Dental Formula: Definition, Dentition and Sample Questions

Dental formula is used to understand the number and arrangements of teeth in humans and animals. Dental formula describes the relationship of teeth within the jaws of animal teeth and human teeth. It provides information about the number and size of teeth as well as the type of teeth. Teeth are the most important element in our mouths. They help us to eat, churn and chew the food. There are two sets of teeth in mammals – deciduous and permanent. Deciduous teeth are also known as milk teeth or baby teeth. Incisors, Canines , Premolars are Molar are four types of teeth present in our mouth. 

Also Read: Invertebrates

Key terms: Dentition, blood vessel, monophyodont, human environment, adaptation, Incisors, Canines , Premolars

Dentition

[Click Here for Sample Questions]

Dentition is used to describe the development of teeth and their arrangement in the mouth. The development of teeth depends on the characteristics of teeth as their kind, arrangement, and number of teeth in a species. The dentition of animals whose teeth succession is known as diphyodont, whereas in animals with only one set of teeth throughout life is known as monophyodont.

Each tooth in our mouth consists of a crown, a root and a cervical part. Enamel covers the crown. Apical foramen and the root canal help the root of the tooth, blood vessels and nerves to access the pulp cavity. Parodontium refers to the collection of cementum , desmodium, alveolar bone and gingival together.

---

Different Types of Teeth

[Click Here for Sample Questions]

There are four types of teeth namely Incisors, Canines, Premolars and Molars. These four types of teeth are present on the jawbones in the mouth, extending into the buccal cavity. The four types of teeth have different functions like cutting, crushing, shredding and tearing the food. 

Incisors (I) – 

These are in the front row of the mouth. They help in cutting and slicing the food into the pieces to fit in the mouth. They are present in both of the jaws in mammals. 

Canines (C) –

These are most commonly known as dog teeth. In the case of Carnivores, these teeth help in holding and tearing apart food as they have pointed structures and in the case of herbivores, these teeth help in the breakdown and split hard surfaces of certain fruits such as nuts. In human beings, these provide a benefit of aiding in articulation.

Premolars (P) –

These are the transition teeth between canines and molars. They provide smooth surfaces that help in occlusion (the process of cutting, crushing, grinding the food into the rapid digestible form).

Molars (M)- 

These are large teeth present in mammals. They help in grinding the food. In mammals, there are 12 molars present in a set of three in both the lower and upper jaw.

Read Also: Definition of Biodiversity

---

Dental Formula

[Click Here for Sample Questions]

The dental formula describes and expresses the total number of teeth in man and animal as per the arrangements. The dental formula is expressed with letters and figures. The letters used in this formula are on the basis of the types of teeth Incisors, Canines, Premolars and Molars.

Dental Formula- 

(number of each type of teeth upper jaw ) / (number of teeth on one side of the lower jaw)

Dental formula = (2 Incisors 1 Canines 2 Premolars 3 Molars) /(2 Incisors 1 Canines 2 Premolars 3 Molars)

Human teeth have two dental formulas 

The primary dentition (20)

I2/2 C1/1 M2/2 = 10

The permanent dentition (32 teeth):

I2/2C1/1 P2/2 M 3/3 = 16.

Here, I- Incisors , C- Canines , P- Premolars , M- Molar

---

Parts of Human Mouth

[Click Here for Sample Questions]

The three parts of the human mouth are as follows- 

Teeth – Teeth are small structures containing the hard tissue develops from the embryonic period. They help in chewing, which makes food small in parts so that it becomes easy to digest and swallow.

Teeth have three parts – anterior teeth are found at the front of the mouth, posterior teeth are found at the back of the mouth and grinding teeth help in grinding the food in the babies and young children. 

Teeth and jaw growth

Teeth and Jaw grow in different stages of human development. The number of teeth is less, the dentine amount is also low. Tooth development is affected by both environmental and genetic factors.

Also Read: Open Type Circulatory System

---

Cause And Effects Of Dental Problems

[Click Here for Sample Questions]

Proper hygiene of the mouth is necessary otherwise it leads to tooth decay, cavity and other mouth problems. The causes are-

• Dental plaque – It is due to eating lots of sugar or sweets.
• Improper brushing- One should brush your teeth twice a day. This keeps the teeth healthy.
• Plaque Attacks are also a major cause of dental problems.

The effects are-

• Eating disorders
• Pain in jaw and teeth
• Weight loss can also take place
• Chewing problems
• Cavity & broken tooth.

---

Things to Remember

[Click Here for Sample Questions]

• There are two sets of teeth in mammals – deciduous and permanent. Deciduous teeth are also known as milk teeth or baby teeth.
• There are four type of teeth namely Incisors, Canines , Premolars and Molars. These four type of teeth are present on the jawbones in the mouth, extending into buccal cavity. 
• The four type of teeth have different functions as cutting, crushing, shredding and tearing the food.
• The dentition of animals whose teeth succession is known as diphyodont, whereas in animals with only one set of teeth throughout life is known as monophyodont.

• Dentition is used to describe the development of teeth and their arrangement in the mouth. 
• The development of teeth depends on the characteristics of teeth as their kind, arrangement, and a number of teeth in a species.

Read: Stomach Ulcer

---