Tooth

A tooth is a hard structure in the mouth used to grasp, cut, tear, or grind food. Its crown is usually covered by enamel, while roots anchor it in the jaw.

Enamel: The hard, mineral-rich outer covering of a tooth crown. It protects the exposed crown from wear and chemical attack.
Dental occlusion: The contact relationship between upper and lower teeth when the jaws close. It determines how opposing teeth meet during biting and chewing.
Tooth development: The formation and eruption of teeth through interactions between oral epithelium and underlying tissues. It explains how tooth tissues form and emerge in the mouth.
Evolution of teeth: The evolutionary history of tooth-like structures and dentitions across vertebrates. It traces how teeth became diverse tools for feeding.
Dental plaque: A structured community of microorganisms adhering to tooth surfaces within a surrounding matrix. Plaque contributes to caries and gum disease when it accumulates.
Dentin: The mineralized tissue that forms most of a tooth beneath enamel and cementum. It supports enamel and carries microscopic tubules toward the pulp.
Mastication: The mechanical breakdown of food by the jaws, teeth, tongue, and associated muscles. Teeth perform the cutting and grinding actions within this process.
Primary teeth: The first set of teeth in humans, usually replaced by permanent teeth during childhood. They serve chewing and spacing functions before the adult dentition erupts.
Conodont: An extinct jawless vertebrate known largely from distinctive mineralized feeding elements. Its tooth-like elements illuminate early vertebrate feeding structures.
Periodontal disease: Inflammatory diseases affecting the gums and tooth-supporting tissues. Damage to these tissues can loosen or ultimately cost teeth.

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