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Teeth

Teeth

The formation of teeth, also known as odontogenesis, is a complex process that begins in utero, around the sixth week of embryonic development. There are three stages to this process: the bud stage, the cap stage, and the bell stage.
In the bud stage, the tooth germ (an aggregation of cells) starts to form in the developing jawbone. During the cap stage, the tooth germ differentiates into enamel organ, dental papilla, and dental sac, which will later develop into the tooth's enamel, dentin and...

Tooth Anatomy

Tooth Anatomy

The human tooth enables us to eat a variety of foods, speak clearly, and even aid in shaping our faces. Teeth are composed of various elements that work together. Here's a detailed look at the anatomy of a human tooth.
The Crown, Neck, and Root
The visible part of the tooth is referred to as the crown. It's covered by enamel, the hardest substance in the human body. The crown is uniquely shaped for each type of tooth, allowing for different functions such as cutting, tearing, or grinding food.

Assessment of the Mouth

Assessment of the Mouth

A thorough mouth assessment, including inspection and palpation of the lips, gums, tongue, tonsils, uvula, and pharynx, is crucial in detecting potential health issues. Diseases ranging from oral cancer to systemic conditions like diabetes could be identified early through careful oral examination. This article provides a detailed guide on conducting a comprehensive mouth assessment.
Mouth Inspection
The inspection begins with visually examining the mouth for symmetry, color, and size.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 24, 2026

Mimicking and Measuring Occlusal Erosive Tooth Wear with the "Rub&Roll" and Non-contact Profilometry

Mimicking and Measuring Occlusal Erosive Tooth Wear with the "Rub&Roll" and Non-contact Profilometry

Published on: February 2, 2018

Primary tooth wear in functional lateralities.

Tuomo Heikkinen¹, Jaana Rusanen, Virpi Harila

¹Department of Oral Development and Orthodontics, Institute of Dentistry, University of Oulu, Finland. tpth@sun3.oulu.fi

Journal of Dentistry for Children (Chicago, Ill.)

|April 4, 2009

Summary

This study found that primary tooth wear patterns vary by gender and race, with some evidence of asymmetry related to handedness in children. Understanding these differences is key to tracking dental development.

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Precision of In Vivo Quantitative Tooth Wear Measurement Using Intra-Oral Scans

Precision of In Vivo Quantitative Tooth Wear Measurement Using Intra-Oral Scans

Published on: July 12, 2022

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 24, 2026

Mimicking and Measuring Occlusal Erosive Tooth Wear with the "Rub&Roll" and Non-contact Profilometry

Mimicking and Measuring Occlusal Erosive Tooth Wear with the "Rub&Roll" and Non-contact Profilometry

Published on: February 2, 2018

Precision of In Vivo Quantitative Tooth Wear Measurement Using Intra-Oral Scans

Precision of In Vivo Quantitative Tooth Wear Measurement Using Intra-Oral Scans

Published on: July 12, 2022

Area of Science:

Pediatric Dentistry
Human Anatomy
Developmental Biology

Background:

Lateralization, the dominance of one body side for specific functions (e.g., hand, foot, eye), is a fundamental aspect of human neurodevelopment.
The primary dentition plays a crucial role in early oral development and can reflect functional patterns.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the sidedness of horizontal wear facets on primary teeth in relation to functional lateralization in children.
To compare wear patterns between true right-sided (TRS) and non-right-sided (NRS) children aged four years.

Main Methods:

Analysis of dental casts from 855 children with deciduous tooth wear from the Genetic Odontometric Study (GOS) project.
Cross-sectional study at a mean age of 8.5 years, involving Caucasian and African-American children.
Chi-square analysis was employed to assess statistical significance.

Main Results:

Approximately 50% of children exhibited tooth wear, with 49% showing symmetric wear and 50% showing asymmetric wear.
Left-sided extra wear was slightly more prevalent (26%) than right-sided extra wear (24%).
Statistically significant right-sided wear was observed in Caucasian boys who were TRS, while left-sided extra wear was more common in NRS Caucasian boys.

Conclusions:

Sidedness in primary teeth varies across gender and race, influencing general structural and functional lateralities.
Early asymmetric oral functions, such as chewing and bruxism, should be considered during the assessment of occlusal development.
Asymmetric oral function may also impact craniofacial growth due to its influence on asymmetric development.