ORAL ANATOMY & HISTOLOGY

In this eLearning module, you will learn about Oral mucosa. The mucous membrane lining the inside of the mouth is known as the oral mucosa. The entire surface of the oral mucosa is covered by squamous stratified epithelium. The oral mucosal epithelium is a barrier that separates the underlying tissues from their environment. A group of cells in the oral mucosa which exhibit unique structural features and perform various functions is known as non-keratinocytes. The group of oral non-keratinocytes consists of the Melanocytes, Merkel Cells, Langerhans Cells, and Inflammatory cells

In this eLearning module, you will learn about the Salivary glands. A group of compound exocrine glands secreting saliva is known as the salivary glands. The glands consist of fat and acini. Salivary glands lubricate your mouth & throat, help in swallowing & digestion, and shield your teeth from cavity-causing bacteria.

In this eLearning module, you will learn about Saliva. Saliva is a clear liquid made by several glands in your mouth area, which influences oral health through specific and nonspecific physical and chemical properties. It keeps your mouth moist & comfortable. Saliva is composed of water, mucus, proteins, mineral salts, and amylase.

In this eLearning module, you will learn about Enamel. The thin outer covering of the tooth is known as the enamel. This is the hardest tissue in the human body. Enamel is mainly made up of the mineral hydroxyapatite, which is crystalline calcium phosphate. It varies in color from light yellow to grayish white and it has a glossy surface. Hypo calcification occurs when your tooth enamel contains an insufficient amount of calcium. This causes the enamel to be thick & weak.

In this eLearning module, you will learn about Tissue processing. Tissue processing describes the steps required to take an animal or human tissue from fixation to the state where it is completely infiltrated with a suitable histological wax and can be embedded ready for section cutting on the microtome. Depending on the nature of the specimen, the preparation of tissue for the microscopic study includes soft tissue processing and hard tissue processing.

In this eLearning module, you will learn about Mastication. Mastication is the act of chewing food. During mastication, the food bolus is broken down into small particles for ease of swallowing. It represents the initial stage of digestion.

In this eLearning module, you will learn about the Comparison of cementum. Cementum is a mineralized tissue covering the entire root surface. The cementum is light yellow and slightly lighter in color. The cementum is mainly divided into two. Acellular cementum & cellular cementum. Acellular cementum is thin and covers the cervical root, whereas cellular cementum is thick and covers the apical root.

In this eLearning module, you will learn about Amelogenesis and ameloblasts. Amelogenesis is the process of the formation of enamel. The cells responsible for amelogenesis are ameloblasts. Ameloblasts are derived from the inner enamel epithelium of enamel organs.

In this eLearning module, you will learn about the differences between deciduous dentition & permanent dentition. Deciduous teeth are smaller and whiter than permanent teeth. We only have 20 deciduous teeth. They start to erupt when we’re around 6 months old, and are usually all through when we’re 29 months old. Deciduous teeth are also called children’s teeth, baby teeth or 1st teeth. The permanent dentition consists of 32 teeth. This is made up of four incisors, 2 canines, 4 premolars, 4 molars and 2 wisdom teeth in each jaw. Permanent teeth are also called adult teeth or 2nd teeth.

In this eLearning module, you will learn about the Chronology of human dentition. The development of dentition is a continuous process that extends from embryonic to early adult life and it may be divided into several stages. The sequence of prenatal mineralization in the deciduous teeth starts with the central incisor followed by the first molar, lateral incisor, canine and second molar.

In this eLearning module, you will learn about the Theories of Tooth eruption. The movement of the developing tooth from its non-functional position in the alveolar bone to its final functional position in the oral cavity is known as the tooth eruption. Primary teeth usually start coming in at the age of 6 months, and permanent teeth usually start coming in at about 6 years.

