Terminologies in description of dentition and teeth
Homodont: Teeth are uniformly of similar shape in a dentition as in
alligators.
alligators.
Heterodont dentition: Teeth
are regionally specialized into classes of different types as in humans and
primates.
are regionally specialized into classes of different types as in humans and
primates.
Monophyodont dentition: The animal has a single generation of teeth
only as in walrus and seals.
only as in walrus and seals.
Diphyodont dentition: The condition of having two generation of
teeth as in humans.
teeth as in humans.
Polyphyodont dentition: Many generations of teeth as seen in many
reptiles.
reptiles.
Anodont: Absence of teeth, but they may have teeth or teeth like
structures during the course of development as in certain species of whales and
anteaters.
structures during the course of development as in certain species of whales and
anteaters.
Bunodont : (Greek, meaning a mound or hill) teeth have cone-shaped
tubercles or cones; they are low height occlusocervically with well-developed
roots. An example is the posterior teeth in the pig.
tubercles or cones; they are low height occlusocervically with well-developed
roots. An example is the posterior teeth in the pig.
Selenodont: (Greek, meaning the moon) teeth have cusps transformed
into half-moon shapes. The teeth themselves are elongated mesiodistally. The
concave side faces laterally in the upper jaw; lingually in the lower jaw. The
grinding stroke is thus from the outside inward and from the inside outward. An
example is in the cheek teeth of sheep.
into half-moon shapes. The teeth themselves are elongated mesiodistally. The
concave side faces laterally in the upper jaw; lingually in the lower jaw. The
grinding stroke is thus from the outside inward and from the inside outward. An
example is in the cheek teeth of sheep.
Sectorial: (Latin, secare meaning to cut) teeth are blade-like
teeth adapted to cutting the diet into pieces and swallowing them whole. A
specialized variant in carnivores are the carnassials which consist of the last
premolar in the upper jaw and the first molar of the lower jaw.
teeth adapted to cutting the diet into pieces and swallowing them whole. A
specialized variant in carnivores are the carnassials which consist of the last
premolar in the upper jaw and the first molar of the lower jaw.
Lophodont : (Greek, meaning
a crest) molars are ridged teeth that have transverse ridges as in the tapir
a crest) molars are ridged teeth that have transverse ridges as in the tapir
Bilophodont : Refers to molars that have two sets of transverse
ridges.
ridges.
Polylophodont molars have many ridges as seen in the elephant
molar. The power stroke is where the lower molars slide forward against the
upper molars.
molar. The power stroke is where the lower molars slide forward against the
upper molars.
Brachydont (Greek, meaning a short) teeth have low crowns and
well-developed roots. This condition is seen in humans.
well-developed roots. This condition is seen in humans.
Hypsodont (Greek, meaning height) teeth have long crowns and short
roots as seen in the horse. It them, it is a function adaptation for continuous
wear sustained by chewing grass with a high abrasive silica content.
roots as seen in the horse. It them, it is a function adaptation for continuous
wear sustained by chewing grass with a high abrasive silica content.
Haplodont (Greek, meaning a simple) teeth have simple crowns and
roots, as seen in the dolphin.
roots, as seen in the dolphin.
Tusks are incisors or canines of continuous growth that protrude
beyond the lips when the mouth is closed. They include the following: (1) The
incisors of the Elephant and Hippopotamus; (2) The left incisor of the Narwhal;
(3) Canines of the Wild Boar, Wart Hog and Walrus.
beyond the lips when the mouth is closed. They include the following: (1) The
incisors of the Elephant and Hippopotamus; (2) The left incisor of the Narwhal;
(3) Canines of the Wild Boar, Wart Hog and Walrus.