Types of Teeth and Their Functions

People grew up thinking that every tooth are the same. Indeed, people have different teeth in terms of size, texture, color, and appearance. However, apart from that, people need to know that every tooth is certainly different in function and type. In order for the teeth to function properly, people need to know the differences and the specific roles that these tooth types play. Listed below are the four types of teeth that people ought to know.

Incisors are often termed as the cutting teeth. People have a total of eight incisors which are often classified as central and lateral. Both upper and lower jaws have two central and lateral teeth. These teeth have one single root, flat surfaces, and sharp edge intended for cutting and snipping food. Incisors are also the first teeth to erupt.

Canines which are popularized by vampires on movies and television shows are the strongest teeth people have. There are four canines equally distributed on the upper and lower jaws and are located on either side of the lateral incisors. These are the second batch of teeth to erupt. Many dental experts also state that the canines are the sharpest, longest and most stable teeth which make it ideal for tearing or ripping tough food.

Premolars or bicuspid teeth are often used for chewing food. People have a total of eight premolars located beside the canines. Each has two premolar teeth on either side both on upper and lower jaw. Collierville dentists expound that premolars can have 2 roots but sometimes may only have 1. These teeth usually erupt when a child reaches the age of 10.

Molars are referred as the back human teeth since these are located on the back part of the jaw. People normally have 12 molars on their jaws – 6 on lower and 6 on upper jaws. However, there are certain cases that people have more than 12 molars aside from those that are referred as the third molars. Dentist Collierville believes that a certain situation like this may arise depending on the genes.

The third molars are popularly known as the wisdom teeth. They grow on every sides of the upper and lower jaw but usually appear when a person reaches the age of 17. In some cases, third molars need to be removed by a Collierville dentist as it can cause crowding and malocclusion to occur.