In this eLearning module, you will learn about Major & minor salivary glands. The salivary glands are compound glands as they have more than one tubule entering the main duct. Based on size and location, salivary glands are classified as major salivary glands & minor salivary glands. Major salivary glands include parotid glands, submandibular glands, and sublingual glands. Minor salivary glands consist of labial & buccal glands, glossopalatine glands, palatine glands, and lingual glands.

In this eLearning module, you will learn about Alveolar bone. Alveolar bone is the thick ridge of bone that contains the tooth sockets. The alveolar bone is located on the jaw bones which hold the teeth. These bones that contain the teeth are the maxilla and the mandible. On the maxilla, the alveolar process is a ridge located on the inferior surface. On the mandible, it is a ridge located on the superior surface.

In this eLearning module, you will learn about Deglutition. Deglutition or swallowing is the transport of a bolus of food or liquid from the mouth to the stomach. It consists of voluntary, involuntary, and reflex muscular activity. It can be divided into the oral phase, pharyngeal phase & esophageal phase.

In this eLearning module, you will learn about Pulp - function, zones, micro, cellular elements, histology, and structure. The pulp is a mass of connective tissue, that resides within the center of the tooth, directly beneath the layer of dentin. The main function of the pulp includes the formation and nutrition of the dentin, as well as the innervation and defense of the tooth and dentin formation. The pulp has 4 histological zones, which include the odontoblastic zone, cell-free zone of Weil, cell-rich zone, and pulp core.

In this eLearning module, you will learn about Dentin & types. Dentin is a mineralized connective tissue component of the tooth. It is located between pulp & external surface tissues. It is covered by a cementum. Mainly 3 types of dentin are there, primary, secondary & tertiary. Primary dentin is the most prominent form of dentin within the tooth. Secondary dentine forms after the eruption, as the tooth develops with age. Tertiary dentin forms as a reaction to stimulation, including caries, wear, and fractures.

In this eLearning module, you will learn about Oral mucosa structural variations. Gingiva is the tissue of the upper & lower jaws that surrounds the base of the teeth. Also called gums. It helps to hold the gum tissue firmly against the teeth. The hard palate is the front part of the roof of the mouth. It formally separates the oral cavity from the nasal cavities. The tongue is the muscular organ situated on the floor of the mouth.

In this eLearning module, you will learn about Cementum. The thin layer of hard dental tissue covering the anatomic roots of teeth is known as the Cementum. Cementum contains about 45% to 50% inorganic substances and 50% to 55% organic material and water. Cementum is the softest of all the dental hard tissue components. The cementum is insensitive to pain due to a lack of nerve innervation. Tooth support or tooth anchorage is the main function of the cementum.

In this eLearning module, you will learn about Periodontal ligament. The periodontal ligament, commonly known as PDL, is a soft connective tissue union between the tooth & bone. It consists of collagen bands connecting the cementum of teeth to the gingivae and alveolar bone. PDL is comprised of principal fibers, connective tissue, blast & clast cells, and oxytalan fibres. The main principal fibre group is the alveolodental ligament. Periodontal ligament cells are fibroblast-like cells characterized by collagen production but also possess some osteoblastic features.

In this eLearning module, you will learn about Dentin hypersensitivity. Dentin hypersensitivity is an oral condition characterized by a sharp pain in the affected tooth. It occurs when the dentin gets exposed to the stimuli. It typically responds to thermal, evaporative, tactile, or chemical stimuli. It might impact one or several teeth or a specific area of the buccal cavity. It majorly impacts canines, premolars of both arches, and the buccal aspect of the cervical area.

In this eLearning module, you will learn about the Development of tooth. Tooth development is a process that begins even before birth. Odontogenesis is the medical term used to describe the formation & eruption of teeth. The 1st stage of teeth development begins in the fetus at about 6 weeks of age. The hard tissue that surrounds the teeth formed around 3 - 4 months of gestation. After the child is born, the next stage occurs when the tooth actually protrudes through the gum. Finally, there is the loss of primary baby teeth.