tannoverflaten

Tannoverflaten, or tooth surface, is any external face of a tooth. Each tooth has several surfaces that are named to aid description and diagnosis. The facial or labial surface faces the lips or cheek; the lingual surface faces the tongue; the palatal surface is the counterpart on upper teeth facing the palate. The chewing surfaces are the occlusal surfaces on the back teeth and the incisal surfaces on the front teeth. Proximal surfaces are the sides facing adjacent teeth; mesial surfaces are toward the midline of the dental arch, and distal surfaces are away from it.

In the crown the outer layer is enamel; on the root the surface is covered by cementum. Beneath the enamel is dentin. The enamel-cementum junction marks the border between the hard outer layer and the root surface. Surfaces are central to dental health because plaque tends to accumulate on certain surfaces; pits and fissures on occlusal surfaces are common sites for caries, as are proximal surfaces where interdental cleaning is insufficient.

In practice, surface terminology helps describe findings in dental records and guides cleaning and treatment. Surfaces can wear by attrition, abrasion, or erosion, and the pattern of involvement may differ between primary and permanent teeth.