Human tooth

A hard, calcified structure anchored in a jaw socket that cuts or grinds food. Human teeth also support speech and help shape the face.

Enamel: The highly mineralized outer covering of a tooth’s crown. It resists wear and shields the softer tissues beneath the crown.
Odontogenesis: The developmental process that forms teeth from interactions between oral epithelium and underlying tissues. It builds the tooth’s crown, root, and supporting tissues.
Incisor: A front tooth with a relatively sharp edge used chiefly for cutting or biting. Human incisors start food processing by cutting into food.
Deciduous teeth: The first set of teeth in humans, which is gradually replaced during childhood. They are temporary predecessors to the permanent teeth.
Dentin: The calcified tissue that forms most of a tooth beneath enamel and cementum. Its tubules transmit stimuli toward the dental pulp.
Amelogenesis: The process by which ameloblasts produce and mature tooth enamel. It creates the tooth’s exceptionally hard outer layer.
Canine tooth: A pointed tooth positioned between the incisors and premolars. Its shape helps grip and tear food.
Permanent teeth: The second set of human teeth, which generally replaces the deciduous set. They form the enduring adult dentition, unlike the first set.
Dental pulp: The soft tissue inside a tooth containing nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue. It supplies the tooth and produces dentin.
Dentinogenesis: The process by which odontoblasts form dentin. It establishes the tissue that makes up most of the tooth.