Do you know how many teeth you have? Teeth are an important part of both your bone structure and your digestion. The part of the tooth above the gumline is called the crown. And the part of the tooth below the gumline is called the root, which attaches the tooth to your jawbone. On average, babies first start getting new teeth around 6 months.

Teeth help a person use their mouth to eat, speak, smile, and give shape to their face. Each type of tooth has a name and a specific function. Teeth are made up of different layers — enamel, dentin, pulp, and cementum. Enamel, which is the hardest substance in the body, is on the outside of the tooth. The second layer is dentin, which is softer than enamel, and the deepest layer inside the tooth is pulp, which consists of nerves and blood vessels.

Adult teeth or permanent teeth replace the primary teeth. They aid in digestion, speech and general appearance. There are 32 permanent teeth, with the main difference from primary teeth is that there are 4 premolars and 6 molars in each arch.

Accessing dental treatment during the coronavirus pandemic If you have a dental problem you should, in the first instance always telephone the dental practice that you normally attend. If you are not registered with any dental practice then your nearest dental practice will still be able to help. Further information is available on accessing dental treatment during the coronavirus pandemic.