The teeth are one of the essential organs of the human body. Not only it helps to grind the food to help digestion, but also, it enables you to talk, which is an important characteristic of a person. Teeth are also very important to our general health. Here is a brief description of the anatomy of teeth, the different parts of the teeth and how they grow.
Different parts of the teeth and their functions:
A fully grown human being contains 32 teeth’s in numbers. The tooth is made up of 2 basic parts. Here they are:
Crown – The top, visible white part of the tooth. It is the only part you can usually see.
Root – A part of the tooth that is invisible. It extends below the gum line and attaches the tooth to the bone and holds the tooth in place.
The teeth also have 4 types of tissues. Each tissue performs different functions. Here they are:
Pulp – It is found in the center of your tooth. It usually holds the blood vessels, nerve tissues and other soft tissues that deliver nutrients to the various parts of the teeth.
Enamel – Enamel is the visible layer that covers the tooth crown. The enamel is made up of calcium and phosphorus. It helps to prevent tooth decay.
Dentin – Dentin is normally located under the enamel, which appears like bone. Dentin is softer than the enamel. Therefore, if the enamel is attacked and destroyed, dentin has a higher risk of decay than the enamel.
Cementum – Cementum tissue protects and covers the root of the tooth and helps to join the root to the bone. Usually, the cementum is softer compared to the dentin and enamel. Cementum is normally light yellowish in color. They are covered by the gum and are at a greater risk of decay if you don’t take care of your gums properly.
What are the different types of teeth and their functions?
Each type of teeth has a little different shape than the others. Hence, they perform different functions. Here are the types of teeth:
Incisors – The incisor teeth are normally the 8 teeth in the front and center of your mouth. Usually, they are arranged with 4 at the bottom and 4 on the top. These sets of 8 teeth are used for biting the food. Usually, they begin to grow from 6 months for the first set of teeth and between the ages of 6 to 8 for the adult set of teeth.
Canine – They are usually 4 in number and the second set of teeth to grow. They are usually the sharpest teeth in the mouth used for tearing food.
The primary canine begins to grow between the ages of 16 to 20 months with the upper canine coming in front of the lower canine and opposite in the case of permanent teeth. Upper canine usually begins to develop at the age between 11 to 12 years while the lower canine begins to grow at the age of 9.
Molar – Basically, the molar are used for chewing the food. The molar is made up of the primary molar, which begins to grow between the ages of 12 to 15 months. The first molar begins to develop from the age of 6 years while the second molar begins to grow between the ages of 11-13 years.
Third molar – The third molar is the last sets of teeth to grow and don’t begin to grow until the ages of 18 to 20 years. In some cases, the third molar doesn’t develop at all.
Human beings usually have 2 sets of teeth – Primary teeth or baby teeth and the permanent teeth.
The crown of the teeth comes first. Then, the root of the teeth comes. The root continues to grow after the tooth has grown.
The adult teeth usually begin to develop from the ages of 6 to 12 years. When adult teeth are fully developed, they are usually 32 in number.