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Dentistry vocabulary · Teeth and Oral Anatomy

Palate

Meaning in dentistry, with examples

/ˈpælət/nounCommon term

In dentistry, palate means: The roof of the mouth. The front part, the hard palate, is bone covered with soft tissue; the back part, the soft palate, is muscle and moves when you swallow.

In Turkish: damak

How it is used

Used in anatomy, local anesthesia (palatal injections), dentures and orthodontics. The adjective palatal describes the tongue side of upper teeth: palatal surface, palatal root.

Example sentences

  1. The upper denture covers the palate, so food may taste a little different at first.

  2. There's a small swelling on the palate behind the upper incisors.

Common collocations

  • hard palate
  • soft palate
  • palatal surface
  • cleft palate
  • palatal injection
  • maxillaThe upper jaw bone. It holds the upper teeth, forms most of the hard palate, and contains the maxillary sinuses above the back teeth.
  • 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.
  • dentureA removable set of artificial teeth on a plastic or metal base that replaces some or all missing teeth. A complete denture replaces every tooth in one jaw.
  • 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.

More terms: Teeth and Oral Anatomy

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