Dental Anatomy and Occlusion Flashcards
7 cards from real NBDE practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Dental Anatomy and Occlusion flashcards as text
The primary function of the contact areas between adjacent teeth is to:
Answer: Protect the interdental papilla and maintain arch stability
Proximal contact areas protect the underlying interdental papilla from food impaction and maintain the position and stability of teeth in the arch.
Which statement about the mandibular canine is TRUE compared to the maxillary canine?
Answer: Its crown is narrower mesiodistally
The mandibular canine has a narrower mesiodistal crown width compared to the maxillary canine, giving it a more slender appearance.
In a Class I molar relationship, the mesiobuccal cusp of the maxillary first molar occludes:
Answer: In the buccal groove of the mandibular first molar
In Class I occlusion, the mesiobuccal cusp of the maxillary first molar occludes in the buccal groove of the mandibular first molar.
Wear facets on the anterior teeth that do not match any opposing tooth surface in centric occlusion are most indicative of:
Answer: Parafunctional excursive contact (bruxism)
Non-centric wear facets that are shiny, flat, and match an opposing surface in excursion indicate parafunction (bruxism) during lateral or protrusive movements.
The Frankfort horizontal plane is used in cephalometrics and is defined by which landmarks?
Answer: Porion, orbitale, and the midsagittal plane
The Frankfort horizontal plane is defined by the porion (top of the external auditory meatus) and the orbitale (lowest point of the orbital rim), oriented parallel to the floor.
The developmental lobe that forms the lingual surface of anterior teeth is called the:
Answer: Cingulum lobe
The cingulum is derived from the fourth (lingual) developmental lobe and forms the prominent lingual convexity of anterior teeth.
Trifurcation of a molar root is most commonly associated with which tooth?
Answer: Maxillary first molar
The maxillary first molar characteristically has three roots (mesiobuccal, distobuccal, and palatal), creating a trifurcation that is an important landmark in periodontal assessment.