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Linea Alba (cheek)
The linea alba (Latin for ''white line''), in dentistry, is a horizontal streak on the buccal mucosa (inner surface of the cheek), level with the occlusion (biting plane). It usually extends from the commissure to the posterior teeth, and can extend to the inner lip mucosa and corners of the mouth. The linea alba is a common finding and most likely associated with pressure, frictional irritation, or sucking trauma from the facial surfaces of the teeth. It may be mistaken for a lesion requiring treatment and may be found in individuals who chew tobacco. Clinical considerations *The linea alba is usually present bilaterally *It is restricted to dentulous areas (i.e., in areas where there are missing teeth the line will be absent - unless a denture is worn) *It presents an asymptomatic, linear elevation, with a whitish colour, at the level of the occlusal line of the teeth Treatment Treatment is not required. See also * Crenated tongue * Morsicatio buccarum * Linea alba (abdomen) ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dentistry
Dentistry, also known as dental medicine and oral medicine, is the branch of medicine focused on the teeth, gums, and mouth. It consists of the study, diagnosis, prevention, management, and treatment of diseases, disorders, and conditions of the mouth, most commonly focused on dentition (the development and arrangement of teeth) as well as the oral mucosa. Dentistry may also encompass other aspects of the craniofacial complex including the temporomandibular joint. The practitioner is called a dentist. The history of dentistry is almost as ancient as the history of humanity and civilization with the earliest evidence dating from 7000 BC to 5500 BC. Dentistry is thought to have been the first specialization in medicine which have gone on to develop its own accredited degree with its own specializations. Dentistry is often also understood to subsume the now largely defunct medical specialty of stomatology (the study of the mouth and its disorders and diseases) for which reas ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Buccal Mucosa
The oral mucosa is the mucous membrane lining the inside of the mouth. It comprises stratified squamous epithelium, termed "oral epithelium", and an underlying connective tissue termed ''lamina propria''. The oral cavity has sometimes been described as a mirror that reflects the health of the individual. Changes indicative of disease are seen as alterations in the oral mucosa lining the mouth, which can reveal systemic conditions, such as diabetes or vitamin deficiency, or the local effects of chronic tobacco or alcohol use. The oral mucosa tends to heal faster and with less scar formation compared to the skin. The underlying mechanism remains unknown, but research suggests that extracellular vesicles might be involved. Classification Oral mucosa can be divided into three main categories based on function and histology: *Lining mucosa, nonkeratinized stratified squamous epithelium, found almost everywhere else in the oral cavity, including the: **Alveolar mucosa, the lining between ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Occlusion (dentistry)
Occlusion, in a dental context, means simply the contact between teeth. More technically, it is the relationship between the maxillary (upper) and mandibular (lower) teeth when they approach each other, as occurs during chewing or at rest. Static occlusion refers to contact between teeth when the jaw is closed and stationary, while dynamic occlusion refers to occlusal contacts made when the jaw is moving. The masticatory system also involves the periodontium, the TMJ (and other skeletal components) and the neuromusculature, therefore the tooth contacts should not be looked at in isolation, but in relation to the overall masticatory system. Anatomy of Masticatory System One cannot fully understand occlusion without an in depth understanding of the anatomy including that of the teeth, TMJ, musculature surrounding this and the skeletal components. The Dentition and Surrounding Structures The human dentition consists of 32 permanent teeth and these are distributed between the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Commissure
A commissure () is the location at which two objects abut or are joined. The term is used especially in the fields of anatomy and biology. * The most common usage of the term refers to the brain's commissures, of which there are five. Such a commissure is a bundle of commissural fibers as a tract that crosses the midline at its level of origin or entry (as opposed to a decussation of fibers that cross obliquely). The five are the anterior commissure, posterior commissure, corpus callosum, commissure of fornix (hippocampal commissure), and habenular commissure. They consist of fibre tracts that connect the two cerebral hemispheres and span the longitudinal fissure. In the spinal cord there are the anterior white commissure, and the gray commissure. ''Commissural neurons'' refer to neuronal cells that grow their axons across the midline of the nervous system within the brain and the spinal cord. * ''Commissure'' also often refers to cardiac anatomy of heart valves. In the heart, a co ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Denture
Dentures (also known as false teeth) are prosthetic devices constructed to replace missing teeth, and are supported by the surrounding soft and hard tissues of the oral cavity. Conventional dentures are removable (removable partial denture or complete denture). However, there are many denture designs, some which rely on bonding or clasping onto teeth or dental implants (fixed prosthodontics). There are two main categories of dentures, the distinction being whether they are used to replace missing teeth on the mandibular arch or on the maxillary arch. Medical uses Dentures do not feel like real teeth, nor do they function like real teeth. Dentures can help people through: * Mastication or chewing ability is improved by replacing edentulous areas with denture teeth. * Aesthetics, because the presence of teeth gives a natural appearance to the face, and wearing a denture to replace missing teeth provides support for the lips and cheeks and corrects the collapsed appearance that ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Crenated Tongue
Crenated tongue is a descriptive term for the appearance of the tongue when there are indentations along the lateral borders (the sides), as the result of compression of the tongue against the adjacent teeth. The oral mucosa in the area of crenation is usually of normal color, but there may be erythema (redness) if exposed to a high degree of friction or pressure. Crenated tongue is usually asymptomatic and harmless. It is not a disease as such, but usually results from habits where the tongue is pressed against the lingual surfaces (the side facing the tongue) of the dental arches, or from any cause of macroglossia (enlarged tongue), which in itself has many causes such as Down syndrome. Where crenation is caused by parafunctional habits, there may also be associated bruxism, linea alba, or morsicatio buccarum. Society and culture In traditional Chinese medicine, scalloping of the tongue is said to indicate qi vacuity. In some homeopathic sources, scalloping of the tongue is ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Morsicatio Buccarum
Morsicatio buccarum is a condition characterized by chronic irritation or injury to the buccal mucosa (the lining of the inside of the cheek within the mouth), caused by repetitive chewing, biting or nibbling. Signs and symptoms The lesions are located on the mucosa, usually bilaterally in the central part of the anterior buccal mucosa and along the level of the occlusal plane (the level at which the upper and lower teeth meet). Sometimes the tongue or the labial mucosa (the inside lining of the lips) is affected by a similarly produced lesion, termed morsicatio linguarum and morsicatio labiorum respectively. There may be a coexistent linea alba, which corresponds to the occlusal plane, or crenated tongue. The lesions are white with thickening and shredding of mucosa commonly combined with intervening zones of erythema (redness) or ulceration. The surface is irregular, and people may occasionally have loose sections of mucosa that comes away. Causes The cause is chronic parafunc ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Linea Alba (abdomen)
The linea alba ( la, white line) is a fibrous structure that runs down the midline of the abdomen in humans and other vertebrates. Structure In humans, the linea alba runs from the xiphoid process to the pubic symphysis down the midline of the abdomen. The name means ''white line'' as it is composed mostly of collagen connective tissue, which has a white appearance. It is formed by the fusion of the aponeuroses of the muscles of the anterior abdominal wall. It separates the left and right rectus abdominis muscles. In muscular individuals, its presence can be seen on the skin, forming the depression between the left and right halves of a " six pack". Function The Linea alba stabilizes the anterior abdominal wall, as it balances contractile forces from the muscles attached to it. Clinical significance A median incision through the linea alba is a common surgical approach for abdominal surgery. This is because it consists of mostly connective tissue, and does not contain an ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
