What does occlusal mean in dental terms?
Occlusal – The chewing surface of the tooth. Mesial – The forward side of the tooth. The mesial of the tooth is found on the “in between surface” of the tooth next to it. Distal – The back side of the tooth.
What does mesial mean in medical terms?
located in the middle
Medical Definition of mesial 1 : being or located in the middle or a median part the mesial aspect of the metacarpal head. 2 : situated in or near or directed toward the median plane of the body the heart is mesial to the lungs — compare distal sense 1b.
What is the meaning of occlusal surface?
“Occlusal” refers to the surface of the tooth that is used for chewing or grinding. Overall, there are five surfaces to each tooth: Occlusal. Mesial – forward or front. Distal – behind towards the back of the mouth.
What is mesial dentistry?
Mesial” refers to the surface of the tooth that is toward the front of the mouth. Overall, there are five surfaces to each tooth: Occlusal – the chewing or grinding surface of the bicuspid and molar teeth. Mesial – surface toward the front of the mouth. Distal – behind towards the back of the mouth.
What does it mean when you have a buckle on your tooth?
Many of the words that you will hear us say as we do the exam will seem very foreign to you; it’s like a different language. One of the words you may hear is dental buccal. “This tooth needs a buccal,” means that a certain surface of the tooth needs its buccal surface filled.
What does distal mean in medical terminology?
In medicine, refers to a part of the body that is farther away from the center of the body than another part. For example, the fingers are distal to the shoulder. The opposite is proximal.
What is a distal cavity?
A “distal” cavity is an area of decay on a tooth surface, this surface being the furthest from the middle of the front of your jaw. These types of cavities often occur on a part of a tooth that faces an adjacent “mesial” tooth surface.
What is occlusal therapy?
What is occlusal therapy? Occlusal therapy improves contact between your upper and lower teeth when your jaws are at rest, or when they are used for chewing. The jaw joint consists of a ball that fits snugly into its socket.
What is the distal of a tooth?
Distal: It’s the tooth surface that is away from the midline of the face. It’s also known as the backside of the face. Facial: It’s the tooth surface that faces the cheeks and lips.
What does distal mean in dentistry?
Distal – The surface that is away from the midline of the face. Facial – The surface that faces the cheeks or lips. Can also use the terms: Labial – The surface towards the lips.