Teeth Types and What They Do

At Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania, we encourage our patients keep their teeth healthy on a regular basis. Speaking of teeth, have you ever wondered why all of your choppers are shaped differently? That’s because you have different types that all serve a different purpose. Your teeth look different from one another because they are designed to do different things. Not only do they help you speak, but how else would you be able to swallow your food?

The types of teeth and their functions are:

• Incisors – located at the front of the mouth, these teeth have a sharp biting surface and are used for cutting or shearing food into small chewable pieces.


• Canines – located at the ‘corners’ of the dental arches, these teeth have a sharp pointed biting surface. Their function is to grip and tear food.


• Premolars – Unlike incisors and canines, these teeth have a flat biting surface. Their function is to tear and crush food.


• Molars – The molars are the largest teeth in the mouth and they too have a large flat biting surface. The function of these is perhaps the strongest of all as they chew, crush, and grind food.

If you have questions about your teeth, please give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.oralsurgerypa.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania located in Philadelphia, call 215-463-4141.