Incisive teeth, what are they for

The human teeth has four types of teeth: incisors, canines, premolars and molars. We start with this post a serial in which we will address, one by one, those four modalities of dental pieces, their functions and their characteristics. And in this first, we will know which those of the incisors are.

Under normal circumstances, the teeth known as incisors are a total of 8, distributed equally in the lower and upper part of the denture. They are the ones that we locate in the central part of it.

They are the first teeth that come out and appear in our childhood when the milk teeth begin to erupt, and it is also normal that they are the first ones of the definitive teeth. They have only one root.

Popularly, the incisors are also known as paddles or simply shovels.

What is the function of the incisors? Each type of tooth has an assigned function; and in the case of the incisors it is clear: cut the food that we take to the mouth in smaller pieces, with the intention of facilitating its function to other pieces for the sake of an adequate mastication and subsequent assimilation of the food. That’s why they have sharp features and are the longest teeth in our teeth.

Although it is not a function that can be attributed directly to the incisors because of our condition as humans, this type of teeth, and because of its aforementioned sharp and cutting characteristics, can serve as a defense and to propitiate a bite to something or someone … if was necessary.

But, precisely, what we should not do with the incisors is to try to cut something that is not food. Or, even, within these, those that are too hard.

Aesthetically, the incisors are the teeth that make the image of the denture suffer the most as they are in the most visible part. Therefore, it is usual that their loss, especially in certain ages.