Final answer:
To correctly identify a specific tooth, one must ascertain the tooth's quadrant, type, position, and potentially its number or name, such as 'wisdom tooth'.
Step-by-step explanation:
To properly identify a specific tooth, a dental auxiliary must first identify the quadrant where the tooth is located (upper right, upper left, lower right, or lower left), then the tooth type (incisor, canine, premolar or bicuspid, molar), followed by the tooth 's specific position within that group, and lastly, if applicable, the tooth's number or name (such as identifying a wisdom tooth).
For example, the eight incisors are divided into four on the top and four on the bottom, which are used for biting into food. The four cuspids (or canines) are the pointed teeth next to the incisors used for tearing food. The premolars, or bicuspids, are located posterior to the cuspids and have two rounded cusps useful for mashing foods. Lastly, the most posterior teeth are the 12 molars, which include the wisdom teeth and have several pointed cusps for crushing food.
The anatomy of a tooth is divided into the crown and the root. The crown is the visible part above the gumline, covered by enamel, the hardest substance in the body. The root contains a root canal housing the nerve and blood vessels, surrounded by dentin and covered by cementum. Both the crown and the root are secured in the maxilla or mandible by the periodontal ligament, and the teeth are surrounded by soft tissue known as the gingivae or gums.