1. ANATOMICAL STRUCTURES
TOOTH MORPHOLOGY
ANATOMICAL
STRUCTURES

2. Anatomical Structures
APEX – at or near the end of the root
APICAL FORAMEN – opening in bone h through which nerves and blood vessels enter

3. Anatomical Structures
FURCATION – dividing point of a multi-rooted tooth
Furca means “fork”
BIFURCATED – branched in two
‘bi’ – means two (two roots)
TRIFURCATED – branched in three
‘tri’ – means three (three roots)

4. Anatomical Structures
GROOVE – a linear channel or line
Buccal groove – groove on buccal surface
Developmental groove – groove formed during development of the crown
Supplemental groove – shallow grooves radiating from developmental grooves; gives tooth a sort of wrinkle

5. Anatomical Structures
LOBES – separate divisions that come together to form a tooth
CUSP –rounded or pointed mound on crown of a tooth
Cusp of Carabelli – 5th cusp found only on mesial lingual surface of max. 1st molars

6. Anatomical Structures
Cingulum – convex area on the lingual surface of the anterior teeth, near the gingiva Formed from a lobe
Mamelons – 3 bulges on incisal edge of newly erupted centrals and sometimes laterals; (wear away in time) Formed from 3 lobes

7. Anatomical structures
Fissure – a deep groove or cleft; usually the result of an imperfect developmental groove
Pit – small depression on surface of tooth; where fissures cross

8. Anatomical structures
Pits and fissures
The areas on the tooth where decay usually begins
Molars, especially 1st mol., should have sealants placed

9. Anatomical structures
Fossa – a shallow rounded or angular depression on a surface usually the concave areas of a tooth
on the lingual or sometimes occlusal

10. Anatomical structures
Ridge – a linear elevation of enamel
Ridge receives its name from location
Marginal ridge – elevations on mesial & distal
Oblique ridge – slanting ridge across occlusal
Triangular ridge – ridge or elevation that widens to middle of occlusal surface
Transverse ridge – union of two triangular ridges across occlusal surface

11. The End