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Dentistry vocabulary · Teeth and Oral Anatomy

Incisor

Meaning in dentistry, with examples

/ɪnˈsaɪzər/nounCore term

In dentistry, incisor means: One of the eight thin, flat-edged teeth at the front of the mouth, four upper and four lower, used for biting into food.

In Turkish: kesici diş, ön diş

How it is used

Divided into central and lateral incisors. They are the teeth people see when someone smiles, so they come up often in trauma, veneers, whitening and orthodontics.

Example sentences

  1. He fell off his bike and chipped an upper central incisor.

  2. Both lateral incisors are slightly rotated.

Common collocations

  • central incisor
  • lateral incisor
  • upper incisors
  • lower incisors
  • canineThe long, pointed tooth at each corner of the dental arch, between the lateral incisor and the first premolar. Upper canines have the longest roots of all the teeth.
  • toothOne of the hard, white structures in the jaws used for biting and chewing. Each one has a crown above the gum and one or more roots held in the bone.
  • veneerA thin shell of porcelain or composite bonded to the front surface of a tooth to improve its color, shape or apparent position.
  • crowdingA lack of space in the jaw for all the teeth to line up straight, so that they overlap, twist or are pushed out of the arch.

More terms: Teeth and Oral Anatomy

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.