Type of Teeth

Different types of teeth play different roles such as cutting, shearing, grinding, crushing, and tearing of food. Teeth are calcified structures, which help vertebrates to bite food in smaller pieces to swallow them. Teeth are composed of collagen and different minerals that include calcium hydroxyapatite (89%), calcium carbonate (4%), calcium fluoride (2%), and magnesium phosphate (1.5%) and this composition make teeth the hardest material in all vertebrates. All vertebrates have teeth, but some invertebrates also have teeth that are different in chemical composition.

Human Teeth

A tooth is a hard, calcified structure present in many vertebrate jaws (or mouths) that is used to break down food. Some animals, especially omnivores and carnivores, use their teeth for defensive purposes, to rip food, to aid capture or hurt prey, to scare other animals, often even their own, or to carry prey or their young. Gum tissue covers a tooth’s roots. Instead of being built of bone, teeth are composed of a variety of tissues with different densities and hardnesses that come from the ectoderm, the outermost layer of the embryonic germ layer.

Anatomy of Tooth

There are two primary structures in a tooth:

• Crown: This is the area of the tooth that is visible above the gum line. The dental crown is covered in enamel, a tough, protective material.
• Root: The root basically works by providing proper strength so that our teeth can sustain for a longer time. It is held in place in our jaw by this portion of our tooth. Our gums conceal the root, so we can’t see it. Our tooth’s root secures it to the periodontal ligament.

Structural Composition of Tooth

Teeth are composed of 4 different layers, including:

• Enamel: Every tooth has this coating on the outside for protection. Enamel acts as a barrier against microorganisms that cause cavities. In a human body, enamel is the toughest material.
• Dentin: Dentin is the layer that lies just beneath the enamel. Enamel is stronger than dentin. Risk of cavities increases when dentin is exposed by lost enamel.
• Cementum: Teeth roots are covered in cementum. It aids in securely anchoring tooth in the jaw along with the periodontal tissues.
• Tooth pulp: This is the tooth’s deepest layer. It is made up of connective tissues, blood vessels, and nerves.

Types of Teeth in Human

The following are the types of teeth in human:

Incisors

The Latin verb “to cut” is the source of the name “incisors,” which are tools used to cut food for oral consumption. Your two front incisors are called central incisors, and the lateral incisors that resemble them on each side also aid in cutting.

Eight incisors: There are four incisors in the lower jaw and four in the upper jaw.

Canines

Canines are small and pointed teeth on the side of our incisors, which resemble vampire fangs, aid in tearing food. Canines only rip, despite their appearance as an excellent cutting tooth since they are positioned behind the incisors. Four canines: There are two canines in the lower jaw and two in the upper jaw.

Molars

All molars are used for grinding food. They come in gradually in a sort of a line, at the edge of the ‘horseshoe’ shape of our bottom or lower jaw.

There are several different types of molars including the following:

1. Premolars: These are known as bicuspids and premolars develops first as permanent teeth at the back of mouth.
2. Molars: Molars are designed for crushing food, these wider, flatter, squarer teeth are located farther back in the mouth. They may be more vulnerable to tooth decay because of their concave form and nooks and crannies.
3. Wisdom teeth: These referred to as “third molars,” these teeth are the final ones to develop permanently and located deep within the jaw. The wisdom teeth are the only non-functioning teeth in human mouths. These teeth can sometimes be extremely painful that can be cured after permanently removal.
   1. Eight premolars– There are four premolars in the lower jaw and four in the upper jaw.
   2. Twelve molars- The lower jaw has six molars while the upper jaw has six. There are four wisdom teeth in there as well.

Diphyodonts and Polyphyodonty

Diphyodonts: Some vertebrates like snakes are known as diphyodonts because they have both permanent and milk teeth. Polyphyodonty: Aquatic animals likes fishes and other animal like elephants, kangaroos and manatees have their teeth continuously replaced time to time.

Babies’ Teeth

When infant is born, they do not have any teeth because their food source is milk. As they start to grow milk teeth will start to develop and by the age of six milk teeth get replaced by permanent teeth. Babies’ teeth include:

• Eight incisors – There are four incisors in the lower jaw and four in the upper jaw.
• Four canines – There are two canines in the lower jaw and two in the upper jaw.
• Eight molars – There are eight molars total—four in the lower jaw and four in the upper jaw.

A person will also have a mixture of permanent and milk teeth throughout this stage. As a result, this phase is known as the mixed stage.

Human Teeth Diagram

The following is a labelled diagram of types of teeth:

Functions of Teeth

These are three basic and most important function of teeth:

• Aid in mastication of food: We have 32 teeth that work together to masticate food into smaller peices. Later on oropharynx and tongue help in to swallowing of food.
• Aid in speech: Teeth help in the accurate pronunciation of words.
• Structure of face: Teeth imparts a structure to the face.

FAQs – Types of Teeth

1. What are the 4 types of Teeth?

The human mouth contains four distinct types of teeth, each designed for a specific function. Incisors are used for biting and cutting food, canines for tearing and grasping, premolars for crushing and grinding, and molars for the final stages of chewing and grinding.

2. What is Teeth?

Teeth are tough, calcified structures located in the jaws (or mouths) of many vertebratesare and are integral components of the digestive system, responsible for breaking down food through crushing or cutting actions before swallowing.

3. What are Type 3 Teeth?

In Class III malocclusion, the lower first molar is positioned ahead or closer to the front of the mouth compared to the upper first molar.

4. Why are Teeth Important?

Our teeth hold an important place in our lives, contributing to essential functions like chewing and digesting food, enabling clear speech, and even shaping our facial appearance.

5. Which are Teeth 4 and 5?

Teeth 4 and 5 are premolar which are located in upper right quadrant and they are opposite to 13 and 12 tooth.