Dental Education: Glossary of Terms

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Oral Care In-Depth
Good oral care habits are essential to the lifelong health of your teeth and gums. Educating yourself about proper tooth and gum care, as well as the cause and treatment of common conditions, will enable you to better understand and follow your dental professional's recommendations. Our anatomy of a tooth can help you better understand oral health as well as various dental terms used.

The illustration above shows the parts of a tooth as well as the relationship between teeth and gums. Healthy gingiva (gum) holds teeth in place at the root, as well as attaches at the gumline to create a seal which blocks bacteria from penetrating sensitive tissue below. Areas on the left shows healthy gums and tissues while the area on the right reflects inflamation and unhealthy supporting structures.

Anatomy of a Tooth

Blood vessels: Carries nutrients to the tooth
Bone: Alveolar bone forms the tooth socket and provides it with support
Cementum: The layer of hard bone-like tissue covering the root of the tooth
Cemento-enamel junction: The line where the enamel and cementum meet
Dentin: The hard yellow tissue underlying the enamel and cementum, making up the main bulk of the tooth
Enamel: The hard, while out later of the tooth
Gingiva: The gum tissue surrounding the tooth
Ligament: The connective tissue that surrounds the tooth and connects it to bone
Nerves: Relays signals such as pain to and from your brain
Pulp: Located in the center of the tooth, it contains the arteries, veins and nerves
Root canal: Canal in the root of the tooth where the nerves and blood vessels travel through

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