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The layer underneath the enamel is the dentin. It forms the bulk of the crown and the roots. Dentin is softer than enamel and carries sensations, such as temperature and pain, to the pulp.
The pulp comprises the innermost portion and is the only soft tissue of the tooth. It supplies nutrients to the tooth and its nerve endings transmit sensations such as pain and temperature.
Cementum forms a very thin layer over the roots of the tooth and is similar to bone. It's yellowish in color and carries sensations to the pulp.
Tooth Types
Baby Teeth
They are shed and replaced by permanent teeth in the process called exfoliation. Baby teeth are much whiter and less dense than permanent teeth. Thus baby teeth wear much more rapidly than their permanent counterparts. The incisors are used for cutting, the canines for tearing, and the molars for chewing.
Healthy Baby Teeth are Important for:
Clear speech
Jaw development
Efficient chewing
Maintaining normal facial appearance
Self-esteem
Maintaining a proper diet - missing or badly decayed teeth often cause young children to reject foods that are difficult to chew.
Maintaining space for permanent teeth - prematurely lost primary teeth have a large effect on the way permanent teeth come in Decay and infection in baby teeth can cause dark spots on the permanent tooth developing beneath it.
Permanent Teeth
Permanent teeth may also be referred to as second or adult teeth. They also tend to be slightly more yellow in color than deciduous teeth.
In both the upper (maxilla) and lower (mandible) arch, there are 16 permanent teeth, comprised of the following subtypes:
- 2 Central Incisors
- 2 Lateral Incisors
- 2 Canines
- 4 Premolars
- 6 Molars
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