This teeth information is provided by the Atlanta Dental Group, P.C.. We have lots more dental information on our web site.

          Our ancient ancestors had large mouths because they chewed harder foods than us and gave their mouths better work-outs. There was lots of room for all the teeth. Modern Man ( you ) has less room in his mouth because he chews soft processed foods. With a smaller mouth, there is a chance that some teeth might not get into the mouth. Dentists refer to a teeth that can not get into the mouth as an impacted teeth or unerrupted teeth.

          Impacted teeth are teeth that does not have enough room to erupt into the mouth. In its attempt to push into the mouth, impacted teeth can spin out of place and become very badly positioned, even upside down. Impacted teeth can also push on the teeth in front of them and create a malocclusion.

          Unerupted teeth are teeth that have not come up into their correct positions. Adult teeth remain in a child's mouth in the bone until there is enough space to come up, so that it is normal for child to have unerupted teeth. However, it is abnormal for adults to have unerupted teeth.

          Baby teeth are a child's small teeth. As a child become older and the child's mouth becomes larger, baby teeth falls out and are replaced by a larger adult teeth. If the teeth in a child's small mouth were as large as adult teeth, there would not be enough room for the adult teeth. So nature gradually replaces baby teeth as more room becomes available for the adult teeth.

          Adult teeth erupt into the mouth at different times. The wisdom tooth is the last of the teeth to come into the mouth. Unfortunately, there is almost always not enough room for the wisdom tooth to properly come into place.

          The development of teeth is important and the development of teeth can be effected by nutritional changes, diseases, and stresses placed on the body. The color of teeth can be affected by the antibiotics when a child takes them. Taking antibiotics while teeth are developing can change the color of teeth. If teeth look grey it could be from erythromycin or if teeth looks yellow, it could be from tetracycline.

          Bleached teeth are teeth that have artificially whitened. There are many ways to whiten teeth, however, in most cases, professional whitening is always the best choice.

          Teeth have roots that hold the teeth in the jaw bone. If the bione around teeth is lost, the teeth will become loose and eventually fall out. That is what happens when teeth have periodontal disease.

          Periodontal disease is the most common reason that teeth becomes loose. Teeth depend on their supporting bone to hold them firmly in the jaw. Teeth have to be firmly in the jaw to be able to do their job so when teeth become loose, there is a big problem.

          When teeth get knocked out of the mouth, it's called avulsed teeth. The teeth could have been loose teeth or they could have just been hit so hard that they knocked out. Avulsed teeth must be put back into their places as soon as possible. The longer you wait to reinsert avulsed teeth, the worse the chance these teeth have of surviving.

          Teeth in your mouth has a specific purpose. Teeth either rip, scissors, tear, grind or performs a combination of these actions. Different teeth have a different anatomy ( shape ) because different teeth function differently. All teeth are extremely important. Keeping teeth for a lifetime allows better chewing function and better digestion. This can result in a longer and healthier life. Teeth belong to one of three teeth types.

          Molar teeth grind food and have large flat surfaces. The molar teeth have a large root so that these teeth doe not move when you chew. Molar teeth are located in the back of the mouth and we have a total of twelve molar teeth.

           Incisor teeth are located in the front of the mouth. The incisor teeth scissor food into small pieces so the food can be more easily ground up by molar teeth in the back of the mouth. Your smile is primarily made up of incisor teeth.

          Bicuspid teeth have an intermediate shape somewhere between incisor teeth and molar teeth. They are called bi-cuspid teeth because bicuspid teeth usually has two cusps. The cusps of teeth are shaped like a small hill.

          The white enamel that covers the top of teeth is the hardest natural biological material. Long after the skin and organs have rooted away and long after bones have dissolved, teeth can still remain.

                                                                                                                Fossil teeth

          Fossil teeth are what archeologists dig up thousands of years after an animal has died. An archeologist can examine teeth and tell you a great deal about what this animal ate, how big the animal was, and a lot of other information based on his knowledge of teeth.

          You can identify an animal with very few teeth.

          Dog teeth are usually sharp and thin because dogs naturally eat meat. They are called carnivores. The sharpness of the dog teeth reflect the tearing and ripping action needed to eat meat.

         A horse is a vegetarian. Vegetables and grass must be completely chewed before they can be digested and horse teeth reflects this. A horse's back teeth are generally flat, as is sheep teeth or cow teeth.

         There are a lot of myths and legends about teeth.

          Although no one has actually seen the Tooth Fairy and there are no photographs documenting the Tooth Fairy's existence, there is evidence that children can often place teeth under their pillows before going to bed and the next morning in the place of the teeth there is usually cash money. Why the Tooth Fairy wants teeth placed under a pillow and where the tooh fairy gets her money is not known.

          What is the value of teeth? Nature has decided that teeth are very important. Teeth first form from the same embryonic genetic material that the human brain is formed from, neural crest ectoderm. Years ago if someone did not have teeth in his mouth he would most certainly die. Scientists are learning that teeth have value and contribute to the health of their owner. Teeth should never be needlessly removed.

          For more dental information visit our web site. If you are interested in dental care and would like to find out what our dentists can do for you, please consider scheduling a consultation by calling  404-874-7428.