27. Teeth, panoramic X-ray tomography

This technique provides a "flattened out" view of the teeth and mandible in a single exposure. The head of the mandible contains the condyle, which articulates with the temporal bone. The mandibular canal contains the inferior alveolar nerve and vessels.

Modern man, Homo sapiens, is the only surviving member of the family Hominidae. All hominids share a common dentition pattern of permanent teeth. In each quadrant of the mouth this can be described as 2-1-2-3. From medially outward the teeth in each quadrant are classified as 2 incisors, 1 canine (cuspid), 2 premolars (bicuspids), and 3 molars. Only the teeth in the quadrant of the right upper jaw have been labelled. Note that all of the patient‰s third molars (wisdom teeth) have been extracted.