Dent3D is a free, open-source 3D dental anatomy explorer. Rotate a full skull and both jaws, pick any of the 32 permanent teeth, and dissect a tooth layer by layer, from enamel and dentin down to the pulp and root canals. It runs in the browser with nothing to install.
Dentists name teeth with a short code. Dent3D shows all three systems in common use, so you can learn to read each one. Take the lower left first molar as an example:
System
How it works
Lower left first molar
FDI (ISO 3950)
Two digits: the quadrant (1 upper right, 2 upper left, 3 lower left, 4 lower right), then the position from the midline (1 central incisor to 8 third molar). Used in most of the world.
36
Universal (ADA)
Numbers 1 to 32, starting at the upper right third molar, running along the upper arch to the upper left, then back along the lower arch from the lower left third molar to the lower right. Used mainly in the United States.
#19
Palmer
A quadrant symbol with the position number 1 to 8, written here in text form as UR, UL, LL or LR plus the position. Common in the United Kingdom and in orthodontics.
LL6
Tooth types
The permanent dentition has eight teeth in each quadrant: two incisors, one canine, two premolars and three molars. Typical textbook values are shown; individual anatomy varies.
Central incisors
Maxillary central incisor (upper)
The most prominent tooth of the smile. A single-rooted incisor with a broad, flat labial surface and a straight incisal edge used for cutting food.
Function. Incising (biting and cutting) food; supports the upper lip, contributes to speech (labiodental and dental sounds) and to facial appearance.
Notes. Frequently involved in dental trauma because of its forward position. Newly erupted incisors may show mamelons (small rounded bumps) on the incisal edge.
The largest tooth of the maxillary arch, with four major cusps and three roots: mesiobuccal, distobuccal and palatal.
Function. Primary grinding tooth; a key determinant of the occlusal relationship between the jaws.
Notes. The mesiobuccal root frequently contains a second canal (MB2), which is easily missed in root canal treatment. Its roots lie close to the floor of the maxillary sinus.
Roots
Three (mesiobuccal, distobuccal, palatal)
Root canals
Three or four — a second mesiobuccal canal (MB2) is frequently present
The largest mandibular tooth: five cusps on a broad crown and two well-separated roots, mesial and distal.
Function. Primary grinding tooth of the lower arch.
Notes. Among the teeth most often restored and treated endodontically. The mesial root typically carries two canals (mesiobuccal and mesiolingual); the distal root one, sometimes two.
The mandibular wisdom tooth, highly variable in form and position.
Function. Grinding when erupted in function.
Notes. Frequently impacted. Its roots may lie close to the inferior alveolar canal, and the lingual nerve runs close to the lingual plate here. In Dent3D this tooth is a derived approximation (see provenance).
The structures you can select in the 3D model, in short.
Parts of a tooth
Crown
The part of the tooth covered by enamel, above the cementoenamel junction. Forms the working surface of the tooth for cutting, tearing or grinding.
Root
The part of the tooth covered by cementum, embedded in the alveolar bone and attached to it by the periodontal ligament. Anchors the tooth in the jaw and transmits chewing forces to the bone.
Cementoenamel junction (CEJ)
The cementoenamel junction: the line where the enamel of the crown meets the cementum of the root, also called the cervical line.
Apex
The tip of the root.
Tooth tissues
Enamel
The outer covering of the crown and the hardest tissue in the human body, composed mostly of hydroxyapatite crystals. Provides a wear-resistant surface for chewing and protects the underlying dentin.
Dentin
The mineralised tissue that forms the bulk of the tooth, beneath the enamel in the crown and the cementum in the root. Supports the enamel and encloses the pulp. Dentinal tubules connect it with the pulp, making it sensitive.
Cementum
A thin layer of mineralised tissue covering the root dentin. Provides attachment for the fibres of the periodontal ligament that hold the tooth in its socket.
