Contents:
- Medical Video: Human Tooth Anatomy With Labeled Diagrams
- Get to know the development of teeth
- What is dental anatomy like?
- Types of teeth
Medical Video: Human Tooth Anatomy With Labeled Diagrams
Teeth are a complex part of the human body. The function of the teeth is not only to chew and digest food, but teeth also play an important role in speaking. To find out more about teeth, see the complete dental anatomy here.
Get to know the development of teeth
Humans have two groups of teeth, namely milk teeth or baby teeth and permanent teeth or adult teeth, which develop gradually. Although the time of development is different for each person, each group of teeth grows at a similar stage.
According to dental surgeons and dentistry professors at Columbia University Medical Center, teeth tend to grow symmetrically, which means the lower upper molars on the left side must grow along with the right side molars.
Dental development begins long before your first tooth is visible. For example, the baby's first tooth appears at around six months of gestation, but the development of the tooth has actually begun at the beginning of the second trimester of pregnancy.
The dental crown is formed first, while the roots continue to develop even after the teeth appear. Between the ages of 2.5 and 3 years, 20 main teeth have started to grow and remain until they are around 6 years old. Between the ages of 6-12 years, milk teeth begin to change with permanent teeth.
Adult teeth begin to grow between the ages of 6-12 years. Most adults have 32 permanent teeth.
What is dental anatomy like?
The dental anatomy is divided into two basic parts. The first part is crown, which is the white part of the tooth visible. The second part is tooth root which you cannot see. The root extends below the gum line and helps bind the teeth to the bone. Your teeth have several types of tissue and each has a different function.
The anatomy of the tooth is:
- Enamel is the hardest and whiteest part of the tooth's teeth. Enamel protects vital tissues in the teeth, most of which are made of calcium and phosphate.
- Dentin is a layer below the enamel. This is a hard tissue containing a small tube. When enamel is damaged, hot or cold temperatures can enter the teeth through this pathway and cause tooth sensitivity or pain.
- Cementumis a layer of connective tissue that binds the tooth roots firmly to the gums and jawbone. Because it is softer than enamel and dentine, the best way to protect soft tissue from decay is to treat your gums well. Cementum has a light yellow color and is usually covered by gums and bones. If it doesn't take good care of the teeth, the gums can become sick and shrink, making cementum accumulate dangerous plaques and bacteria.
- Pulpis the softer inner part of the anatomy of the tooth, can be found at the center and core of your teeth and contains blood vessels, nerves, and other soft tissues. This section is useful for providing nutrients and signals to your teeth.
- Ligament periodontal is a tissue that helps hold teeth firmly against the jaw.
- Gum is a soft tissue that covers and protects the roots of teeth. The gums don't stick to the teeth.
Types of teeth
Teeth help you chew food so that it is easier to digest. Each type of tooth has a slightly different shape and has its own function. Check out the following list of dental types.
- Incisors are 8 teeth in front of your mouth (4 above and 4 below). Incisors are used to bite food. Incisors are usually the first teeth that appear, around 6 months of age.
- Canine toothare the sharpest teeth and are used to tear food. Canines appear between the ages of 16-20 months with canines located right above and below. However, in permanent teeth, the order is reversed, new canines will change around the age of 9 years.
- Premolar used to chew and grind food. Adults have 8 premolars on each side of the mouth, 4 in the maxilla and 4 in the lower jaw. The first premolar appeared around the age of 10 years with a second premolar appearing about a year later. Premolar is located between canines and molars.
- Molars also used for chewing and grinding food. These teeth appear between the ages of 12-28 months, and are replaced by the first and second premolars (4 upper and 4 lower). The number of molars is 8.
- Wisdom teeth is the last tooth to appear, located at the back of the molars. Usually this wisdom teeth will not appear until the age of 18-20 years. However, in some people this tooth may not grow at all. Unfortunately, this wisdom tooth can grow to push other teeth and cause pain so it must be removed immediately.
