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Definition
Anatomy
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Dental Fracture Anatomy
To better understand dental fracture, it helps to understand the anatomy of the teeth.

Development:
  • Primary or baby teeth: 12 total teeth
  • Permanent or secondary teeth: 32 total teeth Images
Tooth types:
  • Incisors: central and lateral incisors cut the food Images
  • Cuspids or canines cut and tear food
  • Pre-molars or bicuspids: shear the food
  • Molars: grind the food
Parts of a tooth:
  • Crown: The visible portion of a tooth.
  • Root: The portion of the tooth embedded in the gum. Images
  • Pulp: Located in the center of the tooth, it contains the arteries, veins, nerves and lymphatic tissue.
Layers of a tooth:
  • Dentin: underlies the enamel on the crown and cementum on the root Images
  • Enamel: the outer layer of the crown of the tooth; can be eroded by a cavity Images
  • Cementum: The outer layer of tissue covering the dentin on the root of the tooth
Portions of the tooth that hold it in place:
  • Gingiva: the gums are the soft tissues that surround the base of the tooth Images
  • Root canal: The canal in the root of the tooth is where the nerve and blood vessels travel with nutrients to the tooth from the mandible or the maxilla.
  • Ligament: The connective tissue that surrounds the root of a tooth and connects it to the maxilla or mandible.
  • Bone: Alveolar bone forms tooth socket and part of the teeth. Images
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Last Updated: Nov 3, 2008  References
Authors: Stephen J. Schueler, MD; John H. Beckett, MD; D. Scott Gettings, MD
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