Basic Dental Terminology for Tooth Classification Made EASY | Dental Student Study Guide

Summary

In this video, Dr. Clara, a dental study coach, introduces first-year dental students to essential dental anatomy terminology. She covers the two types of dentition (primary and permanent), explains tooth classification (incisors, canines, premolars, molars), and discusses human dentition as diphyodont and heterodont. The video also highlights how to name teeth based on their position in the mouth using terms like maxillary, mandibular, and quadrants. Dr. Clara aims to simplify dental school learning through digestible content, with more videos to come, including shorthand notation for classifying teeth.

Takeaways

• 🦷 Dental students need to understand basic dental terminology to classify and name teeth for exams.
• 😀 Humans have two sets of teeth: primary (baby/deciduous teeth) and permanent (secondary) teeth.
• 😄 Humans are diphyodont, meaning they develop two sets of teeth in their lifetime.
• 🐈 Animals like cats also have two sets of teeth, while mice (monophyodont) have only one set, and sharks (polyphyodont) continuously replace their teeth.
• 🦈 Humans are heterodont, meaning they have different types of teeth (incisors, canines, premolars, molars), whereas some animals, like sharks, are homodont and have uniform teeth.
• 😁 Adult humans have four types of teeth: incisors, canines, premolars, and molars, each with distinct functions such as biting, tearing, and grinding food.
• 👶 Primary teeth do not have premolars, only incisors, canines, and molars.
• 🦷 Teeth are classified by their location in the mouth: maxillary (upper) or mandibular (lower), which are further divided into quadrants.
• 🦷 Anterior teeth (incisors and canines) are closer to the midline, while posterior teeth (premolars and molars) are farther from the midline.
• ✍️ In dental practice, shorthand notation is used to efficiently identify and communicate about specific teeth.

Q & A

What is dentition?

Dentition refers to a full set of teeth in the mouth. Humans have two sets of dentition: primary and permanent.

What are primary teeth, and how many do humans have?

Primary teeth, also known as baby teeth, milk teeth, or deciduous teeth, are the first set of teeth that humans develop. There are 20 primary teeth, and they typically emerge by the age of 2 or 3.

How many permanent teeth do humans have, and what are they called?

Humans have 32 permanent teeth, also known as secondary teeth. These are meant to last a lifetime and replace the primary teeth as they fall out.

What does it mean when humans are described as diphyodont?

Diphyodont refers to species, like humans, that develop two successive sets of teeth over their lifetime: primary and permanent teeth.

What are monophyodont and polyphyodont animals?

Monophyodont animals, like mice, have only one set of teeth throughout their lives, while polyphyodont animals, like sharks, continuously replace their teeth.

What is the difference between homodont and heterodont species?

Homodont species have teeth that are all the same, like sharks, while heterodont species, like humans, have different types of teeth with varying shapes and functions.

What are the four types of teeth in humans, and what are their functions?

The four types of teeth in humans are: 1) Incisors – used for biting, 2) Canines – used for tearing, 3) Premolars – used for chewing and grinding, and 4) Molars – used for crushing and grinding food.

How are the teeth in the mouth arranged?

Teeth are arranged in two arches: the maxillary arch (upper jaw) and the mandibular arch (lower jaw). The teeth are further divided into quadrants: upper left, upper right, lower left, and lower right.

What are anterior and posterior teeth?

Anterior teeth are the teeth located toward the front of the mouth, including incisors and canines. Posterior teeth are located in the back, including premolars and molars.

How can you name a tooth using dental terminology?

To name a tooth, identify its dentition (primary or permanent), its arch (maxillary or mandibular), the quadrant (left or right), and its type (incisor, canine, premolar, or molar). For example, 'Permanent maxillary left lateral incisor.'