Pulp
The soft connective tissue at the centre of the tooth, containing blood vessels, nerves and the odontoblasts that form dentin. Forms dentin, nourishes the tooth and transmits sensation.
Pulp chamber
The part of the pulp cavity inside the crown and the cervical part of the tooth. Houses the coronal pulp; extensions toward the cusps form the pulp horns.
Pulp horn
An extension of the pulp chamber toward a cusp tip or incisal edge.
Root canals
The part of the pulp cavity that runs through the root(s), from the canal orifices to the apical foramen. Carries the nerves and blood vessels of the pulp between the tooth and the surrounding tissues.
Apical foramen
The opening at or near the root apex through which nerves and vessels enter and leave the pulp.
Periodontium (supporting tissues)
Periodontium
The tissues that support the teeth: gingiva, periodontal ligament, cementum and alveolar bone.
Gingiva
The gums: the part of the oral mucosa that covers the alveolar processes and surrounds the necks of the teeth. Protects the underlying periodontal tissues and forms a seal around each tooth.
Periodontal ligament (PDL)
A thin layer of fibrous connective tissue between the root cementum and the alveolar bone. Suspends the tooth in its socket, absorbs chewing forces and provides sensory (proprioceptive) feedback.
Maxillary alveolar process
The ridge of the maxilla that contains the sockets (alveoli) of the upper teeth. Supports and anchors the teeth via the periodontal ligament.
Mandibular alveolar process
The upper part of the mandibular body containing the sockets of the lower teeth. Supports and anchors the lower teeth.
Jaws and joint
Maxilla
The paired bone forming the upper jaw. It holds the maxillary teeth, forms most of the hard palate and parts of the orbit floor and nasal cavity, and contains the maxillary sinus. Supports the upper dentition and the midface.
Maxillary sinus
An air-filled space inside the body of the maxilla, above the roots of the upper premolars and molars. It opens into the nasal cavity. Lightens the skull and adds resonance to the voice. Its mucous lining drains into the nose.
Mandible
The lower jaw — the only movable bone of the skull. It consists of a horseshoe-shaped body and two vertical rami ending in the condylar and coronoid processes. Holds the lower teeth and moves at the temporomandibular joints for chewing, speech and swallowing.
Mandibular condyle
The rounded head of the condylar process of the mandible, which articulates with the temporal bone at the temporomandibular joint. Rotates and glides forward during jaw opening.
Temporomandibular joint (TMJ)
The temporomandibular joints connect the mandible to the temporal bones. Each is a synovial joint in which the mandibular condyle articulates with the mandibular fossa and articular eminence, separated by an articular disc. Allows both hinge (rotation) and gliding (translation) movements, so the jaw can open widely and move side to side.
Articular disc
A dense fibrous disc between the mandibular condyle and the temporal bone that divides each joint into upper and lower compartments. Allows smooth rotation and gliding and distributes load across the joint.
Mandibular foramen
The opening on the inner surface of the mandibular ramus where the inferior alveolar nerve and vessels enter the mandibular canal.
Mental foramen
An opening on the outer surface of the mandible, usually near the apices of the premolars, through which the mental nerve and vessels emerge.
Nerves and vessels
Inferior alveolar nerve
A branch of the mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve (V3). It enters the mandibular foramen and runs through the mandibular canal beneath the roots of the lower teeth. Sensation to the mandibular teeth; gives off the mental nerve and continues as the incisive nerve.
Mental nerve
The terminal branch of the inferior alveolar nerve that emerges from the mental foramen. Sensation to the lower lip, chin and the labial gingiva of the anterior mandibular teeth.
Incisive nerve
The continuation of the inferior alveolar nerve within the bone, anterior to the mental foramen. Sensation to the mandibular canine and incisors.
Lingual nerve
A branch of the mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve (V3) that runs forward medial to the ramus, close to the lingual plate near the third molar, to the floor of the mouth and tongue. General sensation to the anterior two-thirds of the tongue, the floor of the mouth and the lingual gingiva; it also carries taste fibres from the chorda tympani.
