Humans usually have 20 primary (deciduous, "baby" or "milk") teeth and 32 permanent (adult) teeth. Teeth are classified as incisors, canines, premolars (also called bicuspids), and molars. Incisors are primarily used for cutting, canines are for tearing, and molars serve for grinding.
The permanent dentition consists of 32 teeth. This is made up of four incisors, two canines (or cuspids), four premolars (or bicuspids), four molars and two wisdom teeth (also called third molars) in each jaw. If wisdom teeth have been removed there will be 28 teeth.
A tooth consists of two main structures: 1.
Crown. This is the part of your tooth that you can see — the portion above your gums,Humans have four types of teeth:
incisors, canines, premolars, and molars, which each have a specific function. The incisors cut the food, the canines tear the food and the molars and premolars crush the food. The roots of teeth are embedded in the maxilla (upper jaw) or the mandible (lower jaw) and are covered by gums.Dental anatomy is defined here as, but is not limited to,
the study of the development, morphology, function, and identity of each of the teeth in the human dentitions, as well as the way in which the teeth relate in shape, form, structure, color, and function to the other teeth in the same dental arch and to the teeth in the opposing arch.
Teeth are organised into two opposing arches – maxillary (upper) and mandibular (lower). These can be divided down the midline (mid-sagittal plane) into left and right halves. Teeth are positioned in alveolar sockets and connected to the bone by a suspensory periodontal ligament.Teeth are made of four different dental tissues:
enamel, dentin, cementum, and pulp. Enamel is the hard covering on the crown of the tooth—the area you can see and brush. Dentin is under the enamel and prevents foods from stimulating the nerves and cells inside the tooth, which could lead to tooth sensitivity.
Cementoblasts form the cementum of a tooth. Osteoblasts give rise to the alveolar bone around the roots of teeth. Fibroblasts develop the periodontal ligaments which connect teeth to the alveolar bone through cementum. Tooth development is commonly divided into the following stages: the bud stage, the cap, the bell, and finally maturation.
