Time for a Lesson in Dental Anatomy!

Understanding the anatomy and development of your teeth and mouth is important to maintaining good oral health. By understanding normal oral development and learning to recognize abnormal conditions, you are going to be able to keep good and healthy oral hygiene and spot early warning signs of problems or disease. Early intervention can make a difference in fixing health problems before they become bigger problems. This resource guide provides helpful links on the anatomy and growth of the teeth and mouth. In addition, it offers insight into how the mouth and teeth aid digestion.

Anatomy

The formation of the mouth's anatomy occurs in the early stages of fetal development. The mouth is important for speech and food intake and plays an important role in the digestive system. The standard anatomy of the mouth incorporates the oral cavity, which consists of the hard and soft palate; the mucous membrane or tissues lining the upper and lower portions of the mouth, and also the tissues lining the inner cheeks; the gums or gums that surround the teeth; as well as the tongue, tonsils and salivary gland. The small strips of tissue that run from the top of the mouth to the sides of the oral cavity to the inner cheek and the upper and lower lip tissues are called frenum. The teeth are made up of layers: the outermost layer is the enamel, followed by dentin and pulp. The pulp consists of nerves and blood vessels that lead them to the root.

Introduction to Dental Anatomy
Mouth, Tongue and Teeth
Dental Anatomy
Basic Oral Anatomy
Dental Anatomy and DevelopmentDental Anatomy: MedlinePlus Image
Self Study: Dental Anatomy

Development

Mouth and teeth formation occurs within the first 6-8 weeks of fetal development. After that, it can be influenced by various environmental and genetic factors. Normal tooth development takes place over several years. When a baby is born, the milk teeth are already in the jawbone, but the permanent teeth also develop before birth. Usually, they only appear around age 6. For optimal oral health, it is very important to consult dentist waterloo and monitor new tooth development and maintain good dental and oral hygiene at all stages of life. It's a common misconception that tooth loss is an expected part of the ageing process. One can maintain healthy teeth for a lifetime by understanding mouth and tooth development!

The lifetime of a tooth
development of the mouth and teeth
Tooth development and teething
Children's tooth development
A timeline of tooth development
The life of a tooth

What the Mouth and Teeth Do

Digestion and sound modification are not the first things that come to mind when considering what mouths and teeth do. But some parts of the mouth help with these functions. For example, while the salivary glands are not part of any oral cavity, they work together with the teeth and tongue to mix up the saliva with food for digestion. And the tongue depends on how it interacts with the lips, teeth, and palate, allowing us to form different letter sounds, allowing us to communicate through speech.

What are your mouth and teeth doing?
Early digestion begins in the mouth.

Problems and Disorders of the Mouth

As you learn about the normal anatomy and development of the mouth, it is important that you become familiar with some of the issues and disorders of oral health. While some conditions, such as cleft palate, can not be prevented, there are a few ways to reduce the risk of oral cancer and more common problems, such as gingivitis, pericoronitis, an inflammation of the tissue around wisdom teeth, or severe periodontal disease that can lead to premature tooth loss. In addition, poor oral health is linked to an increased risk of heart disease. Other conditions, such as diabetes, can increase your risk of gingivitis and periodontal disease. As you brush and floss your teeth regularly, it's important to check your mouth, tongue, and gums for changes and report any type of concerns to your doctor or dentist. Identifying and treating problems early improves your chances of avoiding complications and getting the best outcome from treatment options.

Oral Health in America
Oral and Throat Cancer
Oral Health Fact Sheet
Canker Wounds: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments
Cleft Lip and Palate
Enteroviral Vesicular Stomatitis: Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease
A Guide to Common Oral Lesions
Types of Gum Disease
Periodic Disease Stages of Periodontal Disease Prevention of Periodontitis
Pericoronitis
What you might need to know about oral cancer

Problems and Disorders of the Teeth

Frequent oral hygiene and regular dentist kitchener can prevent many of the most common dental problems and diseases. The wisdom teeth are most likely to cause impaction or infection problems. Malocclusion, such as crowding of teeth, is another disorder that requires professional intervention. Sensitive teeth are a problem for many, and treatment depends on the origin of the disease. An even worse habit of grinding your teeth, which seems like a minor annoyance to humans, can become a real problem: the constant wear and tear of your teeth can lead to tooth surface degradation, jaw pain, and even broken or uneven teeth. Your dentist can give you tips and options about how to maintain healthy teeth for a lifetime.

Dental Caries
Streptococcus Mutans and Caries Impacted Tooth
Wisdom Teeth: Impactions and Infection
Wisdom Teeth
Malocclusion Classification
Malocclusion Facts
Are You Too Old for Braces?
Teeth Grinding (Bruxism) Symptoms
What Causes Sensitive Teeth?

Science Projects and Experiments

There are numerous ways to research oral health through scientific projects and experiments. Science fairs programs are held at local schools, as well as at the state level and regional levels across the country. The following links are offered as resources to unleash your creativity. Take a look here and then discuss with friends, teachers and others who have already participated in such experiments. Many young people have discovered a lifelong passion for careers in health and science through participating in school-sponsored science projects.