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Teeth

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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

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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.

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Oral Cavity

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The oral cavity, or the mouth, is a complex structure in humans that plays a vital role in our day-to-day lives. Its role is not only in chewing and swallowing food; it also plays a role in speech and facial expressions.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 24, 2026

Systematic Assessment of Mammalian Skull Specimens for Dental and Temporomandibular Joint Pathology

Systematic Assessment of Mammalian Skull Specimens for Dental and Temporomandibular Joint Pathology

Published on: August 22, 2022

Remarkable resilience of teeth.

Herzl Chai¹, James J-W Lee, Paul J Constantino

¹School of Mechanical Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

|April 15, 2009

Summary

Tooth enamel resists damage through microstructural mechanisms like stress shielding and self-healing, preventing fractures despite its inherent weakness. This resilience allows teeth to withstand millions of biting contacts over a lifetime.

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Published on: December 20, 2024

Area of Science:

Biomineralization
Dental Biomechanics
Materials Science

Background:

Tooth enamel, despite its glass-like fracture toughness, exhibits remarkable resilience to lifelong functional stresses.
Enamel's structural weakness necessitates a robust damage resistance mechanism for survival.

Purpose of the Study:

To elucidate the microstructural mechanisms responsible for tooth enamel's resistance to damage.
To investigate the role of enamel defects in fracture initiation and propagation.

Main Methods:

Ex situ mechanical loading of human and sea otter molars.
Microstructural analysis of enamel sections to identify fracture sources and resistance factors.

Main Results:

Hypomineralized enamel tufts at the enamel-dentin junction are identified as primary fracture initiation sites.
Defect evolution is stabilized by stress shielding, prism decussation (interweaving), and self-healing.
Tooth structure minimizes tensile stress during biting, favoring compression.

Conclusions:

A combination of microstructural features and stress distribution mechanisms explains enamel's exceptional damage tolerance.
These findings have significant implications for understanding animal adaptation to diverse diets and developing biomimetic materials.