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November 7, 2018Unique to each person is our smile, tooth color and shape, and mouth size. The types of teeth we have, and why we have them is common to all of us.
Humans have teeth to assist in digesting food by breaking it down. Without teeth we wouldn’t be able to rip apart things like meat, take large bites, or crush foods like peanuts or hard candy. Also, a smile is one of the first things people notice about you!
There are Four Basic Tooth Types
Incisors
Incisors are the eight ‘flat’ teeth at the front of your smile. There are four on the top and four on the bottom. These teeth are responsible for taking our initial bites. They are our second sharpest teeth, and are used for taking bites of foods like sandwiches, hotdogs, and apples.
Canines
The next teeth, moving toward the back of your mouth, are our “fangs” or canines. Compared to our incisors, these teeth are sharper and stronger, and have much deeper roots. Just as in a dog’s mouth, these teeth rip and tear food apart.
Premolars
Sometimes called bicuspids, premolars are responsible for chewing and grinding food. We have four premolars on each side of our mouths – two on the top, and two on the bottom. Fun Fact: Premolars are the only “back” teeth that appear with our primary, or ‘baby’ teeth. Our baby teeth consist of incisors, canines, and premolars. Molars and third molars come later in life.
Molars
There are in the far back of you mouth and are also responsible for grinding up food. These eight teeth, similar to premolars, are four on each side – two on the top and two on the bottom.
Third Molars
Commonly referred to as “wisdom teeth”, the third molars are the last teeth to emerge, typically around the age of 18-21 years. Interestingly enough, not all people have wisdom teeth. For those who do, they often cause over crowding, or grow into other teeth, instead of along side them. In both cases they may need to be removed.
Your smile is unique to you, while your tooth types are common to everyone! If you want to schedule an appointment, or have questions, contact us.