Human Anatomy – Teeth

By far the hardest part of the body is the teeth. These structures are very important for chewing and speaking.

A tooth is composed of the enamel, dentin, pulp, cementum and periodontal ligament. The enamel is the hard white “shell” of the tooth. Made of a hard mineral called calcium phosphate, the enamel encases the dentin, a layer of live cells. Underneath the dentin is the pulp, which holds nerves and blood vessels. A connective tissue called the cementum plants the root of the tooth firmly in the gums and binds it to the jawbone. Another tissue, the periodontal ligament, holds the teeth against the jawbone.

By age 13, you would have a complete (32) set of teeth. Eight of these would be the incisors, the middle teeth on the lower and upper jaws. You would also have four canines, the fang-like teeth beside the incisors; eight molars, flat-topped teeth deep in the mouth; and eight premolars, which lie in the middle of the molars and canines.

A wisdom tooth may appear later in life. Also known as the third molars, wisdom teeth are four extra structures that grow after age 18. They may cause displacement of other teeth, so a dentist may recommend their surgical removal.

Common teeth conditions

Good oral hygiene is part and parcel of a healthy lifestyle. If you do not brush your teeth regularly, you increase your chances of developing plaque and tartar.

Bacteria quickly collect together – especially after a particularly sweet meal – to form plaque, a sticky, transparent film on the teeth. But it is quick to remove (by brushing) as it is to build up.

Then again, if you do not remove plaque as soon as possible, minerals would set in to solidify it. Plaque then becomes the much harder tartar, which requires professional cleaning.

As dental cavities or caries, plaque and tartar can easily damage the teeth, particularly the molars and premolars. Tartar and plaque can lead to gingivitis or gum disease, wherein the gums become inflamed. Gingivitis can progress into periodontitis, where the inflammation becomes so severe it affects structures deep within the gums, e.g. the cementum, periodontal ligament and jawbone.

If your tooth is overly sensitive to hot and cold food and beverages, your dentin may already be showing through. Tooth sensitivity occurs because the nerves in the dentin are exposed.

Aside from sensitive teeth, another dental condition of note is bruxism or teeth grinding. People who suffer from stress and sleeping disorders are known to have this condition.

Still, other teeth conditions are congenital. For instance, you may be born with an overbite, wherein the upper teeth markedly project beyond the lower teeth. Conversely, an underbite is when the lower teeth protrude beyond the upper teeth.

Treating teeth conditions

Dentists may extract your tooth if it is too damaged to be saved by other means. Tooth extraction is almost always recommended for wisdom teeth.

Less drastic measures to save a diseased tooth include tooth filling and root canal. The former involves boring out the damaged part of the tooth and replacing it with a mineral filling. The latter entails hollowing out a damaged pulp and replacing it with an artificial substance.

If you want to spare yourself from the inconvenience of these methods, better brush teeth every day. Brushing teeth prevents plaque, tartar and other cavities.

Don’t forget to floss teeth too, as the toothbrush cannot reach all areas of the teeth. Alternatively, use a dentist-approved gum cleaner.

Also, it pays to invest in plastic dental sealants, which can keep bacteria from proliferating in tooth gaps. They also prevent cavities.

Have a dentist or a professional clean your teeth. Ideally, teeth cleaning must be done twice a year to prevent teeth and gum disease.

For cosmetic reasons, you may use braces to realign crooked teeth. Braces achieve this by placing your teeth in a prolonged state of tension.

In the same vein, you can buy the FDA approved, dentist grade Dental White from Smile4You to whiten your teeth. Formulated by Dr. George Madray, an esteemed American Dental Surgeon, Dental White uses professional strength Carbamide Peroxide that removes stains and whitens teeth enamel effectively.

Athletes should wear mouth guards or similar mouthpieces to protect their teeth from impact.

Tests for teeth conditions

Set regular dental checkups for your teeth. By a simple examination, the dentist can easily detect teeth conditions in the making. He or she may take X-ray films of your teeth to detect conditions not discernible to the naked eye or concealed by the gum surfaces.