Physiology of teeth

Mouth Divisions:

   The mouth can be divided into sections:
• Arches (there are 2 arches present)- an arch will divide the mouth into top and
bottom
• Quadrants (there are 4 quadrants present)- a quadrant divides an arch into right
and left
These divisions refer to both the primary and permanent dentitions.
Maxillary Arch
• This is the top arch or jaw.
• The maxillary arch contains 16 permanent teeth.
• The maxillary arch contains 10 primary teeth.
• The maxillary arch contains 2 quadrants.
Mandibular Arch:

• This is the bottom arch or jaw.
• The mandibular arch contains 16 permanent teeth.
• The mandibular arch contains 10 primary teeth.
• The mandibular arch contains 2 quadrants.
The mouth will have 4 Quadrants:

• MX right (quadrant 1) MX left (quadrant 2)

• MD right (quadrant 3) MD left (quadrant 4)

divided by a midline (the midline refers to an imaginary line that divides the mouth into right and left halves)

Names of Teeth:
  If you look in your mouth, you will notice that the teeth in the front of the mouth
look different than the teeth in the back of the mouth. This is because there are
different types of teeth in the mouth.
1 -Anterior teeth
• These are the teeth in the front of the mouth
Names of the anterior teeth:
      central incisors
      lateral incisors
      canines
2 - Posterior teeth
• These are the teeth in the back of the mouth
Names of the posterior teeth:
       premolars
       molars

Tooth Numbers:

tooth numbers help the patient and the dentist to diagnose the case correctly.
• Teeth are given numbers as a way to identify them
Permanent dentition- Maxillary or top arch contains tooth numbers 1 - 16
Mandibular arch contains tooth numbers 17 – 32
Primary dentition- Maxillary arch contains tooth letters A - J
Mandibular arch contains tooth letters K - T
Permanent Tooth Numbers:

Maxillary Tooth Numbers:

• Tooth #1 MX Right 3rd Molar
• Tooth #2 MX Right 2nd Molar
• Tooth #3 MX Right 1st Molar
• Tooth #4 MX Right 2nd Premolar
• Tooth #5 MX Right 1st Premolar
• Tooth #6 MX Right Canine
• Tooth #7 MX Right Lateral Incisor
• Tooth #8 MX Right Central Incisor
• Tooth #9 MX Left Central Incisor
• Tooth #10 MX Left Lateral Incisor
• Tooth #11 MX Left Canine
• Tooth #12 MX Left 1st Premolar
• Tooth #13 MX Left 2nd Premolar
• Tooth #14 MX Left 1st Molar
• Tooth #15 MX Left 2nd Molar
• Tooth #16 MX Left 3rd Molar

Mandibular Tooth Numbers:
• Tooth #17 MD Left 3rd Molar
• Tooth #18 MD Left 2nd Molar
• Tooth #19 MD Left 1st Molar
• Tooth #20 MD Left 2nd Premolar
• Tooth #21 MD Left 1st Premolar
• Tooth #22 MD Left Canine
• Tooth #23 MD Left Lateral Incisor
• Tooth #24 MD Left Central Incisor
• Tooth #25 MD Right Central Incisor
• Tooth #26 MD Right Lateral Incisor
• Tooth #27 MD Right Canine
• Tooth #28 MD Right 1st Premolar
• Tooth #29 MD Right 2nd Premolar
• Tooth #30 MD Right 1st Molar
• Tooth #31 MD Right 2nd Molar
• Tooth #32 MD Right 3rd Molar

Primary Tooth Letters:

Maxillary Tooth Letters
• Letter A MX Right Primary 2nd Molar
• Letter B MX Right Primary 1st Molar
• Letter C MX Right Primary Canine
• Letter D MX Right Primary Lateral Incisor
• Letter E MX Right Primary Central Incisor
• Letter F MX Left Primary Central Incisor
• Letter G MX Left Primary Lateral Incisor
• Letter H MX Left Primary Canine
• Letter I MX Left Primary 1st Molar
• Letter J MX Left Primary 2nd Molar
• Letter K MD Left Primary 2nd Molar
• Letter L MD Left Primary 1st Molar
• Letter M MD Left Primary Canine
• Letter N MD Left Primary Lateral Incisor
• Letter O MD Left Primary Central Incisor
• Letter P MD Right Primary Central Incisor
• Letter Q MD Right Primary Lateral Incisor
• Letter R MD Right Primary Canine
• Letter S MD Right Primary 1st Molar
• Letter T MD Right Primary 2nd Molar

Tooth Surfaces:
• the crown or portion of the tooth that you can see when the mouth is open, are
divided into surfaces
• these surfaces are named according to the direction in which they face
Mesial
• this surface is closest to the midline
Distal
• this surface is farthest from the midline
Facial
• designates the outer surface of an anterior tooth
• is also called Labial
Buccal
• designates the outer surface of a posterior tooth
Lingual
• the surface of the tooth that is towards the tongue or roof of the mouth
• Palatal- term used for maxillary teeth
Occlusal
• biting or occluding surfaces of posterior teeth
Incisal
• “biting” surface of anterior teeth