Dental anatomy

Superficial Anatomy

Human teeth can be distinguished by various anatomical landmarks that they have in common, but which are uniquely different for each type. These are:

• Cusps
• Ridges
• Fossae
• Cingula
• Grooves

While there exists natural variation between all mouths, usually the class traits of teeth provide sufficient evidence to identify any given tooth, it's type and which quarter it originates from.

Permanent Dentition

Permanent teeth are generally larger in size than primary, and their roots more compactly positioned. They are also more apt to wear and discoloration, mainly because they spend much longer in the individual's mouth.

Incisors

Incisors are the four most anterior teeth in each jaw, eight in total. There are two central and two lateral incisors each in the mandibular and maxillary jaws. The class traits of incisors include

Typically, the maxillary incisors are of larger dimensions than the mandibular, and while maxillary central incisors are larger than lateral, in the mandible it is the other way around.

Canines

Also referred to as cuspids, due to their single cusp, canines have the largest root-to-crown height in the mouth.

Premolars

Also called bicuspids,

Molars

Wisdom Teeth

The third molar, or wisdom teeth, are the least predictable in the mouth. Often a knobby lump of irregular tubercles,

Primary dentition

Incisors

As with permanent teeth, there are eight incisors.

Molars

The predecessors of the permanent pre molars,

See also

• Dentistry
• Dental surgery