Types of Teeth

At Dr. Cynthia Wong’s Orland Park office, we often educate patients about why their misaligned teeth are causing them problems. Therefore, we thought we’d offer this run-down of the types and purposes of teeth.

Adults naturally have thirty-two teeth, with sixteen in each jaw. Per jaw, there are two pairs of incisors, one pair of canines, two pairs of premolars, and three pairs of molars. The backmost molars are called wisdom teeth, but they are functionally the same as the other molars.

Incisors are the front teeth and are used to tear food and form most consonants. They are further divided into central and lateral incisors. Canines are the pointy teeth next to the incisors which are used for piercing food. They often have difficulty erupting from the gum line, which is why orthodontic devices are used to guide them into place.

Premolars and molars are used for chewing. Their surfaces are made up of indentations in between cusps. Some premolars and molars, especially the wisdom teeth, are often removed so that they will not cause overcrowding. Orthodontists place brackets on the back molars to secure the arch wires which bind all the other teeth.

Cynthia Wong, DMD, operates at 15614 S Harlem #B, Orland Park, Illinois, 60462. To contact her office, call 708-444-8341 or visit DrCynthiaWong.com and send a message.

 

Teeth Types and Functions

Many factors play a role in the amount of teeth we have but have you ever wondered why all teeth have different shapes? Dr. Cynthia Wong would like to take this opportunity to educate you on the types of teeth you have and the purpose they serve in your mouth!     

The types of teeth and their functions are:

• Incisors – located at the front of the mouth, these teeth have a sharp biting surface and are used for cutting or shearing food into small chewable pieces.


• Canines – located at the ‘corners’ of the dental arches, these teeth have a sharp pointed biting surface. Their function is to grip and tear food.


• Premolars – Unlike incisors and canines, these teeth have a flat biting surface. Their function is to tear and crush food.


• Molars – The molars are the largest teeth in the mouth and they too have a large flat biting surface. The function of these is perhaps the strongest of all as they chew, crush, and grind food.

If you have questions about your teeth, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at the practice, visit www.drcynthiawong.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Cynthia Wong Orthodontics in Orland Park, IL, call 708-444-8341.