4 Types of Teeth Shapes: Functions and Treatments Explained
Teeth are part of not only the human face but also the human digestive system. Not only do they help in digestion and churning food, but they also add aesthetics to your smile. Different teeth shapes combine to give you a beautiful smile.
However, sometimes, there are cases where you lose your teeth or damage them. Reshaping or realigning teeth using the proper orthodontic treatment is now possible.
Today, we will discuss the major shapes of human teeth, how they change shape, and the best treatment options to get a perfect smile.
At Palm Valley Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics, our orthodontics make sure to give you a bright smile. From tooth extraction to Invisalign, we have a range of dental services for kids and adults to help them achieve wider and brighter smiles.
What are Teeth?
Your teeth are the part of your digestive system that makes the food digestible with enough churning and saliva production. They are like bones but ectodermal organs, like your hair, nails, and skin.
Although teeth look like bones, they are not bones or organs. They play a vital role in supporting the jaws and perform basic functions such as:
Humans have 32 permanent teeth. However, babies develop only 20 immature teeth, which drop during their early years, and new permanent teeth erupt.
Sometimes, people are also born with missing teeth or extra teeth, commonly referred to as hypodontia and hyperdontia, respectively.
4 Major Types of Human Teeth
Generally, humans have four natural teeth shapes that make two pairs of jaws filled with 16 teeth each. Here are the teeth types:
1: Incisors
The first type of teeth are flat and are present in the front of your mouth. These are the teeth that make you smile and appear in an arch. The incisors are scooped or shovel-like in some individuals, while others have rounded ones.
As the name suggests, these teeth are best for incising or cutting things, especially food items. Along with the other teeth-type canines, they help you take bites and churn food successfully.
In addition, they help in speaking and making phenolic sounds, putting your tongue in different positions against your teeth. This type is mostly damaged during accidents and needs treatments to reshape again.
2: Canines
Canines are the teeth commonly known as cuspids and are famous for their fang-like structure on either side of the incisors. They have their name, and they resemble the dog’s fangs. These teeth help you tear food-tight objects such as meat and vegetables.
Additionally, many people know these teeth as “eye teeth” for their position directly under your eyes. The adults have four canines, one on each side of the arch.
3: Premolars
The third and major type of teeth is oval-shaped, which are mostly flat and have small ridges. They sit behind your canines and are closer to the backside of your mouth.
Premolars are also known as bicuspids as they sit between canines and your molars, found on the rare side of your mouth. Mostly, they erupt at the age of 10 years, replacing the primary molars in kids.
Premolars are also common in tearing and crushing the food into smaller pieces that help in swallowing the food.
4: Molars
One last type includes more cube-shaped molars and in sets of four. Like the premolars, they are also flat in shape and have small ridges to break the food.
Molars have a larger surface to churn the food and grind it well. Most adults develop 12 permanent molars, with six on the bottom and six on the top jaw.
The last pairs of molars that erupt are wisdom teeth or third molars, usually occurring from 17 to 21. Not all individuals develop third molars at this age, and their teeth remain unerupted and never appear in their mouths.
The mouth easily impacts wisdom teeth as they are trapped under the gums and stay underdeveloped. In such cases, there is a chance that people may experience pain and discomfort when wisdom teeth start pushing against gums.
Teeth Eruption & Destruction Chart:
According to the American Dental Association, teeth eruption is a specific age. Likewise, there is a particular time when humans start losing their teeth types. Here is the chart that can give you an idea:
| Type of teeth | Age teeth come through | Age teeth are lost |
| Upper Jaw | Upper Jaw | Upper Jaw |
| Central incisor | 8–12 months | 6– 7 years |
| Lateral incisor | 9–13 months | 7–8 years |
| Canine | 16–22 months | 10–12 years |
| First molar | 13–19 months | 9–11 years |
| Second molar | 25–33 months | 10–12 years |
| Lower Jaw | Lower Jaw | Lower Jaw |
| Central incisor | 6–10 months | 6–7 years |
| Lateral incisor | 10–16 months | 7-8 years |
| Canine | 17–23 months | 9–12 years |
| First molar | 14–18 months | 9–11 years |
| Second molar | 23–31 months | 10–12 years |
How Teeth Can Change Shape?
Your teeth can change slightly in shape and size. It occurs over time due to any trauma or long-term decay.
There are cases when your teeth may change shape, such as:
An orthodontist can change the shape and size of your teeth according to your needs using modern techniques. It is necessary when a tooth is broken, worn out, or has been treated previously.
What Dental Treatments Can Change Your Teeth Shape?
If you are suffering from dental trauma or have crooked teeth, you can get the perfect smile with some dental treatments. Only a professional orthodontist can suggest the right treatment type for you according to your needs.
Here we share a few types of dental treatments that can help enhance your beautiful smile:
1: Dental crowns and veneers
Dental crowns and veneers are perfect for dental restorations as they cover the underlying teeth correctly. The crowns offer protection to restore a tooth’s function and add to its aesthetics.
On the other hand, dental veneers come under the category of dental cosmetics, which are artificial shells used to reshape them.
2: Enameloplasty
This treatment, also known as odontoplasty or tooth recontouring, involves trimming a small amount of enamel to make the slightly chipped teeth straight.
3: Dental bonding
This treatment involves attaching synthetic material to the tooth to restore its shape and function. Additionally, dental bonding is performed to fill the tiny gaps between the teeth for dental cleaning purposes.
4: Gums reshaping
In this procedure, the gums are removed or reshaped to allow more teeth to appear. This is the best dental treatment for people with gummy smiles to get a perceived smile by varying the teeth’ shape and size through the gums.
FAQs
Are pretty teeth genetic?
Yes, genes play a vital role in the shape of teeth. Like all other body parts, phenotypes in teeth also come from genetics.
What is the most desired tooth shape?
The most desired teeth shape among the patients is square teeth, which look perfect on all face cuts. Short and round teeth suit the heart-shaped faces more.
What is the rarest tooth shape?
Research shows that 2% of the human population has peg-shaped teeth, which are rare. Most women have this shape type, which tends to reshape their teeth in another shape to fix their smile.
What is the least attractive tooth shape?
Apart from all the common types, some other shapes are rarely found in humans. Among them, the least attractive teeth shape is an S-shape in maxillary incisors, which are the least attractive.
