YOUR TEETH 101

dental care in Albuquerque, NM | Dr. Steven Holbrook Your teeth are are designed to last a lifetime…if you take care of them.
They chew your food and play an important role in speech and in your overall health.
A healthy mouth makes for a healthy body and a great smile!
It’s easy to take your teeth for granted…until something goes wrong.

Your mouth contains four types of teeth:

INCISORS
These are the teeth in the front of your mouth. There are a total of eight and all have the same function – they are for biting into food. Incisors are usually the first teeth to erupt, at around 6 months of age.

CANINES
Your dog has these too, hence their name. They are the pointed, sharp teeth next to your incisors. There are two on the top row and two on the bottom. They are used to tear pieces of food.

PRE-MOLARS (BICUSPIDS)
By the time you are an adult, you have eight pre-molars, the large, flat teeth behind your canine teeth that tear, crush, and mash your food.

MOLARS
These are the largest teeth at are found at the very back of your mouth. Including the wisdom teeth, most adults have 12 molars. They are also used for chewing and grinding your food.

  • A tooth is divided into two parts: the crown which is visible and the root which is not.
  • Your teeth contain four kinds of tissue, each with a unique purpose:

Enamel is the visible substance that covers the crown. Harder than bone, enamel is made up of phosphorous and calcium and protects the tooth from decay.

Dentin lies underneath the enamel. It looks similar to bone but is not as hard as enamel.

Cementum is the tissue covering the tooth root, helping anchor it to the bone. It is softer than enamel and dentin.

Pulp is found at the center of your tooth and contains the blood vessels, nerves, and other soft tissues that deliver signals and nutrients to your teeth.

To learn more about your teeth and how to keep them healthy, call to schedule a checkup with Dr. Holbrook.

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