Dental Anatomy and Morphology of Permanent Teeth

Abstract

The present chapter is proposing a detailed and illustrated description of dental morphology of permanent dentition. The main topics are related to nomenclature, age of emergence, a description of teeth’s tissues (pulp, dentin, enamel, and cement), and morphology of all permanent teeth. The main focus of this chapter is the description of individualized morphology and specific variations of each permanent tooth. The goal of all treatment phases in dental medicine is to restore the function, integrity, and morphology of the oral cavity, and all these achievements are reached through deep knowledge of dental morphology. Cavities are restored with direct dental materials, which need to be carved according to the natural shape, outlines, occlusal and proximal contacts of teeth’s morphology, reproducing also the shade and translucencies of natural teeth. The same goal dominates the prosthodontic field. It is well known in dental medicine that shape, size, and position assure the optimal function and preserve the self-maintenance of dental arches and dento-maxillary system. For esthetic, function, and self-preservation, all dental treatment fields have to first consider the dental morphology.