Tooth Teeth Part Crown Called People Outer Top

People who study human "anatomy" (science related to the structures of a body or organism) might learn the names and functions of individual teeth, but in fact each tooth has its own anatomy.

Working "from the outside in" (discussing the outer layers first and then the inner layers), the top part of the tooth is the "crown." The crown is what people can see. If the crown is pointed, the tooth is called an "incisor" or a "canine." The incisors are the four front teeth at the top and bottom of the mouth. The "canines" are the pointed teeth immediately next to the incisors. If the crown is more flat, the tooth is called a "premolar" or a "molar" and is primarily used, for "grinding" (making food smaller by rubbing it between two flat surfaces). A "premolar" is a tooth that is mostly flat, but has two pointed parts, used for tearing food. The molars have several "raised" (higher than the surroundings) areas, which are used for grinding food.

The outer layer of the tooth, including the crown, is called the "enamel." It is a hard, white surface, but it can be damaged by bacteria if the teeth are not kept clean. "Dentin" is the layer underneath the enamel, and under that is the "pulp," which is the source of pain when there is a cavity.

Part of the tooth is also found below the "gumline" (the place where the tooth meets the pink-colored skin). This is known as the "root" and it holds the tooth to the bone. The root "accounts for" (represents) about two-thirds of the tooth. In other words, we see only a small part of each tooth.