NEET MDS Lessons
Dental Anatomy
Soft Oral Tissues
Oral Mucosa
The oral mucosa consists mainly of two types of tissues: the oral epithelium, which consists of stratified, squamous epithelium, and the underlying connective tissue layer, known as the lamina propria. There are three variations of oral mucosa.
A. Oral epithelium
1. Consists of stratified, squamous epithelium.
2. Four layers (Note: Cells mature as they progress from the deepest [basal] layer to the most superficial [cornified] layer) a. Basal layer (stratum germinativum or basale)
(1) A single layer of cuboidal or columnar cells overlying the lamina propria.
(2) Contains progenitor cells and thus provides cells to the epithelial layers above.
(3) Site of cell division (mitosis).
b. Prickle cell layer (stratum spinosum)
(1) Consists of several layers of larger, ovoid-shaped cells.
c. Granular layer (stratum granulosum)
(1) Cells appear larger and flattened.
(2) Granules (known as keratohyaline granules) are present in the cells.
(3) This layer is absent in nonkeratinized epithelium.
d. Cornified layer (stratum corneum, keratin, or horny layer)
(1) In keratinized epithelium:
(a) Orthokeratinized epithelium the squamous cells on the surface appear flat and contain keratin. They have no nuclei present.
(b) Parakeratinized epithelium the squamous cells appear flat and contain keratin; nuclei are present within the cells.
(2) In parakeratinized epithelium, both squamous cells without nuclei and cells with shriveled (pyknotic) nuclei are present.
(3) In nonkeratinized epithelium, the cells appear slightly flattened and contain nuclei.
B. Lamina propria
1. Consists of type I and III collagen, elastic fibers, and ground substance. It also contains many cell types, including fibroblasts, endothelial cells, immune cells, and a rich vascular and nerve supply.
2. Two layers:
a. Superficial, papillary layer
(1) Located around and between the epithelial ridges.
(2) Collagen fibers are thin and loosely arranged.
b. Reticular layer
(1) Located beneath the papillary layer.
(2) Collagen fibers are organized in thick, parallel bundles.
C. Types of oral mucosa
1. Masticatory mucosa
a. Found in areas that have to withstand compressive and shear forces.
b. Clinically, it has a rubbery, firm texture.
c. Regions: gingiva, hard palate.
2. Lining mucosa
a. Found in areas that are exposed to high levels of friction, but must also be mobile and distensible.
b. Clinically, it has a softer, more elastic texture.
c. Regions: alveolar mucosa, buccal mucosa, lips, floor of the mouth, ventral side of the tongue, and soft palate.
3. Specialized mucosa
a. Similar to masticatory mucosa, specialized mucosa is able to tolerate high compressive
and shear forces; however, it is unique in that it forms lingual papillae.
b. Region: dorsum of the tongue.
D. Submucosa
1. The connective tissue found beneath the mucosa . It contains blood vessels and nerves and may also contain fatty tissue and minor salivary glands.
2. Submucosa is not present in all regions of the oral cavity, such as attached gingiva, the tongue, and hard palate. Its presence tends to increase the mobility of the tissue overlying it.
E. Gingiva
1. The portion of oral mucosa that attaches to the teeth and alveolar bone.
2. There are two types of gingiva: attached and free gingiva. The boundary at which they meet is known as the free gingival groove .
a. Attached gingiva
(1) Directly binds to the alveolar bone and tooth.
(2) It extends from the free gingival groove to the mucogingival junction.
b. Free gingiva
(1) Coronal to the attached gingiva, it is not bound to any hard tissue.
(2) It extends from the gingival margin to the free gingival groove.
c. Together, the free and attached gingiva form the interdental papilla.
.F. Alveolar mucosa
1. The tissue just apical to the attached gingiva.
2. The alveolar mucosa and attached gingiva meet at the mucogingival junction .
G. Junctional epithelium
1. Area where the oral mucosa attaches to the tooth, forming the principal seal between the oral cavity and underlying tissues.
2. Is unique in that it consists of two basal lamina, an internal and external . The internal basal lamina, along with hemidesmosomes, comprises the attachment apparatus (the epithelial attachment). This serves to attach the epithelium directly to the tooth.
3. Histologically, it remains as immature, poorly differentiated tissue. This allows it to maintain its ability to develop hemidesmosomal attachments.
4. Has the highest rate of cell turnover of any oral mucosal tissue.
H. Interdental papilla (interdental gingiva)
1. Occupies the interproximal space between two teeth. It is formed by free and attached gingiva.
2. Functions to prevent food from entering the (interproximal) area beneath the contact point of two adjacent teeth. It therefore plays an important role in maintaining the health of the gingiva.
3. Col
a. If the interdental papilla is cross-sectioned in a buccolingual plane, it would show two peaks (buccal and lingual) with a dip between them, known as the col or interdental col. This depression occurs around the contact point of the two adjacent teeth.
b. Histologically, col epithelium is the same as junctional epithelium
Nutrition and tooth development
As in other aspects of human growth and development, nutrition has an effect on the developing tooth. Essential nutrients for a healthy tooth include calcium, phosphorus, fluoride, and vitamins A, C, and D. Calcium and phosphorus are needed to properly form the hydroxyapatite crystals, and their levels in the blood are maintained by Vitamin D. Vitamin A is necessary for the formation of keratin, as Vitamin C is for collagen. Fluoride is incorporated into the hydroxyapatite crystal of a developing tooth and makes it more resistant to demineralization and subsequent decay.
