- The primary focus of dental anatomy is the study of the morphology of teeth and their supporting oral structures.
- This includes understanding the shape, size, structure, and arrangement of teeth, as well as the anatomical features of the alveolar bone, periodontal ligament, and gingiva that support the teeth.

- While physiological processes such as mastication and the biomechanics of mandibular movements are important in dentistry, they are typically studied under specialties like oral physiology and occlusion, not dental anatomy. Similarly, the histological aspects of salivary glands fall under the domain of histology and oral biology rather than dental anatomy.

- Understanding dental anatomy is crucial for proper diagnosis, restorative dentistry, orthodontics, and prosthodontics, as it provides the foundation for identifying tooth forms and their relationships within the oral cavity.

Key Points:
- Dental anatomy focuses on the morphology of teeth, including their shape and structure.
- It also studies the supporting oral structures such as periodontal ligament and alveolar bone.
- It does not primarily focus on physiological or histological processes.
- Knowledge of dental anatomy aids in clinical applications like restorations and orthodontics.

Reference: Wheeler’s Dental Anatomy, Physiology and Occlusion, 10th Edition, Chapter 1: Introduction to Dental Anatomy