The Purpose And Development Of Teeth

Do you ever just sit around thinking about your teeth and all the wonderful things they can do for you? Probably not. In fact, most of us give little thought to our teeth unless something is wrong – a tooth ache, a chip or crack, or some other type of bad news from the dentist. We simply take for granted the fact that they are there, and don’t realize how it important it is to maintain our dental health.

It’s also important to have a good understanding of your teeth and dental health and how they impact your overall health, so that you can take whatever steps are necessary to preserve them. Below is a primer on the basics.

The Composition of Teeth

Teeth are composed of four main ingredients:

Enamel

Enamel is the outer material that covers the other components of the tooth. It is a very hard substance (hard than bone!) that protects the pulp of the tooth. Once enamel wears away, it is gone forever.

Dentin

Dentin is the materials underneath the enamel. Dentin is slightly softer than enamel, but acts as an extra layer of protection for the tooth pulp. Dentin protects the pulp from infection and decay.

Cementum

Cementum is the material that covers the roots of a tooth, and helps to anchor the tooth to the jaw

Pulp

The pulp is the material at the center of a tooth. The pulp contains the nerves and blood vessels, and delivers nourishment to the teeth and also provides pain signals to indicate when something is wrong with the tooth.

Tooth Growth and Development

Let’s begin with the growth and development of teeth.   There are common timelines for how long it takes each type of tooth to develop and form. While in the odd case, the timeline is different, in most people, the following are true:

• Development of Primary teeth – our first set of ‘baby’ teeth – occurs in-vitro. As our bodies develop in the womb, so do our teeth.
• A total of twenty Primary teeth will develop.
• While this may seem odd, the crown of a tooth will form and grow before the tooth root.
• Once a crown has developed, the root will grow and continue to do so even after the crown has erupted (surfaced outside of the gum line).
• By the age of three, all twenty of the Primary teeth will have developed, and will remain in place until around the age of six.
• After the age of six, the Primary teeth will begin falling out as Permanent teeth (adult teeth) grown and being to push the Primary teeth out.
• There will be thirty two permanent teeth when it’s all said and done.

Now that we know how and when teeth begin to grow and develop, it’s important to also understand the role and function of Primary teeth. There are four main functions of the Primary teeth:

1. They help develop a child’s speech.
2. They help a child chew properly in order to be able to receive proper nutrition.
3. They serve as a guide for the permanent teeth to come in, in fact how the Primary teeth develop in size and placement is a good indicator of how the permanent teeth will develop.
4. They provide a good indication of whether or not the child’s permanent teeth will be predisposed to tooth decay.

If you have any questions about your child’s teeth or oral care for your children, one of Vancouver Pediatric dentists will be happy to answer any questions you may have!

The Different Types of Teeth and What They Do

There are several different types of teeth in your mouth, and each has a different role.

Incisor Teeth

The Incisor teeth comprise the front top and bottom four teeth in your mouth. Located at the front of the mouth, Incisors are used to take bites of food. Once they have cut or torn off a bite of food, they leave the heavy chewing work to the back teeth.

Canine Teeth

The side teeth called Canine teeth are the sharpest teeth in the mouth, and are used for ripping, tearing and shredding food apart for easy swallowing. There are four Canines – two on each side of the arch.

Pre-molar Teeth

Pre-molars, also known as bicuspid teeth, are used to chew and grind food. Located at the back of the dental arch, there are two pre-molars on the top, and two pre-molars on the bottom of each side of the mouth.

Molar Teeth

Molars are also used for chewing and grinding teeth. Molars replace pre-molars as the permanent teeth come in.

Third-molar Teeth

Third-molars are also known as Wisdom teeth. They are the final teeth to develop, and often do not erupt through the gums. You probably know at least a handful of people who have had to have their wisdom teeth removed.

Commonly during a person’s late teens and early twenties, the wisdom teeth will begin to cause problems that include painful abscess, infection and impaction. If they do erupt through the gums, there is a risk of overcrowding the other teeth, which will cause shifting and damage to the tooth surfaces. For these reasons, in most cases, the wisdom teeth will be removed to preserve the health of the other permanent teeth. This will not have a negative impact on chewing.

Summary

Now that you know a little bit more about the hows, whats and whys of your teeth, you’ll probably think twice about letting your dental hygiene routine lapse. Your permanent teeth are the only ones you’ll ever have, there are no more sets of teeth coming in, so taking proper care of them is of the utmost importance. A regular dental hygiene routine that includes brushing, flossing, rinsing, and regular visits to the dentist are all part of the routine that will keep your teeth healthy for years to come!

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