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Human tooth

life science Maturity 9-11 Next article →

Your teeth are a very important part of your digestive system. They work to break down food by cutting and crushing it. This makes it easier to swallow and digest your meals. Humans have four different types of teeth for these jobs. Incisors are used for cutting food into smaller pieces. Canines are shaped to tear food apart. Premolars and molars are used to crush and grind food.

Universal Numbering System
Universal Numbering System

A tooth is made of several different layers. The top part is called the crown. It is covered in enamel, which is the hardest substance in your body. Enamel is very strong but also quite brittle. Under the enamel is a layer called dentin. Dentin is softer than enamel and provides important support. The very center of the tooth is the dental pulp. This soft tissue contains blood vessels and nerves.

Fracturedtooth
Fracturedtooth

Most humans grow two separate sets of teeth. This way of growing is called being diphyodont. The first set is called deciduous teeth. You might know them as baby teeth or milk teeth. These usually consist of 20 teeth. They often start to erupt around six months of age. Later, these teeth are replaced by 32 permanent adult teeth.

ToothLost-2917
ToothLost-2917

Adult teeth have specific names and numbers. Dentists use different systems to keep track of them. One common way is the FDI World Dental Federation notation. This system is used all over the world. In the United States, people often use the Universal Numbering System. Some people in the United Kingdom still use the older Palmer notation.

Universal Numbering System
Universal Numbering System

Your teeth grow in a very organized way. This starts even before you are born. Primary teeth begin to form between the sixth and eighth weeks of an embryo. Permanent teeth start to form around the twentieth week. The growth happens in stages called the bud, cap, bell, and maturation stages. Some adult teeth, called third molars, emerge between ages 17 and 25. These are often called wisdom teeth.

Molarsindevelopment11-24-05
Molarsindevelopment11-24-05
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🖼️ Images & Media (10)
File:Universal Numbering System.svg
Universal Numbering System.svg
File:Molarsindevelopment11-24-05.jpg
Molarsindevelopment11-24-05.jpg
File:ToothLost-2917.jpg
ToothLost-2917.jpg
File:Eruptingtoothwithlabels11-24-05.jpg
Eruptingtoothwithlabels11-24-05.jpg
File:Toothdecay.png
Toothdecay.png
File:Toothbrush 20050716 004.jpg
Toothbrush 20050716 004.jpg
File:dent,tooth,zub.jpg
dent,tooth,zub.jpg
File:Fracturedtooth.jpg
Fracturedtooth.jpg
File:Tired teeth.jpg
Tired teeth.jpg
File:Milk.teeth.fusion.jpg
Milk.teeth.fusion.jpg
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