Gingiva

The connection between the gingiva and the tooth is called the dentogingival junction. This junction has three epithelial types: gingival, sulcular, and junctional epithelium. These three types form from a mass of epithelial cells known as the epithelial cuff between the tooth and the mouth.

Much about gingival formation is not fully understood, but it is known that hemidesmosomes form between the gingival epithelium and the tooth and are responsible for the primary epithelial attachment. Hemidesmosomes provide anchorage between cells through small filament-like structures provided by the remnants of ameloblasts. Once this occurs, junctional epithelium forms from reduced enamel epithelium, one of the products of the enamel organ, and divides rapidly. This results in the perpetually increasing size of the junctional epithelial layer and the isolation of the remenants of ameloblasts from any source of nutrition. As the ameloblasts degenerate, a gingival sulcus is created.

Tooth development is commonly divided into the following stages: the bud stage, the cap, the bell, and finally maturation. The staging of tooth development is an attempt to categorize changes that take place along a continuum; frequently it is difficult to decide what stage should be assigned to a particular developing tooth. This determination is further complicated by the varying appearance of different histological sections of the same developing tooth, which can appear to be different stages.

Bud stage

The bud stage is characterized by the appearance of a tooth bud without a clear arrangement of cells. The stage technically begins once epithelial cells proliferate into the ectomesenchyme of the jaw. The tooth bud itself is the group of cells at the end of the dental lamina.

Genetics and Environment: Introduction

The size of the teeth and the timing of the developing dentition and its eruption are genetically determined. Teeth are highly independent in their development. Also, teeth tend to develop along a genetically predetermined course.: tooth development and general physical development are rather independent of one another. Serious illness, nutritional deprivation, and trauma can significantly impact development of the teeth. This genetic independence (and their durability) gives teeth special importance in the study of evolution.

Teeth erupt full size and are ideal for study throughout life. Most important, age and sex can be recorded.

When teeth erupt into the oral cavity, a new set of factors influence tooth position. As the teeth come into function, genetic and environment determine tooth position.

In real life, however, girls shed deciduous teeth and receive their permanent teeth slightly earlier than boys, possibly reflecting the earlier physical maturation achieved by girls. Teeth are slightly larger in boys that in girls

MANDIBULAR SECOND BICUSPID

Facial: From this aspect, the tooth somewhat resembles the first, but the buccal cusp is less pronounced. The tooth is larger than the first.

Lingual: Two significant variations are seen in this view. The most common is the three-cusp form which has two lingual cusps. The mesial of those is the larger of the two. The other form is the two-cusp for with a single lingual cusp. In that variant, the lingual cusp tip is shifted to the mesial.

Proximal: The buccal cusp is shorter than the first. The lingual cusp (or cusps) are much better developed than the first and give the lingual a full, well-developed profile.

Occlusal: The two or three cusp versions become clearly evident. In the three-cusp version, the developmental grooves present a distinctive 'Y' shape and have a central pit. In the two cusp version, a single developmental groove crosses the transverse ridge from mesial to distal

Contact Points; Height of Curvature: From the facial, the mesial contact is more occlusal than the distal contact.The distal marginal ridge is lower than the mesial marginal ridge

Root Surface:-The root of the tooth is single, that is usually larger than that of the first premolar  

the lower second premolar is larger than the first, while the upper first premolar is just slightly larger than the upper second

There may be one or two lingual cusps

Deciduous dentition period.

-The deciduous teeth start to erupt at the age of six months and the deciduous dentition is complete by the age of approximately two and one half years of age.

-The jaws continue to increase in size at all points until about age one year.

-After this, growth of the arches is lengthening of the arches at their posterior (distal) ends. Also, there is slightly more forward growth of the mandible than the maxilla.

1. Many early developmental events take place.

-The tooth buds anticipate the ultimate occlusal pattern.

-Mandibular teeth tend to erupt first. The pattern for the deciduous incisors is usually in this distinctive order:

(1) mandibular central

(2) maxillary central incisors

(3) then all four lateral incisors.

-By one year, the deciduous molars begin to erupt.

-The eruption pattern for the deciduous dentition as a whole is:

(1) central incisor

(2) lateral incisor

(3) deciduous first molar

(4) then the canine

(5) then finally the second molar.

-Eruption times can be variable.

2. Occlusal changes in the deciduous dentition.

-The overjet tends to diminish with age. Wear and mandibular growth are a factor in this process.

-The overbite often diminishes with the teeth being worn to a flat plane occlusion.

-Spacing of the incisors in anticipation of the soon-to-erupt permanent incisors appears late. Permanent anterior teeth (incisors and canines) are wider mesiodistally than deciduous anterior teeth. In contrast, the deciduous molar are wider mesiodistally that the premolars that later replace them.

-Primate spaces occur in about 50% of children. They appear in the deciduous dentition. The spaces appear between the upper lateral incisor and the upper canine. They also appear between the lower canine and the deciduous first molar.

Permanent dentition period  

-Maxillary / mandibular occlusal relationships are established when the last of the deciduous teeth are lost. The adult relationship of the first permanent molars is established at this time.

-Occlusal and proximal wear reduces crown height to the permanent dentition and the mesiodistal dimensions of the teeth

occlusal and proximal wear also changes the anatomy of teeth. As cusps are worn off, the occlusion can become virtually flat plane. -In the absence of rapid wear, overbite and overjet tend to remain stable.

-Mesio-distal jaw relationships tend to be stable,

With aging, the teeth change in color from off white to yellow. smoking and diet can accelerate staining or darkening of the teeth.

Gingival recession results in the incidence of more root caries . With gingival recession, some patients have sensitivity due to exposed dentin at the cemento-enamel junction.

Curve of Spee.

-The cusp tips and incisal edges align so that there is a smooth, linear curve when viewed from the lateral aspect. The mandibular curve of Spee is concave whereas the maxillary curve is convex.

-It was described by Von Spee as a 4" cylinder that engages the occlusal surfaces.

-It is called a compensating curve of the dental arch.

There is another: the Curve of Wilson. Clinically, it relates to the anterior overbite: the deeper the curve, the deeper the overbite.