Your teeth work as a team, both in terms of the appearance and the function of your smile. Take away one tooth and the whole system is compromised, because each tooth has an important role to play. Dr. Doug Clark, Jr., and Dr. Doug Clark, III, your dentists in Superior, WI, think its important for you to understand the purpose of each tooth and the importance of taking good care of your smile.
How Teeth Develop
To understand the function of each tooth, we must first review the development of teeth. Baby, or primary, teeth begin to erupt around six months of age and remain in place through early childhood. Then, our permanent teeth begin to erupt. Although baby teeth and permanent teeth come in at different times, they do erupt on similar schedules. For most people, the front teeth show first—one on the right and one on the left. The crown of each tooth forms first and then the root continues to develop. Children typically have 20 primary teeth and most adults have 32 permanent teeth.
The Purpose of Each Tooth
Teeth are truly wonderful tools. Each one is shaped and sized for the job it performs in our mouths. There are some that help us chew our food so digestion is easier and others play an important part in our ability to speak clearly and smile with confidence. The types of teeth in our mouths are:
Incisors. These are the teeth that are front and center in your mouth. There are four incisors on the top arch and four on the bottom. Incisors are used for biting and they show most prominently when you smile.
Canines. These teeth are on either side of your incisors. They are used for ripping and tearing food and are, therefore, the sharpest teeth. Interestingly, the upper canines erupt before the lower when your baby teeth come in, but the lower canines come in first when permanent teeth erupt.
Permolars. Also called bicuspids, these teeth are behind your canines. We use our premolars to chew and grind foods. There are four premolars on each side of your mouth—two on top and two on the bottom.
Molars. These teeth are at the back of your mouth behind all of your other teeth. Molars are also used for chewing and grinding food.
To properly care for all of your teeth, you much brush with fluoride toothpaste at least twice every day and floss once a day to remove trapped food particles and plaque.
Call the Cosmetic Dentists in Superior, WI
Caring for your smile also requires regular visits to your dentists in Superior, WI, at Hill Avenue Dental. Call our office today to schedule an appointment.