Hello again, Southern Indiana! We are back with another informational blog from the office of New Albany Implants. Information is the most useful tool you have in your mission to protect your oral health. Keeping your teeth healthy for as long as possible, will not only help you stay feeling and looking great, it will give you the freedom to eat what you like, so that you can actually enjoy being healthy.
Part of protecting your teeth from injury and decay is understanding how your teeth work, and how they are built. Each tooth has a specific function, as does each layer of an individual tooth. There is much more to your teeth than what you see when you smile, and knowing that will help you keep that smile longer.
The Parts of the Tooth
Crown and Root – The distinction between these two halves of the tooth is quite simple, the crown is the part of the tooth you can see above the gumline, while the root is inside your jaw holding the tooth in place.
Enamel – This is the hard shell on the outside of the crown of your tooth. Enamel is the hardest substance in your body, but without proper care and nutrition, your enamel will suffer the ravages of tooth decay, exposing the interior layers of your tooth.
Dentin – Hard, but porous, dentin is the layer of tooth under your enamel. Although dentin is harder than bone, if it gets exposed due to decay or injury, it can cause pain and sensitivity in your teeth. The pores in dentin allows air and liquid to get to the nerves at the center of your tooth.
Pulp – The pulp is the soft tissue at the center of your tooth. It is filled with tiny nerves and blood vessels. The pulp nourishes the dentin, which in turn, helps protect the pulp.
Cementum – This part of your tooth covers the root. It is comprised of a yellowish material similar to bone and cover with a thin membrane of gum tissue that helps anchor your tooth inside your jaw.
Types of Teeth
Incisor – These are your front teeth. You have eight total, four on top, four on the bottom. Incisors are used for cutting your food when you bite.
Cuspid/Canine – These are the sharp, pointy teeth next to your incisors, and you have four of them in all. Cuspids are used to hold and tear food.
Bicuspid/Premolar – These teeth have one root, but two points, or cusps. There are eight of these teeth in adults.
Molar – The back teeth, your molars are used for smashing and grinding your food as you chew.
Replace Missing Teeth
As you can see, each type of tooth has a clear and necessary function. Losing a tooth, whether to decay or injury, means your ability to chew properly will be compromised. Therefore, you should come to New Albany Implants for a tooth replacement solution. Not only will this restore your chewing power, but a tooth replacement, like a dental implant, will help protect your remaining teeth from decay.
Visit Our Office in Southern Indiana
Missing teeth can be more than just an unsightly annoyance. They can be serious health risk. So, don’t undervalue the importance of tooth replacement. Come to New Albany Implants, where we will treat you like family as we guide you through your tooth replacement options
Contact us today to schedule an appointment.