Deficiencies of these nutrients can have a wide range of effects on tooth development. In situations where calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D are deficient, the hard structures of a tooth may be less mineralized. A lack of vitamin A can cause a reduction in the amount of enamel formation. Fluoride deficency causes increased demineralization when the tooth is exposed to an acidic environment, and also delays remineralization. Furthermore, an excess of fluoride while a tooth is in development can lead to a condition known as fluorosis.
Periodontal ligament
Composition
a. Consists mostly of collagenous (alveolodental) fibers.
Note: the portions of the fibers embedded in cementum and the alveolar bone proper are known as Sharpey’s fibers.
b. Oxytalan fibers (a type of elastic fiber) are also present. Although their function is unknown, they may play a role in the regulation of vascular flow.
c. Contains mostly type I collagen, although smaller amounts of type III and XII collagen are also present.
d. Has a rich vascular and nerve supply.
Both sensory and autonomic nerves are present.
(1) The sensory nerves in the PDL differ from pulpal nerves in that PDL nerve endings can detect both proprioception (via mechanoreceptors) and pain (via nociceptors).
(2) The autonomic nerve fibers are associated with the regulation of periodontal vascular flow.
(3) Nerve fibers may be myelinated (sensory) or unmyelinated (sensory or autonomic).
Cells
a. Cells present in the PDL include fibroblasts; epithelial cells; cementoblasts and cementoclasts; osteoblasts and osteoclasts; and immune cells such as macrophages, mast cells, or eosinophils.
b. These cells play a role in forming or destroying cementum, alveolar bone, or PDL.
c. Epithelial cells often appear in clusters, known as rests of Malassez.
Types of alveolodental fibers
a. Alveolar crest fibers—radiate downward from cementum, just below the cementoenamel junction (CEJ), to the crest of alveolar bone.
b. Horizontal fibers—radiate perpendicular to the tooth surface from cementum to alveolar bone, just below the alveolar crest.
c. Oblique fibers
(1) Radiate downward from the alveolar bone to cementum.
(2) The most numerous type of PDL fiber.
(3) Resist occlusal forces that occur along the long axis of the tooth.
d. Apical fibers
(1) Radiate from the cementum at the apex of the tooth into the alveolar bone.
(2) Resist forces that pull the tooth in an occlusal direction (i.e., forces that try to pull the tooth from its socket).
e. Interradicular fibers
(1) Only found in the furcal area of multi-rooted teeth.
(2) Resist forces that pull the tooth in an occlusal direction.
Gingival fibers
a. The fibers of the gingival ligament are not strictly part of the PDL, but they play a role in the maintainence of the periodontium.
b. Gingival fibers are packed in groups and are found in the lamina propria of gingiva
c. Gingival fiber groups:
(1) Transseptal (interdental) fibers
(a) Extend from the cementum of one tooth (just apical to the junctional epithelium), over the alveolar crest, to the corresponding area of the cementum of the adjacent tooth.
(b) Collectively, these fibers form the interdental ligament , which functions to resist rotational forces and retain adjacent teeth in interproximal contact.
(c) These fibers have been implicated as a major cause of postretention relapse of teeth that have undergone orthodontic treatment.
(2) Circular (circumferential) fibers
(a) Extend around tooth near the CEJ.
(b) Function in binding free gingiva to the tooth and resisting rotational forces.
(3) Alveologingival fibers—extend from the alveolar crest to lamina propria of free and attached gingiva.
(4) Dentogingival fibers—extend from cervical cementum to the lamina propria of free and attached gingiva.
(5) Dentoperiosteal fibers—extend from cervical cementum, over the alveolar crest, to the periosteum of the alveolar bone.
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 Deciduous Molar.
-This tooth resembles the lower first permanent molar that is d
istal to it in the dental arch.
-There are two roots and five cusps. The three buccal cusps are all about the same size. This is in contrast to the lower first molar where the 'distal' cusp is smaller that the mesiobuccal and distobuccal cusps.
-The distal of the three buccal cusps may be shifted of onto the distal marginal ridge.
NOTE
-Upper molars have three roots, lowers have two roots.
-Upper and lower second deciduous molars resemble first permanent molars in the same quadrant.
-Upper first deciduous molars vaguely resemble upper premolars. -Lower first deciduous molars are odd and unique unto themselves.
-First deciduous molars (upper and lower) have a prominent bulge of enamel on the buccal at the mesial. These help in determining right and left.
MAXILLARY LATERAL INCISORS
it is shorter, narrower, and thinner.
Facial: The maxillary lateral incisor resembles the central incisor, but is narrower mesio-distally. The mesial outline resembles the adjacent central incisor; the distal outline--and particularly the distal incisal angle is more rounded than the mesial incisal angle (which resembles that of the adjacent central incisor. The distal incisal angle resembling the mesial of the adjacent canine.
Lingual: On the lingual surface, the marginal ridges are usually prominent and terminate into a prominent cingulum. There is often a deep pit where the marginal ridges converge gingivally. A developmental groove often extends across the distal of the cingulum onto the root continuing for part or all of its length.
Proximal: In proximal view, the maxillary lateral incisor resembles the central except that the root appears longer--about 1 1/2 times longer than the crown. A line through the long axis of the tooth bisects the crown.
Incisal: In incisal view, this tooth can resemble either the central or the canine to varying degrees. The tooth is narrower mesiodistally than the upper central incisor; however, it is nearly as thick labiolingually.
Contact Points: The mesial contact is at the junction of the incisal third and the middle third. The distal contact is is located at the center of the middle third of the distal surface.
Root Surface:-The root is conical (cone-shaped) but somewhat flattened mesiodistally.
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.