Types of Teeth

Teeth serve specialized functions and are vulnerable to specific problems. In order for patients to make the best oral health decisions, they should have a sense of what kind of mouth is normal and healthy, which is why we of Elite Dental Arts are providing a guide to different kinds of teeth.

Teeth have crowns, which are the part visible above the gum line, and roots. Crowns come in different shapes and teeth have different numbers of roots based on how strong they need to be. The teeth in front of the mouth only have one root each. They include, per jaw, two pairs of incisors and one pair of canines, also known as cuspids. The incisors are flat and crucial for forming speech. The canines are pointy and used for piercing. These teeth receive the most cosmetic care.

The premolars, of which adults grow two pairs per jaw, also have one root each. They have wide crowns with multiple cusps and are used for chewing. Molars, of which there are three pairs, including the wisdom teeth, are even wider and more creviced. Lower molars have two roots to anchor them securely in the jaw. Upper molars have three roots. Without extractions, adults typically have thirty-two teeth in total.

To learn more about Invisalign and all the services we provide at our practice, visit Elite Dental Arts for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Nick Mobilia of Elite Dental Arts here in New York, NY, call our office at 212-681-0939. 

Nick M. Mobilia, DDS
ELITE DENTAL ARTS
9 East 45th Street, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10017