Okuzeka
Dentistry vocabulary · Teeth and Oral Anatomy

Mesial

Meaning in dentistry, with examples

/ˈmiːziəl/adjectiveCommon term

In dentistry, mesial means: Describes the side of a tooth that faces towards the midline of the dental arch, the line between the two central incisors. It is the opposite of distal.

In Turkish: mezial

How it is used

Used constantly in charting, X-ray reports and referral letters, often as the letter M: an MO filling covers the mesial and occlusal surfaces. Dentists say mesial caries, mesial root and mesial surface.

Example sentences

  1. There's caries on the mesial surface of the lower first molar.

  2. The mesial root is curved, so take your time with the file.

Common collocations

  • mesial surface
  • mesial caries
  • mesial root
  • mesio-occlusal
  • distalDescribes the side of a tooth that faces away from the midline of the dental arch, towards the back of the mouth. It is the opposite of mesial.
  • occlusalDescribes the biting or chewing surface of a back tooth, or anything to do with the way the upper and lower teeth meet.
  • buccalDescribes the surface of a back tooth that faces the cheek, or anything related to the cheek. For front teeth, the surface facing the lips is usually called labial.
  • lingualDescribes the surface of a tooth that faces the tongue. In the upper jaw this surface is usually called palatal, because it faces the palate.
  • dental chartA diagram of all the teeth on which the dentist records which teeth are present, missing, decayed or filled, and what treatment is needed.

More terms: Teeth and Oral Anatomy

Practise with graded reading

Reading at the right level is the fastest way to make new words stick. Pick free English books by level:

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