Where mesial surface of one tooth touches distal surface of
adjacent tooth (or mesial-mesial in the case of centrals)
Distal inciso-gingival contact point is either the same level or
more gingival than the mesial inciso-gingival contact point
All posterior teeth inciso-gingival contact points are in the
middle third of the crown except mesial surface of all molars (jxn
of occlusal and middle third)
All teeth have facio-lingual contact points in the middle third
of the crown, but posterior teeth have contact points leaning
toward the facial.
Embrasures
V-shaped flare surrounding proximal contact areas of a tooth
Provide spillways for food to escape during mastication Reduces
pressure
Self-cleansing
Facial embrasure is always thinner than lingual embrasure
except: Mandibular centrals (F = L)
Maxillary 1st molar (F > L)
Embrasures
Heights of contour
Aka height of curvature
Imaginary line encircling tooth or tooth surface at its greatest
bulge
Facial height of contour cervical third for all teeth
except mandibular molars (jxn of cervical and middle third)
Lingual height of contour Anterior teeth cervical third
Posterior teeth middle third except mandibular second premolar
(occlusal third)
