Dental and Teeth

Humans usually have 20 primary teeth (also called deciduous, baby, or milk teeth) and 32 permanent teeth.

Among primary teeth, 10 are found in the (upper) maxilla and the other 10 in the (lower) mandible. Teeth are classified as incisors, canines, and molars. In the primary set of teeth, there are two types of incisors, centrals and laterals, and two types of molars, first and second. All primary teeth are replaced with permanent counterparts except for molars, which are replaced by permanent premolars. Among permanent teeth, 16 are found in the maxilla with the other 16 in the mandible.

Third molars are commonly called "wisdom teeth" and may never erupt into the mouth or form at all. If any additional teeth form, for example, fourth and fifth molars, which are rare, they are referred to as supernumerary teeth.

For human teeth to have a healthy oral environment, enamel, dentin, cementum, and the periodontium must all develop during appropriate stages of fetal development. Primary (baby) teeth start to form between the sixth and eighth weeks in utero, and permanent teeth begin to form in the twentieth week in utero.

Enamel is the hardest and most highly mineralized substance of the body and is one of the four major tissues which make up the tooth, along with dentin, cementum, and dental pulp.

Dentin is the substance between enamel or cementum and the pulp chamber. It is secreted by the odontoblasts of the dental pulp.

Cementum is a specialized bony substance covering the root of a tooth. It is approximately 45% inorganic material (mainly hydroxyapatite), 33% organic material (mainly collagen) and 22% water. Cementum is excreted by cementoblasts within the root of the tooth and is thickest at the root apex.

The dental pulp is the central part of the tooth filled with soft connective tissue. This tissue contains blood vessels and nerves that enter the tooth from a hole at the apex of the root.

The gingiva ("gums") is the mucosal tissue that overlays the jaws. There are three different types of epithelium associated with the gingiva: gingival, junctional, and sulcular epithelium. These three types form from a mass of epithelial cells known as the epithelial cuff between the tooth and the mouth.

Most teeth have identifiable features that distinguish them from others. There are several different notation systems to refer to a specific tooth. The three most commons systems are the FDI World Dental Federation notation, the universal numbering system, and Palmer notation method. The FDI system is used worldwide, and the universal is used widely in the United States.

Teething is the process by which an infant's teeth sequentially appear by breaking through the gums. Teething may start as early as three months or as late, in some cases, as twelve months. Occasionally a baby may even have one or more teeth at birth. The typical time frame for new teeth to appear is somewhere between six and nine months.

Tooth Decay

Plaque is a biofilm consisting of large quantities of various bacteria that form on teeth. If not removed regularly, plaque buildup can lead to dental cavities (caries) or periodontal problems such as gingivitis. Given time, plaque can mineralize along the gingiva, forming tartar.

Dental caries, also described as "tooth decay" or "dental cavities", is an infectious disease which damages the structures of teeth.[43] The disease can lead to pain, tooth loss, infection, and, in severe cases, death. In the United States, dental caries is the most common chronic childhood disease, being at least five times more common than asthma.

Cosmetic dentistry

Cosmetic dentistry is very popular today because people the world over are realizing that they can change the way they look and feel relatively easily with the help of a cosmetic dentist. If you were born with unattractive teeth, if they are suffering the affects of aging, or if stress and bad dental care has finally caught up with you, a cosmetic dentist can help turn back the clock with a variety of dental procedures.

When a tooth is lost, dentures, bridges, or implants may be used as replacements. Dentures are usually the least costly whereas implants are usually the most expensive. Dentures may replace complete arches of the mouth or only a partial number of teeth. Bridges replace smaller spaces of missing teeth and use adjacent teeth to support the restoration. Dental implants may be used to replace a single tooth or a series of teeth. Though implants are the most expensive treatment option, they are often the most desirable restoration because of their aesthetics and function.

Discoloration of teeth may result from bacteria stains, tobacco, tea, coffee stains on teeth, foods with an abundance of chlorophyll, restorative materials, and medications. Stains from bacteria may cause colors varying from green to black to orange. Green stains also result from foods with chlorophyll or excessive exposure to copper or nickel. Amalgam, a common dental restorative material, may turn adjacent areas of teeth black or gray.

List of Dental Terms and Definitions

Further Information Regarding Dental and Teeth

New Type of Dental Filling
Tooth enamel is hardest material in the human body because it's made almost entirely of minerals. As tough as it may be, however, enamel can be broken down by bacteria, forming cavities and eventually destroying the tooth.

