You don't have to go to dentistry school to want to understand or learn about the human tooth. The fact of the matter is, I believe it's important that you are knowledgeable about how our bodies work and what they're made of. When you understand that sort of thing better and more in-depth, familiarizing yourself with what makes you healthy can help keep you healthy and living longer, fuller, and better lives. 

So, what are teeth? 

As you know, teeth are the bones in our mouths that are actually the hardest substances found in our bodies. 

In this article, we're going to take you through the different parts of the tooth, the world that dentists like Chelmsford dentist Dr. Walters gets to dive into every day. 

The Different Teeth

In our mouths, there are so many different types of teeth-your mouth isn't just made of one type! Each type of tooth serves an essential purpose in chewing and in speech. If you have all your teeth as an adult, you're going to have:

  • 8 incisors - these are the four teeth, found on the upper and lower jaws that are in the middle of our mouths (your two front teeth plus the two next to them).

  • 4 canines - found right outside the incisors, these are the pointy teeth that are enlarged in depictions of vampires. 

  • 8 premolars - located next to the canines are the premolars, four on both the upper and lower jaws. 

  • 8 molars - designed to best grind and break down your food, these are the flat teeth at the back of your mouth, four on the bottom and the top. 

  • 4 wisdom teeth - commonly emerging at adulthood, these might be surgically removed or actually never come out! 

The Different Parts of Our Teeth

Essential to our survival since they break down our food by chewing and can play an important role in speech, the teeth are made up of various parts, from the inside to the out. 

As our human bodies have evolved, you can trace back a definite change throughout history in our teeth. The teeth we have-and those that other animals have-reflect our diet. For example, for carnivores, incisors and canines are very important! However, for plant-eaters, molars and flat teeth can help grind down your food.

When it comes to the different parts of your teeth, there are four unique dental tissues: enamel, dentin, and cementum are the hard ones. The fourth and final dental tissue is soft-the pulp, which we'll get into later.

The Enamel: Known as the white, outermost layer of the tooth, this is the part that sustains the most damage. It is made of calcium phosphate, and covers the dentin but has no living cells. Therefore, if there is damage to the enamel, the human body cannot correct or fix it. On the enamel is also the anatomical crown. 

The Dentin: Found beneath the enamel, this hard tissue has microscopic tubes that conduct the pathways for cold, sensitivity, pain, and heat to go through to the nerves and cells, causing stimulation.

The Pulp/The Pulp Chamber: Found within the pulp chamber, this soft tissue in the center of the teeth is the center of blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissues.

Cementum: This is the layer of hard, connective tissue that covers the tooth root and connects it to the periodontal ligament, gum, and jawbone. 

Periodontal Ligament: This system of tissue ligament, made of collagenous connective tissue fibers is responsible for holding the teeth against the jaw and its root.

The Root Canal: In the pulp chamber (found in the root of a tooth), you can find the root of the tooth. You may also hear this term when you have a cavity, since it is the name of a treatment that repairs and saves a tooth when it has been compromised. 

Gums: This soft tissue is the fleshy part of the mouth and helps protect the roots of your teeth.

Alveolar Bone: Also known as the jawbone, this is the part of the jaw that will cover your teeth's roots.

Whether you're a soon-to-be dentist or simply want to know more about the human body, we hope this article has provided you with some insight into the anatomy of the human tooth!