Types of Teeth and Their Functions

Have you ever wondered why all of your teeth look different? That’s because they are all designed to do different things. At the dental practice of Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS it is our job to take care of your teeth, but it is up to you to learn more about them. Teeth not only help you chew your food, they also play an important role in speech, and impact our health overall.  Each type of tooth has a slightly different shape and performs a different job.

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 further questions about your pearly whites, don’t hesitate to give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.eniddentalcare.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS in Enid, OK, call 580-237-2213.