What is an Impacted Tooth
Essentially, when a tooth is said to be impacted, it means the tooth has become stuck in a position where it's unable to emerge in a normal manner. As you may already know, wisdom teeth are the most common teeth to become impacted, followed by one's upper eyetooth or maxillary cuspid.

Home Teeth Whitening Reduces Tooth Enamel
New research shows that human teeth lost some enamel hardness after the application of several different products used in the home to whiten teeth. The study suggests that future generations of such products might be reformulated in an effort to reduce these side effects.

Sports Drinks can Cause Tooth Erosion
While sipping on sports drinks all day may provide an energy boost, this popular practice is also exposing people to levels of acid that can cause tooth erosion and hypersensitivity, NYU dental researchers have found.

Sinus Infections and Dental Oral Health
Oral health is one of the contributing factors of sinus infection though it is not usual. It is a given fact that sinus cavities are closely located to the teeth and mouth. Small oral cavities or infections can add to the sinus infection. Dental checkup must be performed when diagnosing sinus infections.

Tooth Grinding TMJ Pain
There is no reliable cure for TMJ! Your doctor is probably doing his best to relief your pain. He has most likely subscribed you strong pain relief pills. Maybe some muscle relaxation medications too. But that's it. All these medicines fail. Even if they reduce the pain a little for a while in the beginning, they'll stop working little by little as your body gets immune to them.

Tooth Abscess Pain and Causes
Abscesses are very serious conditions, and can lead to serious matters if they aren't treated immediately. When the pulp of a tooth dies due to damage or decay, bacteria will begin to grow from the dead tissue that is left. This bacteria will eventually spread from the root of the dead tooth into the tissue that is below and create a pocket of pus - the abscess.

Baby Bottle Tooth Decay
Early Childhood Caries (ECC) popularly known as Nursing Bottle carries, Baby Bottle Tooth Decay is believed to be caused by the baby going to bed with the feeding bottle in its mouth. The major causative factor is the cariogenic liquids in the bottle. Frequent exposure to carbohydrates in the presence of a bacterial agent Streptococcus Mutans is a key event in the natural history of the disease.

Gum Disease Causes and Information
Gum disease is a result of poor oral hygiene. It is known to be especially prevalent in smokers. The plaque that develops on the teeth is a breeding ground for bacteria. That bacteria then works its way to the gum line in which it causes the gums to become red and irritated. Eventually, the condition will get worse, even leading to tooth abscess.

Bleeding Gums Causes and Information
Bleeding gums can be one sign of periodontal disease, gingivitis, or other serious problems. Other symptoms of poor dental health may include persistent bad breath, toothache, and receding gums.

Tooth Root Canal Treatment Saves Teeth
Very often dental patients describe their root canal experiences with terms like "it was very painful" and "I had to go back six times". That's unfortunate, but not the way things need to be. When carried out correctly, the endodontics procedure is no worse than having a normal filling, although it may take a little longer.

Cosmetic Dentistry Tooth Care and Whitening Teeth
Whitening, or bleaching, the teeth, is very common in cosmetic dental care, today. Though a plenty of whitening options are available, which can be purchased over the shelves, dentist-supervised treatments remain the best-recommended procedure for lightening of discolored teeth.

Hydrogen Peroxide for Teeth Whitening
Hydrogen peroxide is a key ingredient in most of the home teeth whitening kits that are available on the market today. Home use hydrogen peroxide, in the right dilution, is a cheap and easy way to obtain white teeth.

Teeth Whitening Kits - Do They Work
All those years of tea, smoking, red wine and raspberries will come back to bite you. Teeth have a nasty habit of discoloring at a rate proportional to your age. Now we're not talking "I discovered my toothbrush at 11" here. Discovering the science of tooth whitening after you've lost them is sad.

Tips for Sparkling White Teeth
There's more to keeping your pearly whites precisely that than a bit of brushing and the odd visit to a dentist. Take a look at these dental dos and don'ts.

Gold Teeth Fillings Pros and Cons
Gold is still used as teeth fillings by dentists today since it can withstand chewing forces and last as long as 15 - 30 years. Gold is also pleasing to the eye and some people find it more acceptable than other tooth fillings.

How to Care for Your Childs Teeth
Informative article on caring for your child or childrens teeth from birth to 16 years of age.

Get Rid of Coffee Stains on Teeth
The staining and discoloration of teeth is something that affects everybody at some point. While simple aging plays a large role in this, we accelerate the process through habits such as smoking, and drinking tea and coffee.

Best Teeth Whitening Products
A number of teeth whitening methods you can use at home to get your teeth looking whiter, stronger, and healthier.