Tooth Anatomy – Understanding Your Teeth Inside and Out

Your teeth are one of the most amazing parts of your body. Besides being the hardest substance in the human body and playing a key role in eating, they are also important for speech. Many people also consider a smile to be important cosmetically. Since your teeth play a crucial role in many aspects of your life, it’s good to know more about them so that you can take better care of them. Learning more about the anatomy of your teeth can help you communicate with your dentist to ensure you’re always receiving the best dental care.

What are the parts of a tooth?

There are 5 main parts of a tooth that you should know:

• Enamel: The enamel is the outer layer of your teeth. This is the hardest layer of your teeth and the layer that gives your teeth their brilliant white shine. The enamel is mostly made from calcium phosphate, which is a very hard mineral.
• Dentin: The dentin is the layer directly underneath your enamel. It is a hard layer that is primarily made up of microscopic tubes. If your enamel gets damaged, heat and cold can enter the tooth through these paths, causing pain and sensitivity.
• Pulp: The pulp is the soft inner tissue of the tooth. Nerves and blood run through the pulp. Infection of the pulp is a common cause of root canals.
• Cementum: The cementum is connective tissue that holds the roots of your teeth to your gums and jawbone.
• Periodontal Ligament: The periodontal ligament is additional tissue that holds your teeth to your jaw.

What are the different kinds of teeth?

Most adults have a total of 32 teeth in their mouth. 

• Incisors: The incisors are the middle teeth at the very front of your mouth. You have 8 total – 4 on the top and 4 on the bottom.
• Canines: The canines are the next teeth back from your incisors. They are well known for their pointy appearance.
• Premolars: The premolars are the teeth in between your canines and your molars.
• Molars: The molars are the wide and flat teeth at the back of your mouth that are best for chewing.
• Wisdom Teeth: Wisdom teeth, also known as the third molars, are the teeth at the very back of your mouth. In most people, they come in around the age of 18 and are frequently removed surgically. 

We hope that this information helps you understand your pearly whites a little better. 

If you have any questions about tooth anatomy, please call our Burtonsville, MD office at (301) 989-0088.