Infraorbital nerve
The continuation of the maxillary nerve (V2) through the floor of the orbit, emerging onto the face at the infraorbital foramen. Sensation to the lower eyelid, side of the nose and upper lip; gives rise to the anterior (and, when present, middle) superior alveolar nerves.
Posterior superior alveolar nerve
A branch of the maxillary nerve (V2) that enters the back of the maxilla near the tuberosity. Sensation to most maxillary molars and their buccal gingiva.
Middle superior alveolar nerve
A branch of the infraorbital nerve, present in only part of the population. When present, sensation to the maxillary premolars and part of the first molar.
Anterior superior alveolar nerve
A branch of the infraorbital nerve that descends in the anterior wall of the maxilla. Sensation to the maxillary incisors and canine.
Inferior alveolar artery
A branch of the maxillary artery that accompanies the inferior alveolar nerve through the mandibular canal. Blood supply to the mandible and mandibular teeth.
Muscles of mastication and the face
Masseter
A thick quadrilateral muscle from the zygomatic arch to the outer surface of the mandibular angle and ramus. Elevates the mandible (closes the jaw); a powerful muscle of mastication.
Temporalis
A fan-shaped muscle from the side of the skull that inserts on the coronoid process of the mandible. Elevates the mandible; its posterior fibres retract it.
Medial pterygoid
A muscle on the inner side of the mandibular ramus, mirroring the masseter. Elevates the mandible and helps move it forward and to the side.
Lateral pterygoid
A two-headed muscle running forward from the condyle and joint capsule to the sphenoid bone. Protrudes the mandible and helps open the jaw and move it to the opposite side.
Buccinator
The muscle of the cheek, deep in the lateral wall of the oral cavity. Keeps the cheek against the teeth and holds food on the occlusal surfaces during chewing.
Orbicularis oris
The sphincter-like muscle encircling the mouth within the lips. Closes and shapes the lips for speech, eating and expression.
Mentalis
A small muscle of the chin. Raises and protrudes the lower lip and wrinkles the skin of the chin.
Frequently asked questions
What is Dent3D?
Dent3D is a free, open-source, interactive 3D model of human dental anatomy that runs in the web browser. You can rotate the skull and jaws, select any of the 32 permanent teeth, peel away enamel and dentin to see the pulp and root canals, and look at the nerves, vessels and muscles around the teeth.
Is Dent3D free?
Yes. It is free to use with no account or installation, and its source code is open under the MIT licence. The 3D anatomy is derived from BodyParts3D and shared under CC BY-SA 2.1 Japan.
Who is it for?
Dental students, dental hygiene and dental assisting students, teachers who want a 3D model to show in class, and anyone curious about how teeth are built and numbered.
Which tooth numbering systems does it support?
All three common systems. The FDI World Dental Federation system (ISO 3950) uses two digits: quadrant then position, so the lower left first molar is 36. The Universal system used in the United States numbers the teeth 1 to 32, making the same tooth #19. Palmer notation writes the quadrant and position, here LL6. Switch between them with the FDI, UNI and PAL buttons.
Can I see inside a tooth?
Yes. Select a tooth and open Dissect anatomy to separate it into enamel, dentin, cementum, periodontal ligament, pulp chamber and root canals, or use the Section tool to cut through the model.
Does it work on phones and tablets?
Yes, in any current version of Chrome, Edge, Firefox or Safari with WebGL, on desktop, tablet or phone.
Which languages is it available in?
English, Swedish, German, Spanish and Latin. The whole explorer, including the anatomical names and descriptions, is translated; choose a language with the flags at the top.
Can Dent3D be used for diagnosis?
No. Dent3D is an educational reference only. Internal tooth tissues are modeled with simplified proportions and nerves and vessels follow an anatomy atlas rather than measurements of one person, so it must not be used for diagnosis, treatment planning or clinical decisions.