Anatomy of a Tooth - Phoenix, AZ - Preventive Dentistry

At Advanced Dental Health, we believe that the best patients are well-informed patients. This is why we provide our patients with the education they need to understand the procedures they are undergoing and why routine preventive dentistry appointments are so important to the maintenance of their oral health. We also educate them about the structures of their mouths, including their teeth, so that they can better care for these structures.

The teeth are among the most important and commonly used organs in the human body; yet, they are also among the least understood by the average person. Unfortunately, it is easy for many of us to take our teeth for granted - until, that is, we have problems with them. By explaining the anatomy of a tooth during consultations at their Phoenix, AZ cosmetic, restorative, and general dentistry practice, we hope to make patients aware of just how delicate each tooth truly is. While our teeth can withstand the daily pressures of biting and chewing, we must take active measures to protect them by brushing, flossing, and visiting the dentist at least twice a year as recommended by the American Dental Association.

If you would like to learn more about how you can better take care of your teeth, please schedule your initial consultation with Advanced Dental Health today.

Tooth Anatomy 101

There is more to a tooth than meets the eye. Each tooth comprises:

• The crown: The crown is the visible surface area of the tooth above the gum line. The shape of the crown determines whether a tooth is an incisor, a canine (or cuspid), a premolar (or bicuspid), or a molar. Incisors are the chisel-shaped teeth located at the very front of the mouth; canines are the pointed teeth adjacent to the incisors; premolars and molars have flat surfaces and are located on the sides of the mouth.
• The root: The root of the tooth is located beneath the gum line and anchors the tooth in the jawbone. Approximately two-thirds of each tooth is composed of its root.
• The root canal: Each tooth contains between one and four root canals, chambers that contain a soft tissue fundamental to the health of the tooth called dental pulp.
• Dental pulp: Dental pulp is a nutrient-rich substance comprising nerve tissue and blood vessels. It is vital to the health of the tooth that the pulp remain isolated from outside contaminants, or it will become infected.
• Enamel: Enamel is the protective outer layer of the tooth. Although it is one of the strongest and hardest substances in all of nature, it can be worn down over time through exposure to plaque bacteria.
• Dentin: Dentin is the more delicate layer of the tooth directly underlying the enamel.
• Cementum: As enamel protects the dentin above the gum line, so cementum protects it below the gum line.

Learn More about the Anatomy of a Tooth

To learn more about the anatomy of your teeth, please contact Advanced Dental Health today.