What does “Distal” mean?
Distal means away from the midline of the dental arch. Dentists use it to describe which surface has decay or a restoration, or the direction in which a tooth is moved.
The dental arch's midline is the reference
Distal is the direction along the arch away from the centre of the front teeth. The right and left sides are arranged as mirror images, so treating distal as always meaning the patient's right or left can lead to confusion.
A tooth surface or a direction of movement
The distal surface is the side of a tooth farther from the midline. Distal movement means moving a tooth in that direction. The surrounding explanation tells you whether the term concerns a cavity's location or orthodontic movement.
Read the tooth number and surface together
A tooth number identifies the tooth, while a surface name such as distal identifies a part of it. When explaining discomfort, distinguishing the space between teeth from the cheek- or tongue-facing surface also helps clarify location.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does distal always mean the very back of the mouth?
It means the direction away from the arch's midline, not the last tooth itself. Front teeth also have distal surfaces.
Does decay on a distal surface mean the adjacent tooth has decay too?
The phrase identifies the affected surface of the tooth being discussed. Whether the facing surface of the neighbouring tooth also has decay must be assessed separately.
Understanding a distal location
Learn what the term means and how it relates to your dental condition.
- Sufficient understanding
Which tooth's distal surface is being discussed?
Explanation and evidenceUse the tooth's number or name together with the direction to identify the location.
American Dental Association · Glossary of Dental Terms - Sufficient understanding
Is the term describing a surface or movement?
Explanation and evidenceA lesion on a distal surface and distal tooth movement are different descriptions, so check the context.
American Dental Association · Glossary of Dental Terms
