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Primary teeth, or baby teeth, are the first set of teeth to come in. Most children have all 20 baby teeth by age three.
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Permanent teeth push primary teeth out of the way, causing them to fall out. By about age 14, all primary teeth have been replaced by 28 permanent teeth.
A full set of permanent teeth, 32 teeth in all, is achieved by the late teens to early twenties with the arrival of the wisdom teeth.
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Types of Teeth
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Incisors are
shaped like tiny chisels that are used for cutting and chopping
food. Your front four teeth on the top and
bottom of your mouth are
incisors.
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The pointy
shaped teeth next to your incisors are canines. You have two
canines on top and two on the bottom and use them to tear
food. |
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When all
the permanent teeth have come in, four premolars are found
next to each canine. Premolars are bigger and stronger than canines and
incisors. They have ridges that are used to crush and grind
food. |
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The last type of tooth is the molar. The 12
molars (six on the top jaw and six on the bottom jaw) are very wide with
several ridges to grind up food so it can be
swallowed. |
Types of Teeth
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The crown is the part of the tooth that you can see above
the gumline. It is covered by enamel.
The root is located under
the gumline and encases the
pulp.
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Types of Teeth
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Enamel protects the inside of the tooth by acting as a barricade. Enamel is the hardest substance in the human body.
Dentin is located underneath enamel to protect the pulp and is a substance similar to bone. The majority of the tooth is comprised of dentin.
Pulp contains each tooth’s nerve endings and the blood vessels that bring nutrients to the tooth. |