Types of Teeth

The Downtown Dental offices in Chicago want our patients to feel included and confident in their oral health decisions. Different types of teeth serve distinct functions and encounter specific problems, so patients should be aware of the terms dentists use to describe them.

Typically, children grow twenty teeth and adults grow thirty-two, which are evenly distributed between the jaws. Most adults have had a few teeth removed. The four flat teeth in the front of each jaw are called incisors. They are the first teeth to emerge in children and are the most important for forming speech. To the sides of the incisors are a single pair of cuspids, which are also called canines or eyeteeth. They are sharp and used for piercing. Due to their location at the transition from the front of the jaw to its sides, these teeth are especially important for jaw stability.

The teeth on the sides of the mouth are wide and used for chewing. They are made up of raised cusps with indentations in between. Per jaw, adults have two pairs of premolars, which have a single root. Behind them are three pairs of molars, including the wisdom teeth, which are furthest in back. Lower molars have two roots, while upper molars have three.

Downtown Dental LLC operates its Loop office at 25 E Washington St, Suite 1921, Chicago, Illinois, 60602. Call 312-782-8862. The River North office is at 676 N Michigan Ave, Suite #3500, Chicago, IL, 60611. Call 312-274-3333. Visit Downtown Dental online.