anatomy of teeth from dentist Wakefield Dewsbury - orthodontic dentist, tooth whitening, cosmetic dentist

Thornhill Dental Surgery
4 Edge Lane    Thornhill
Dewsbury     WF12 0QR
Tel    :    01924 439959
Fax :    01924 387400

Incisors - the front 4 teeth top and bottom. These are the teeth that are designed for biting and ripping. Like biting into a sandwich.

Canines - these are also known as the eye teeth. They are the teeth with the points that sometimes look like vampire teeth.

Bicuspids (premolars) - these are the teeth that are directly behind the canines. When the baby molars fall out, they are replaced by the premolars.

Molars - This is where most of the chewing is done. These are the teeth with the most surface area which are designed to withstand the brunt of the heavy grinding up of the food. These teeth will handle forces of up to 3500 lbs/square inch of pressure during mastication (chewing).

3 Layers of teeth - each tooth is comprised of 3 layers

i - The outer layer, or the layer that is seen and used for chewing is the enamel . Enamel is the hardest substance in the human body. It can withstand pressures of 3500 lbs per square inch.

ii - The layer under the enamel is the dentin . Dentin is softer than enamel, and this is the layer that protects the nerve of the tooth. Microscopically, the dentin is actually tiny tubules that run into the nerve.

iii - Within the dentinal layer is the pulp chamber, otherwise known as the nerve of the tooth. The pulp chamber is actually made up of blood vessels and nerve tissue. This supplies the tooth with nutrients, and keeps it moist from the inside.