Types of teeth

You've made a dentist appointment, and it can't come soon enough. Meanwhile, it can help to rinse your mouth with warm water, floss to remove food caught between teeth, and take an over-the-counter pain reliever. If you notice swelling or pus around the tooth, or if you have a fever, that could be a sign that you have an abscess, a more serious problem. See your dentist as soon as possible. You may need Your teeth are like your laundry: The right approach will remove many stains. Foods, medications, tobacco, and trauma are some of the things that can discolor your teeth. You have three options for whitening them. Your dentist can use a whitening agent and a special light. Or you can bleach them at home with a plastic tray and gel from your dentist or a store. The simplest choice, whitening toothpaste and whitening rinses, only remove surface stains. It's the No. 1 type of dental injury. An accident can cause a chip. So can something much less dramatic, like chomping popcorn. Your dentist may recommend a crown if the chip is large or bonding with a strong resin material to replace the area that chipped. If the pulp is at risk, you may need a root canal followed by a veneer or crown. You were playing football without a mouth guard, or chewing, or maybe you don’t know how it happened, but now you’ve got a cracked molar. Can your dentist save the tooth? It depends. Most dentist recommend crowns for cracked teeth to prevent the crack from worsening. If the tooth is sensitive to...

tooth, plural teeth, any of the hard, resistant structures occurring on the jaws and in or around the The teeth of vertebrates represent the modified The structure of teeth All true teeth have the same general structure and consist of three layers. In mammals an outer layer of Tooth form and function Like most other mammals, humans have two successive sets of teeth during life. The first set of teeth are called primary, or deciduous, ones, and the second set are called permanent ones. Humans have 20 primary and 32 permanent teeth. Primary teeth differ from permanent teeth in being smaller, having more pointed cusps, being whiter and more prone to wear, and having relatively large pulp chambers and small, delicate roots. The primary teeth begin to appear about six months after birth, and the primary 1/ 2; shedding begins about age 5 or 6 and is finished by age 13. The primary teeth are shed when their roots are resorbed as the permanent teeth push toward the mouth cavity in the course of their growth. In humans the primary dentition consists of 20 teeth— four incisors, two Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Incisor teeth are the teeth at the front of the mouth, and they are adapted for plucking, cutting, tearing, and holding. The biting portion of an incisor is wide and thin, making a chisel-shaped cutting edge. The upper incisors have a delicate Premolars and molars have a series of elevations, or cusps, that are used for breaking u...

Types of cavities Cavities are decayed areas of your teeth that develop into tiny openings or holes. The three types of cavities are shown here. Smooth surface cavities occur on the smooth sides of your teeth, while root cavities develop on the surface over the roots. Pit and fissure cavities occur on the chewing surface of your teeth. Not cleaning your teeth well, frequent snacking and sipping sugary drinks are the main culprits behind cavities. Cavities are permanently damaged areas in the hard surface of your teeth that develop into tiny openings or holes. Cavities, also called tooth decay or caries, are caused by a combination of factors, including bacteria in your mouth, frequent snacking, sipping sugary drinks and not cleaning your teeth well. Cavities and tooth decay are among the world's most common health problems. They're especially common in children, teenagers and older adults. But anyone who has teeth can get cavities, including infants. If cavities aren't treated, they get larger and affect deeper layers of your teeth. They can lead to a severe toothache, infection and tooth loss. Regular dental visits and good brushing and flossing habits are your best protection against cavities and tooth decay. Symptoms The signs and symptoms of cavities vary, depending on their extent and location. When a cavity is just beginning, you may not have any symptoms at all. As the decay gets larger, it may cause signs and symptoms such as: • Toothache, spontaneous pain or pain ...

Most of us take our teeth for granted — until something goes wrong. Not only do our teeth help us chew and digest food, they also play an important role in speech, and impact our health overall. By brushing up on your dental health knowledge, you’ll be taking the first step toward giving your teeth the attention they deserve. How much do you know about your pearly whites? The Development of Teeth Humans have two sets of teeth: primary (or baby) teeth and permanent (adult) teeth, which develop in stages. Although the timing is different, the development of each of these sets of teeth is similar. Here are some facts about how the teeth develop: • According to Shantanu Lal, doctor of dental surgery and associate professor of dental medicine at Columbia University Medical Center in New York City, teeth tend to erupt in a symmetrical manner, meaning that the top molar on your left side should grow in at about the same time as the top molar on the right. • "Tooth development begins long before your first tooth becomes visible. For example, a baby’s first tooth appears at around six months, but development of those teeth actually begins during the early second trimester of pregnancy," says Dr. Lal. • The crown of a tooth forms first, while the roots continue to develop even after the tooth has erupted. • The 20 primary teeth are in place between ages 2 ½ and 3 and remain until around age 6. Between ages 6 and 12, these primary teeth begin to fall out to make way for the permanent...

Overview What are dental fillings? Dental fillings are single or combinations of metals, plastics, glass or other materials used to repair or restore teeth. One of the most popular uses of fillings is to “fill” an area of tooth that your dentist has removed due to decay – “a What materials are dental fillings made from? Dental filling materials include: • Gold. • Porcelain. • Silver amalgam (contains mercury mixed with silver, tin, zinc, and copper). • Tooth-colored, plastic and glass materials called composite resin fillings. The location and extent of the decay, cost of filling material, your insurance coverage and your dentist’s recommendation help determine the type of filling that will best address your needs. Are there advantages and disadvantages to various filling materials? Yes. Advantages and disadvantages of the various dental filling materials are as follows: Advantages: • Gold: Lasts at least 10 to 15 years, some say gold presents a pleasing appearance. • Silver fillings (amalgams): Lasts at least 10 to 15 years, less expensive than composite fillings. • Tooth-colored composite fillings: Shade can be closely matched to color of existing teeth, bonds to existing tooth providing additional support, commonly used for repairs other than cavity filling, sometimes less tooth needs to be removed compared with amalgams. • Ceramics/porcelain: Lasts more than 15 years, more resistant to staining than composite resin material. • Glass ionomer (acrylic and a specific type...

Image Source © 2015 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved. The teeth are the hardest substances in the human body. Besides being essential for chewing, the teeth play an important role in speech. Parts of the teeth include: • Enamel: The hardest, white outer part of the • Dentin: A layer underlying the enamel. It is a hard tissue that contains microscopic tubes. When the enamel is damaged, heat or cold can enter the tooth through these paths and cause sensitivity or pain. • Pulp: The softer, living inner structure of teeth. • Cementum: A layer of connective tissue that binds the roots of the teeth firmly to the gums and jawbone. • Periodontal ligament: Tissue that helps hold the teeth tightly against the jaw. A normal adult mouth has 32 teeth, which (except for • Incisors (8 total): The middlemost four teeth on the upper and lower jaws. • Canines (4 total): The pointed teeth just outside the incisors. • Premolars (8 total): Teeth between the canines and molars. • Molars (8 total): Flat teeth in the rear of the mouth, best at grinding food. • The crown of each Teeth Conditions • • • • • • • • • •