Human Dentition: An Analysis of Primary and Permanent Teeth - Essay Sample

Introduction

The human dentition has been termed heterodont, that is, teeth are of different form and type. Dentition entails the complete development and distribution of teeth, which is the hardest structure in the human body. The primary teeth can also be called as baby, milk, or temporary teeth (Maliel, 2017). The second type of teeth is the permanent teeth, also recognized as the adult teeth. As such, this paper consists of a detailed study of human dentition, the differences between the primary and permanent dentition, tooth functions which explain all their uses, the emergence time, and the importance of the teeth sequence for a human, without forgetting the caries risk.

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During the embryo phase, the primary or deciduous teeth begin to form and later on erupt at infancy between the ages of six months and one year. In total, there are 20 primary teeth typically, with ten teeth on each jaw, that is, two canines, four incisors, and four molars. Maliel (2017) states that deciduous teeth ordinarily exist from infancy until the early teenage years, with almost five percent of the baby teeth present (Maliel, 2017). Though they are considered an irritation, their significant role is to conserve space for the permanent teeth. Milk teeth are smaller in size compared to the adult teeth. The adult teeth usually consist of a 32 set of teeth on the top and bottom dental arch (Maliel, 2017). Four incisors, two canines, four premolars, and six molars. At age 13, 28 of the 32 will have replaced the milk teeth. The other permanent and wisdom teeth often appear between 17 and 25 years of age in agreement with.

Tooth Function

When eating, teeth cut, tear, grind, and crush food before swallowing. It is the first process of digestion. Incisors are located on the front part of the mouth. They are chisel-shaped with sharp edges that help in biting into food. Canine teeth, which are sometimes referred to as cuspids or eyeteeth, sit just next to the incisors (Maliel, 2017). They have a pointy, sharp surface used for tearing food. Unlike the canines and incisors, premolars or bicuspids have a flat biting surface for grinding and crushing of food, making it easier to swallow. Molars are the strongest and biggest teeth. Their large surface area assists in grinding food into smaller particles.

Teeth have an important role in talking, especially when pronouncing consonants. The mouth is vital for interactions, and as Kershaw et al., (2018) reported, the tongue strikes the teeth to produce sound when talking. When one has missing teeth, mostly the front upper teeth, speech can be adversely affected. By controlling the flow of air out of the mouth, teeth help in forming words. Like badges or identity cards, teeth make an important statement about a person's hygiene and health and sometimes their social status (Kershaw et al., 2008). Their shape, position, and shade of our teeth played an aesthetic role in one's life and believed to shape our personality. For example, many people believe that pure white teeth is a sign of good health and prosperity. Kershaw et al. (2018) perceived that the pearl white teeth also make one appear more attractive. People with crooked or discolored teeth, on the other hand, tend to be hard to trust and not able to take them seriously. Most of them end up being shy, but they do have a strong desire to prove themselves. From the research done by Kershaw et al., (2008), teeth discoloration harms personality traits while an individual with whitened teeth is given a higher rating compared to one with their original natural teeth color.

Emergence Time

Teeth emergence is the process of a tooth coming forth into view from its developmental position in the jaw. Though different people have different turning uptime, there is a general eruption timeline. This process occurs in three stages (Peedikayil, 2011). The first deciduous dentition occurs when the primary milk teeth appear. This stage lasts from about six months of age, when the first mandibular central incisor is visible, until the first permanent molar at six years. Teeth erupt in this chronological order, a central incisor, then lateral incisor followed by the first molar and then canine and lastly the second molar. Maliel, (2017) ascertained that tooth buds of permanent teeth develop under the baby teeth, close to the palate during primary dentition.

Mixed dentition is the second stage that begins at the age of six years just after the first permanent molar emerges and runs until the last milk teeth is replaced in the early teenage years. The permanent premolars replace the deciduous molars (Kershaw et al., 2008). The permanent dentition begins when the previous milk tooth is lost, and it lasts until one dies or when all teeth are lost. As observed by Maliel, (2017) during this permanent stage, the wisdom teeth set in at the age of 17 and 24 years. Some people do not have room in the mouth for the third molars, making them to be stuck under the gums and should thus be removed.

A dental hygienist needs to follow the dentition emergence chart. This will help their patients to find treatment early for the children in case of any disorder. For example, dentition is gender-sensitive in that there is a higher eruption of permanent dentition in girls than in boys due to their fast maturation, with a difference of about four to six months Peedikayil, (2011). Also, fluoride ingestion delays teeth eruption for a year or even more and leads to a permanent fluorosis condition.

Caries Risk

Dental caries or cavities or decays is a common, global, and persistent tooth disease these days. It is expensive to treat the disease, and in high-income countries, it is among the major causes of children's hospitalization. According to the 2015 Global Burden of Disease Study, permanent teeth decay was ranked first with an estimate of 2.3 billion people infected, and an approximate of 560 million children as indicated on the World Health Organization journal (WHO, 2015). Children and teenagers are at high risk of decays. Adults are also at a higher risk since the disease is cumulative, and overtime gums do recede, and teeth wear out, making a person's teeth to be more vulnerable to root decay (WHO, 2015). Older people might also use a lot of medications that can reduce the flow of saliva in the mouth and significantly increasing the risk. People with higher consumption of free sugars frequently have more cavities.

Caries is highly preventable through simple and cost-effective and individual measures such as dietary. As disclosed by (WHO 2015), most dental carries go untreated in many low-income countries. Severe cavities impair the quality of life as it leads to difficulties in sleeping and eating, chronic system infection, and a lot of pain. All health professionals must receive adequate education and enlightenment on nutrition. In return, they need to educate the individuals, parents, or caregivers with clear and consistent nutrition information that does not conflict with other practitioners. Dietary advice should be part of their dental assessment and treatment. Patients need to be encouraged to follow a diet that is beneficial and complete, which, in turn, helps in the prevention and of caries.

References

Kershaw, S., Newton, J. T., & Williams, D. M. (2018). The Influence of Tooth Color on the Perceptions of Personal Characteristics among Female Dental Patients: Comparisons of Unmodified, Decayed, and 'Whitened' Teeth. British dental journal, 204(5), E9. Retrieved from https://www.nature.com/articles/bdj.2008.134

Maliel, M. (2017). "Differences between Primary and Permanent Teeth." Slideshare.net. Retrieved from https://www.slideshare.net/MathewThomasMaliael/differences-between-primary-and-permanent-teeth. 1- 10.

Peedikayil, F. C. (2011). DELAYED TOOTH ERUPTION. e-Journal of Dentistry, 1(4). Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Faizal_Peedikayil/publication/235799443_DELAYED_TOOTH_ERUPTION/links/02bfe5139c2f25f5e6000000/DELAYED-TOOTH-ERUPTION.pdf

Somerset Primary Care Dental Services (2018). "Eruption Dates - Primary and Permanent Teeth Information for Parents and Carer." Retrieved from http://www.sompar.nhs.uk/media/2705/fact-sheet-dental-eruption-dates-final-290116.pdf

World Health Organization. (2015). Guideline: Sugars Intake for Adults and Children. World Health Organization. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2015/sugar-guideline/en/