Code Table Request - new part modifier: mesial

[KatherineLAnderson]

Goal

Add mesial to the part modifier code table

Context

This value doesn't exist and is useful for describing tooth parts (and mammal paleontologists really like teeth).

Table

https://arctos.database.museum/info/ctDocumentation.cfm?table=ctpart_modifier

Proposed Value

mesial

Proposed Definition

Toward anterior or mid-sagittal; the surface closest to the tooth in front of it. | https://berkeley.pressbooks.pub/morphology/chapter/teeth/ | https://github.com/ArctosDB/arctos/issues/7912

~~refers to the surface of the tooth that is toward the front of the mouth see also: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mesial~~

Priority

high--needed for data migration

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[dustymc]

mesial==mid, not front, no??

"closest to the middle" from your link....

Same as https://arctos.database.museum/info/ctDocumentation.cfm?table=ctpart_modifier#mid ??

[KatherineLAnderson]

mesial==mid, not front, no??

"closest to the middle" from your link....

Same as https://arctos.database.museum/info/ctDocumentation.cfm?table=ctpart_modifier#mid ??

I think the merriam webster definition is kind of confusing. It's referring to closest to the mid-line of the jaw (i.e., where the 2 sides of the jaw fuse), so instead of mesial meaning middle in the sense you'd think (which in teeth terms is called "lingual"), it means the surface of the tooth closest to the mid-line of the jaw or, in other words, the surface closest to the tooth in front of it.

Teeth are confusing which is why they have their own jargon. Like what is the middle of a tooth? It could mean the middle of the actual tooth, the "middle" surface of the tooth (which is what?), etc. This is why they have their own special words, and also why it sounds like your dentist is speaking in code to the hygienist.

[Jegelewicz]

suggest adding this to the definition

the surface of the tooth closest to the tooth in front of it.

[dustymc]

why it sounds like your dentist is speaking in code

I thought the Vietnamese was the confusing part!

merriam webster definition is kind of confusing

So is there something better, maybe some sort of ontology or less "general public oriented" source? (We're creating a CONCEPT here, whatever we add to a code table should NEVER mean 'whatever the current user hopes,' good/functional/disambiguating definitions are critical.)

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228511225_Tooth_Positional_Ontology_Represented_in_OWL suggests there might be such things (even if they're overly focused on the weirdest mammal...).

[Jegelewicz]

That paper describes a very limited ontology for

Positional_Value_Partition, which has six leaf subclasses: Anterior, Posterior, Right, Left, Upper, and Lower. The value of hasAP_Position is either Anterior or Posterior, the value of hasRL_Position is either Right or Left, and the value of hasUL_Position is either Upper or Lower

not sure it helps out here.

[Nicole-Ridgwell-NMMNHS]

This might be a better reference to use: https://berkeley.pressbooks.pub/morphology/chapter/teeth/

[dustymc]

Possible frankendefinition:

Toward anterior or mid-sagittal; the surface closest to the tooth in front of it. | https://berkeley.pressbooks.pub/morphology/chapter/teeth/ | https://github.com/ArctosDB/arctos/issues/7912

[KatherineLAnderson]

Bump! Any further info needed for this request?

[Nicole-Ridgwell-NMMNHS]

box checked

[AJLinn]

box 2 checked

[Nicole-Ridgwell-NMMNHS]

Added.