Types of Teeth

Our teeth come in different shapes and do different things. To help our patients better understand our treatments, we want them to know the basic aspects of these important, highly specialized bones.

People typically grow thirty-two adult teeth, with sixteen in each jaw. They are grouped by function. The front two pairs of teeth are called incisors. They are the most important teeth for speaking with, are used to tear food, and are the main focus of a lot of cosmetic care. On each side of the incisors is a canine tooth, which is also known as a cuspid or an eyetooth. These pointy teeth are used for piercing. Their place in the jaw makes them important for stabilizing the arch of each set of teeth, but the top ones often have difficulty erupting and need orthodontic correction.

On the sides of the mouth are two pairs of premolars and three pairs of molars. Premolars have one root each, molars in the lower jaw have two, and molars in the upper jaw have three. These teeth are used for chewing. Because the grooves in their grinding surfaces make them especially vulnerable to decay, they are often treated with sealants. The backmost molars are called wisdom teeth and are usually the last to erupt.

Chapel Street Dental is located at 806 Chapel St, New Haven, Connecticut, 06510. To schedule an appointment, call 203-772-1000 or visit NewHavenDental.care and fill out a contact form.

Dental Sealants

Almost half of all children and adolescents in the United States have had cavities in their permanent teeth.  At Chapel Street Dental, our doctors apply sealants to young patients in order to preserve the tooth enamel and prevent tooth decay. Adults also benefit from sealants, and they will last for years.  Consult with us if you think a sealant could be the solution for you.

Most tooth decay in children and teenagers occurs on the chewing surfaces of molars, where the pits and grooves trap food and bacteria Molars first come in at around 5-7 years of age, with a second set coming in between the ages of 11-14.  The best time to have a sealant placed is when the molars first come in to ensure they are protected early.  Sealants are a plastic resin that is applied to surfaces of these molars like paint. When applied, it fills any pits and grooves on the surface and then hardens. Now the surface is protected from bits of food being stuck, so bacteria cannot multiply and cause decay, and tooth enamel is protected from plaque and acids.  Sealants can effectively prevent cavities for up to ten years and can be reapplied.

To learn more about sealants and all the services we provide at our practice, visit Newhavendental.care for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Chapel Street Dental in New Haven, CT, call 203-772-1000.