Tooth morphology

Question 1

What is th (bi)furcation of a tooth

Answer 1

The top of the space between the root canals, its the little curve you can see

Question 2

Whats the difference between a pulp chamber and root canal

Answer 2

Pulp chamber = inside the crown

Root canals - thin lines in the root

Question 3

What are the 4 main parts of a tooth

Answer 3

Enamel
Dentine
Pulp
Cementum

Question 4

What does mesial and distal mean

Answer 4

Mesial - towards midline

Distal - away from midline

Question 5

What does buccal/labial mean

Answer 5

Towards cheek/lips - outer

Question 6

What does lingual/palatal mean

Answer 6

Towards tongue/palate - inner

Question 7

What are the different types of tooth

Answer 7

Incisors
Canines/cuspids
Premolars/bicuspids
Molars

Question 8

What is the function of incisors

Answer 8

cutting, scooping, picking up objects and grooming

Question 9

What is the function of canines

Answer 9

holding prey, display, slashing and tearing when fighting

Question 10

What is the function of the premolars

Answer 10

holding, carrying, breaking food into small pieces

Question 11

What is the function of molars

Answer 11

grinding food into small pieces with flat occlusal tables.

Question 12

Describe the characteristics of a canine’s root and crown

Answer 12

Single root - longest root
Root curves distally
Maxillary wider than mandibular
Shorter mesial vs distal slope
Convex cingulum
Slightly concave fossa

Question 13

Describe the characteristics of the upper first premolar’s roots and crowns

Answer 13

Two roots
Occlusal groove extends over mesial marginal ridge
Buccal cusp taller than palatal cusp

Question 14

How can you tell the difference between the Max 1st and 2nd premolars

Answer 14

Second = single root, occlusal groove doesn't extend over mesial marginal ridge
First = two roots, occlusal groove does extend over mesial marginal ridge

Question 15

What shape are the cross sections of the Max 1st and 2nd premolars

Answer 15

rectangular

Question 16

How can you tell the difference between the Mand. first and second premolars

Answer 16

P1 buccal cusp much larger than lingual cusp
P2 buccal cusp only just larger than lingual cusp
P1 buccal cusp much taller than lingual cusp
P2 buccal cusp only just taller than lingual cusp
P1 has a mesiolingual developmental groove

Question 17

What shape are the cross sections of the Mand. 1st and 2nd premolars

Answer 17

Circular

Question 18

How can you tell between between the Max and Mand premolar cusps

Answer 18

Maxillary = wider bucco-lingually 
Mandibular = wider mesio-distally

Question 19

What is the major unique feature of maxillary molars

Answer 19

Oblique ridges

Question 20

What is the biggest cusp on Maxillary and Mandibular molars

Answer 20

Maxillary = Mesio-Palatal - fits into mandibular fossa
Mandibular = Mesio-Buccal

Question 21

How many cusps are there on mandibular molars

Answer 21

4/5

Question 22

How many types of which roots do maxillary molars have

Answer 22

2 buccal and 1 palatal

Question 23

How many types of which roots do mandibular molars have

Answer 23

1 mesial, 1 distal

Question 24

Whats the small cusp on the Mand. first molar

Answer 24

Disto-buccal

Question 25

What the cross section shape of the max first molar and mandibular first molar

Answer 25

Max first molar = Square

Mand first molar = Rectangular

Question 26

What the difference between the Mand. first and second molars

Answer 26

1st = 3 buccal, 2 lingual cusps
2nd = 4 equal cusps

Question 27

Describe the crown and roots of the Max, third molar

Answer 27

• three roots often fused
• 3 cusps; if four, distolingual = smallest
• distobuccal cusp usually shortest
• irregular crown outline

Question 28

If there is a 5th cusp on mandibular molars, where are they placed

Answer 28

Distally

Question 29

What is the cusp of carabelli

Answer 29

Extra cusp on the palatal surface of the palatal cusp, it can be absent but can be large

Question 30

What is a taurodont tooth

Answer 30

A tooth with an enlarged pulp chamber

Question 31

How does the FDI digit system work

Answer 31

upper right (1)
upper left (2)
lower left (3)
lower right (4)

Question 32

On a tooth chart which sides are the lingual/palatal sides

Answer 32

Lingual/palatal will be the sides on at the top of the lower teeth and the bottom of the upper teeth

Question 33

How can you distinguish between Upper D’s and upper premolars

Answer 33

Upper D’s = triangular

Upper premolars = oval

Question 34

How can you distinguish between Lower D’s and lower premolars

Answer 34

Lower D’s = rectangular

Lower premolars = round

Question 35

Which cusp is pronounced on the upper and lower D’s

Answer 35

Mesio-buccal cusps

Question 36

What shaper the lower premolars

Answer 36

Circular

Question 37

Describe the root and crown of the deciduous lower D’s, include shape of crown, number of cusps and roots etc

Answer 37

Rectangular
Mesial height greater than distal
Two flattened divergent roots
4 cusps

Question 38

Describe the root and crown of the deciduous lower E’s, include shape of crown, number of cusps and roots etc

Answer 38

Rectangular
3 buccal, 2 lingual cusps
Distobuccal = smallest cusp
2 divergent flattened roots, one mesial, one distal
Mesial part of the crown is longer than the distal

Question 39

Describe the crown and root of the upper D, include shape of crown, number of cusps and roots etc

Answer 39

Quadrilateral cross section with long buccal edge
Pronounced tubercle on buccal surface
Mesial height greater than distal
3 divergent roots
4 cusps, buccal-medial = largest

Question 40

Describe the crown and root of the upper E, include shape of crown, number of cusps and roots etc

Answer 40

Square
4 cusps, mesiolingual = largest
oblique ridge
3 divergent roots

Question 41

Whats the difference between permanent and deciduous canines

Answer 41

Permanent = larger, wider and yellower than deciduous