Section 7

Different Types of Teeth

For Use with the KS2 Science Curriculum Topic 3A

Adapted by Oral Health Promotion, Devon 2014

Recap

Lets look at what we learnt last time.

The four types of teeth

1. incisor

(cutting)

2. canine

(piercing)

3. premolar

(crushing)

4. molar

(grinding)

Incisor

Used for cutting.

Canine

The Roman’s called their dogs canines. Why is this a good name for this tooth ?

Premolar

Pre-Molar means in front of the molars. Its job is to crush things. Especially nuts. Just like this nutcracker.

Molar

Molar is the Latin name for this grinding bowl. This is what the molar does. It grinds our food before we swallow it.

Positions in the Mouth

Activity – Setting Up Teeth

• Give each pupil a box

of plastic teeth

• Ask them to sort the

teeth into the 4 different

types before trying to

put them in the pink

base provided.

Hint – If Needed

Milk and Adult Teeth

We have just assembled an adult mouth.

The child’s mouth has no premolars.

Or Wisdom teeth.*

So how many teeth does a child have ?

* (They were not present in the model either, but you can see the gap behind the molars where they could have come through.)

Comparison

Child’s Mouth Adult Mouth

Incisors 4 Incisors 4

Canines 2 Canines 2

0 Premolars 4

Molars 4 Molars 4

0 Wisdoms 2

Totals 10 X 2 = 20 16 x 2 = 32

Two sets of teeth

to allow for growth

infant has 20 teeth

adult has 32 teeth

Jaw growth

The baby’s mouth is much smaller than the adult.

Thus it can only fit 20 small teeth. The adult has 32 large teeth.

The extra ones are the 8 premolars and the 4 wisdom Teeth

Dental x ray

Notice that there are lots of fillings in the back teeth !

The adult teeth follow the baby teeth down channels in the bone.

Losing any of the baby teeth in the wrong order, due to decay or to accidents, can make the adult teeth wander off course and

become crooked.

Looking After Them

Your teeth should last a lifetime.

Remember we only get two sets.

If you don’t look after them your next set could be plastic !

With thanks to

Graeme Jones, Liverpool Dental Health Promotion