{"id":46,"date":"2017-02-24T22:33:11","date_gmt":"2017-02-24T22:33:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.schumacherdental.com\/blog\/?p=46"},"modified":"2024-06-05T12:23:51","modified_gmt":"2024-06-05T12:23:51","slug":"dentist-wakefield-ma-purpose-of-each-tooth-dental-anatomy-101-html","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.schumacherdental.com\/blog\/dentist-wakefield-ma-purpose-of-each-tooth-dental-anatomy-101-html\/","title":{"rendered":"The Story Behind Your Teeth From Your Dentist In Wakefield, MA"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"EachWhen picking up your daughter from Wakefield Middle School one afternoon, she tells you her health teacher gave her a project on their newest topic \u2013 oral hygiene. Her presentation is called Dental Anatomy 101, and, based on the instructions for the assignment, you\u2019ll need to help her with her research. Luckily for you, Dr. Rob Schumacher, your dentist in Wakefield, can give you all the facts so your favorite girl can ace her project and keep her smile healthy in the process.<\/p>\n

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What Is The Story Behind My Teeth?<\/h2>\n

Each and every one of your teeth are important. To give you the basics on all 32 of them, take a look at the details below from the experts at Schumacher Dental.<\/p>\n

Central Incisors<\/u> \u2013 These are the front two teeth on the top and bottom jaw. You bite with these because they\u2019re the sharpest teeth you have. Their job is to cut food and then move it back in the mouth.<\/p>\n

Lateral Incisors<\/u> \u2013 These are the teeth on either side of your two front teeth. They also help bite and cut food, since your two front teeth need reinforcement for all the primary work they do.<\/p>\n

Canines<\/u> \u2013 These are the teeth in the corners of your mouth. They have very long roots, since they\u2019re used to grasp and tear food. They usually look pointy and sharp, and have recently become a popular subject in contemporary vampire-related, young adult fiction.<\/p>\n

Pre-Molars<\/u> \u2013 These are located just behind your canine teeth, on the side of your mouth. You have two sets of premolars that are flatter than your front teeth, since they are there to crush food.<\/p>\n

Molars<\/u> \u2013 You have two sets of molars that reside, as expected, right behind your premolars. Molars are bigger and flatter than premolars, since their primary purpose is to grind food into small pieces that are easy to digest.<\/p>\n

Wisdom Teeth<\/u> \u2013 Third molars, also known as wisdom teeth, are the appendix of your mouth. Part of the history of human development, we needed these when we were cavemen to help chew tough plant roots, raw meat, and uncooked vegetables. Now that our diet is easier to process, they serve no purpose and usually end up causing more problems than they solve. These are extracted in 95% of patients.<\/p>\n

How Do Teeth Develop Over Time?<\/h2>\n

Teeth are a wonder of the human body \u2013 they begin forming when a baby is in utero and continue developing after birth. Children have 20 primary (baby) teeth and 32 adult teeth. We\u2019re born with the \u201ctooth buds<\/a>\u201d for both sets and the bones develop in our jaw as we age. Baby teeth<\/a> will start showing up in the mouth around 8 months to 1 year of life, and adult teeth should begin coming in at age 7-8.<\/p>\n

What Can I Do To Take Care Of My Teeth?<\/h2>\n

Your teeth aren\u2019t just fascinating, they\u2019re also a crucial part of your overall health. They make your smile look great, help you chew and speak, and keep your heart healthy<\/a>. If you have baby teeth, adult teeth, or a mix, take care of them by remembering this tip from Dr. Schumacher:<\/p>\n