About Dental Anatomy

Dental anatomy is the makeup of the human mouth and teeth. Knowledge of dental anatomy can help an individual appreciate and care for his teeth. A solid knowledge of dental anatomy is critical to health care and scientific professionals such as dentists, orthodontists, dental hygienists and odontologists. As such, it is required study for students entering those and other specialty fields.

Skeletal Components

• Dental anatomy deals with two major bones of the human skeletal system--the maxilla and the mandible. The skull is actually comprised of 22 fused or partially fused bones including the maxilla and the mandible. The maxilla supports the upper teeth and many of the soft-tissue components of the mouth. The mandible, which joins to the skull via the mandibular condyles, is the skeletal base for the jaw and holds the bottom teeth. Both the maxilla and the mandible are important to dental anatomy because of the close relationship between these bones and the teeth. An impact to the mandible (such as a punch on the jaw) may loosen, chip or displace teeth. A damaged tooth, in turn, may develop an infection that spreads to the maxilla.

The Teeth

• Teeth develop in two main stages. Twenty deciduous teeth (usually called primary teeth or baby teeth) erupt when a person is between about six months and three years old. Between the ages of about five and 13 years these teeth fall out and are replaced with 32 secondary (or permanent) teeth. There are four types of teeth, each with a distinct function. The eight incisors at the front of the mouth are known as the biting teeth and are the sharpest. The four cuspids (canines) are sharp, pointed teeth that help the incisors cut and sever food. The eight bicuspids (premolars) and 12 molars are flat, wide teeth used for grinding food into digestible bits. Occasionally, an extra tooth, known as a supernumerary tooth, appears.

Anatomy of a Tooth

• Each tooth has four parts. The crown is the visible portion of the tooth. This is covered in enamel, which is the hardest substance in the entire human body. Dentin is the inner portion of the tooth. Located beneath the enamel, it is a living tissue similar to bone and provides the structure and form of the tooth. The root of the tooth is located beneath the surface and is the part embedded in the jaw. This anchors the tooth in place. The pulp cavity is also below the surface and contains the nerves and vessels which carry oxygen and nutrients to the dentin.

Other Oral Components

• Several other components of the mouth affect--and are affected by--the teeth. The hard and soft palates prevent items in the mouth from entering the nasal cavity. The retromolar pads are located behind the last molar of the bottom teeth and the maxillary tuberosities are located in the same spot, but behind the top teeth. Neither seems to have much function, but both are subject to oral infections. The gingiva, or gums, have the closest relationship with the teeth. Swollen, damaged or diseased gums can make cleaning teeth difficult. By the same token, failing to properly clean the teeth can lead to swollen, damaged or diseased gums.

Uses

• Dental anatomy is important to a number of medical sciences. Dentists use dental anatomy to diagnose problems and care for a patient's teeth. Oral surgeons use more in-depth information to perform root canals and other necessary surgeries. Orthodontists develop and carry out a plan to straighten their patient's teeth. Odontologists are primarily researchers who study diseases, problems and structure of teeth. Forensic odontologists use their knowledge of dental anatomy to assist in criminal investigations by identifying victims and matching bite marks to potential suspects.