Cusp Ridges
Does This Tooth Possess?
Morphology Of An
Anatomic Crown

Cingulum - is the
enlargement or bulge
on the cervical third of
the lingual surface of
the crown of anterior
teeth
 Morphology Of An
Anatomic Crown

Labial Ridge - is a ridge running cervico-incisally in approximately the center of

the labial surface of the canines
 Morphology Of An
Anatomic Crown

Buccal Ridge - is the ridge running cervico-

occlusally in approximately the center of
the buccal surface of premolars
 Morphology Of An
Anatomic Crown

Cervical Ridge - ridge

running mesiodistally on
the cervical one-third of
the buccal surface of the
crown, found on all
deciduous teeth but only
on the permanent molars
 Morphology Of An
Anatomic Crown

Marginal Ridge - on incisor

and canine located on the
mesial and distal border of
the lingual surface
Morphology Of An
Anatomic Crown

Marginal Ridge - on
posterior teeth
located on the
mesial and distal
border of the
occlusal surface
Morphology Of An
Anatomic Crown

Triangular Ridge - on the occlusal surface of

posterior teeth, is the ridge from any cusp tip
to center of the occlusal surface - ML cusp
of upper molars have two
Morphology Of An
Anatomic Crown

Oblique Ridge - found

only on maxillary
molars made of the
triangular ridges of
the mesiolingual and
distobuccal cusps
Morphology Of An
Anatomic Crown

Transverse Ridge - ridge crossing the occlusal

surface of posterior teeth in a B-L direction
and made of connecting triangular ridges
Morphology Of An
Anatomic Crown
Mamelon - is one of
three tubercules
sometimes present on
the incisal edge of an
incisor tooth that has
not been subject to
wear
Morphology Of An
Anatomic Crown

Sulcus - is a broad
depression or valley
on the occlusal
surface of posterior
teeth
 Morphology Of An
Anatomic Crown
Developmental Groove - is a
sharply defined, narrow and
linear depression, formed
during tooth development
separating lobes or a major
portion of a tooth - a fissure
may be found at the depth
of a developmental groove
Morphology Of An
Anatomic Crown

Supplemental Groove -
small irregularly placed
grooves not at the
junction of lobes or
major portions of the
teeth
Morphology Of An
Anatomic Crown

Fossa - a depression or hollow found

on the lingual surfaces of some
anterior teeth and on the occlusal
surfaces of posterior teeth
Morphology Of An
Anatomic Crown

Pits - often occur at the depths

of fossa where two or more
grooves join
 Morphology Of An
Anatomic Crown

Furcation - is the place on

multirooted teeth where the
root trunk or base divides Root
Trunk
into separate roots
 Curve Of Spee

Anteroposterior curve of the occlusal plane -

curve of the maxillary arch is convex
 Curve Of Wilson

Gradual curve of posterior teeth from left to

right side viewed from the anterior region -
curve of maxillary teeth is convex