1. Dental Terminology
These are terms that you will hear everyday in your dental career. I am giving you some definitions so that you can be familiar when you start school. Also, it will help you understand what you are going to be drilling on when you start dentsim. We will go over everything once you get here, but I would like for you all to be familiar with the terms. It will make it much easier for you to follow along in your classes if you recognize terms.

2. Typodonts
a model of each arch that contains all of the teeth in the jaw. You will work with maxillary (upper) and mandibular (lower) typodonts in the Tooth Preparation class.
Maxillary
Mandibular

3. Tooth Types Anterior – incisors and canines
Posterior – premolars and molars

4. Anatomic vs. Clinical Crown
Anatomic crown - The part of the tooth which is covered by enamel, and extends from the occlusal surface (or incisal edge) to the cementoenamel junction (CEJ)
Clinical crown - that portion of enamel visibly present in the oral cavity; the visible portion of the tooth that is occlusal to the deepest part of the gingival crevice

5. Tooth Structure Gingiva - gums Enamel – outer covering of crown
Dentin - covered by enamel on the crown and cementum on the root and surrounds the entire pulp
Pulp – contains nerve and blood supply
Cementum – outer covering of root of tooth
DEJ - dentin enamel junction
CEJ – cementoenamel junction
Gingiva - gums

6. Numbering of Teeth Universal System—used in clinic (#1-32)
Maxillary teeth #1 – 16 starting in the
patient’s upper right
Mandibular teeth #17 – 32 starting in the
patient’s lower left

7. Numbering of Teeth
International (FDI) System—used in DentSim lab (#11, 21, 31, 41 for centrals)

8. Terminology
Incisal - any surface or movement towards the biting edges of anterior teeth
Occlusal - any surface or movement towards the chewing surface of posterior teeth
Mesial – closest to midline
Distal – farthest from midline
Occlusal surfaces
Mesial
(of #15)
Distal
(of #15)

9. Walls of Cavity Preparation
External wall - prepared cavity surface that extends to the external tooth surface and takes the name of the tooth surface (or aspect) it faces, eg. buccal wall
Buccal Wall
Buccal Side
of Tooth

10. Terminology
Margins - the junctions of the preparation and the external surface of the tooth

11. Walls of Cavity Preparation
Pulpal floor
Lingual
Distal
Buccal (Facial) – cheek side
Lingual – tongue side
Pulpal (floor)
Gingival (floor)
Axial – wall between pulpal and gingival floors
Axial wall
Mesial
Buccal
Gingival floor

12. Internal outline - the outline created by the pulpal floor
External outline (cavosurface margin) -the preparation outline created by the outer rim of the preparation
Internal outline - the outline created by the pulpal floor
Preparation retention - created by placing parallel or slightly converging walls within the preparation
External
outline
Internal
outline

13. Internal line angle - line angle whose apex points into the tooth, eg
Internal line angle - line angle whose apex points into the tooth, eg. pulpal-axial line angle
Point angle - junction of three surfaces of different orientations, eg. Distobucco-occlusal point angle
Internal line angle

14. Morphology Terminology
Cusp - prominence created by the meeting of inclined surfaces on the occlusal aspect of the crown
Fossa - rounded or angular depression in the occlusal enamel surface (represents the complete fusion of developmental enamel lobes)
Central fossa - broad, angular depressed area in the central portion of the occlusal surface of molars

15. Morphology Terminology
Lingual fossa - a depression in the central portion of the incisor's lingual surface
Cingulum - a pronounced convexity on the gingival third of the lingual surface of an anterior tooth
Mammelones - 3 minor elevations that appear at the incisal edge of a newly erupted incisor

16. Proximal surface – mesial or distal surface of tooth
Contact area - area on the mesial or distal of a tooth that touches the adjacent tooth
Proximal surface – mesial or distal surface of tooth
Gingival embrasure - triangular spaces originating at the proximal contact areas between adjacent teeth called after the direction towards which they radiate
Gingival papilla - soft tissue that occupies gingival embrasures
Gingival papilla
Gingival embrasure

17. Morphology Terminology
Marginal ridge - elevated crest that forms the mesial and distal margins of the occlusal surface in premolars and molars

18. Class I preparation
a preparation that involves only the occlusal surface of the tooth (pit and fissure cavity)

19. Class II preparation
located on the proximal surfaces of the posterior teeth. Often includes the occlusal surface as well as proximal surface

20. Class III preparation
mesial or distal surface of anterior teeth. does not involve incisal edge

21. Class IV preparation
preparation of the proximal surface of an anterior teeth, which involves the incisal angle

22. You will learn about all of this terminology in great detail once you begin dental school. These are just some basic definitions that will give you a head start.
In Dentsim this year we will prepare Class I, II, and III preparations on the mandibular and maxillary arches.