Tooth Types and Characteristics

Question 1

Lower tooth area

Answer 1

Mandibular

Question 2

Half of the mouth, either maxillary or mandibular

Answer 2

Arch

Question 3

Half or an arch, right or left, and containing eight teeth

Answer 3

Quadrant

Question 4

Front area of the mouth, from cuspid to cuspid

Answer 4

Anterior

Question 5

Area back from the corners of the mouth

Answer 5

Posterior

Question 6

Single-rooted anterior teeth with a sharp cutting edge

Answer 6

Incisors

Question 7

Single rooted anterior teeth at the corner of the mouth; aka canines

Answer 7

Cuspids

Question 8

Fourth and fifth teeth posterior from the center of the mouth

Answer 8

Premolars

Question 9

Three most posterior teeth

Answer 9

Molars

Question 10

Three roots

Answer 10

Trifurcation

Question 11

Two roots

Answer 11

Bifurcation

Question 12

Top part of the tooth containing the pulp chamber, dentin, and enamel covering

Answer 12

Crown

Question 13

Bottom part of tooth; may be single, bifurcated, or trifurcated

Answer 13

Root

Question 14

Where the enamel of the crown meets the cementum of the root; aka the cementoenamel junction or the cervix of the tooth

Answer 14

Cervical line

Question 15

The tip end of a tooth; one at the end of each root tip

Answer 15

Apex

Question 16

Surface point or area where two teeth touch side by side

Answer 16

Contact area

Question 17

Open area if teeth do not touch

Answer 17

Diastema

Question 18

V-shaped area between the contact point of two teeth and the gingival crest

Answer 18

Embrasure

Question 19

Side wall of a tooth that meets or touches the side wall of another tooth

Answer 19

Proximal surfaces

Question 20

Long-length surface of a tooth

Answer 20

Axial surface

Question 21

Upper tooth area

Answer 21

Maxillary

Question 22

Meeting of two surfaces on a tooth

Answer 22

Line angle

Question 23

The meeting of three surfaces on a tooth

Answer 23

Point angle

Question 24

Imaginary vertical line bisecting the head at the middle

Answer 24

Midline

Question 25

Tooth that counteracts, occludes, or contacts with another tooth in the opposing arch

Answer 25

Antagonist

Question 26

Surface of all teeth toward the cheek and/or the lips; further defined as the buccal or labial surface

Answer 26

Facial

Question 27

Posterior tooth surface toward the cheeks

Answer 27

Buccal

Question 28

Anterior tooth surface toward the lips

Answer 28

Labial

Question 29

The surface of all teeth toward the tongue

Answer 29

Lingual

Question 30

Side surface of a tooth closest to the midline

Answer 30

Mesial

Question 31

Side surface of a tooth farthest from the midline

Answer 31

Distal

Question 32

Cutting edge of anterior teeth

Answer 32

Incisal

Question 33

Grinding or chewing surface of all posterior teeth (premolars, molars)

Answer 33

Occlusal

Question 34

Relative to the root tip end of the tooth

Answer 34

Apical

Question 35

Tiny opening in the apex of the root tip(s) that is used for the passage of nerves and vessels

Answer 35

Apical foramen

Question 36

Smooth, convex, or rounded bump on the lingual surface near the cervical line on anterior teeth

Answer 36

Cingulum

Question 37

A linear elevation

Answer 37

Ridge

Question 38

Rounded enamel elevations on the occlusal surface of the posteriors, the linguals of anteriors, and the mesial and distal surfaces of all teeth

Answer 38

Marginal ridge

Question 39

Occurs on occlusal surface of the posterior teeth at a point where two triangular ridges meet

Answer 39

Transverse ridge

Question 40

Named after the cusps involved in the triangular ridge, form the cusp tips to e central groove on the occlusal surfaces of posterior teeth

Answer 40

Triangular ridge

Question 41

A slanting ridge found on the maxillary molars, which is present more on the first molar than the second

Answer 41

Oblique ridge

Question 42

A groove or natural depression, slit, or break

Answer 42

Fissure

Question 43

A shallow, rounded, irregular depression or concavity on the lingual surface of anterior teeth and on the occlusal surfaces of posterior teeth

Answer 43

Fossa

Question 44

Pinpoint depression located at the junction of developed grooves or at the end of a groove

Answer 44

Pit

Question 45

Long depression between ridges and cusps

Answer 45

Sulcus

Question 46

A rut, furrow, or channel

Answer 46

Groove

Question 47

A point on the crown of a tooth

Answer 47

Cusp

Question 48

A small, knob-like prominence

Answer 48

Tubercle

Question 49

A well-defined part of an organ that develops into a tooth formation

Answer 49

Lobe

Question 50

A shallow concave groove located on either the crown or the the root

Answer 50

Furrow

Question 51

A high place, projection, or prominence

Answer 51

Eminence

Question 52

The place where roots branch apart

Answer 52

Furcation

Question 53

Bumps forming a scallop border of the incisal edge on newly erupted anteriors

Answer 53

Mamelon