Dentoword : Today's Word is 'Dentition'

Welcome to Dentoword:
Learn Your Dental Terms with Detailed Explanation 

Today's word is "Dentition"           

Definition :

Dentition refers to the arrangement, type, and number of teeth in a particular human individual or animal. In humans, it encompasses both the primary teeth and permanent teeth.

Sets of Teeth :

Primary or Deciduous Dentition :

They are also called milk teeth or baby teeth. The term 'deciduous' means not permanent, transitory. This set includes 20 teeth that begin to erupt around 6 months of age, and a child would have his or her complete set of primary teeth by 2.5 to 3 yrs.

Secondary or Permanent Dentition:

They are also called succedaneous teeth or adult teeth. This set includes 32 teeth that replace primary teeth and begin to erupt around 6 years of age. The eruption process is completed by 12-13 years, except for the third molars.

Class and Types of Teeth:

• Incisors - Central incisors, lateral incisor
• Canine
• Premolars - 1st &2nd Premolars
• Molars - 1st molars, 2nd molars, 3rd molars.

Stages of Dentition in human:

• Deciduous dentition period(6 months to 6 yrs)
• Mixed (transitional) dentition period (6 to 12 yrs)
• Permanent dentition period  (12 yrs beyond)

 Importance of Dentition

 The importance of dentition is crucial for several reasons affecting both oral and systemic health:

1. Chewing:Properly aligned teeth help in chewing food into smaller pieces, aiding in digestion.
2. Speech: Properly aligned and spaced teeth play a significant role in speech.
3. Aesthetics: Well-aligned teeth contribute to a beautiful social smile..
4. Oral and systemic health: Proper alignment and spacing of teeth help in maintaining oral hygiene. A healthy dentition is essential for overall well-being.

👀Interesting fact: 

Did you know that the patterns of dentition are unique to each individual, much like fingerprints? It can be used in forensic odontology to identify individuals with the help of their previous dental records.

Reference:

 1.Wheeler's Dental Anatomy, Physiology, and Occlusion (First South Asian Edition-2015). Elsevier.

2. Image credit: www.freepik.com.