1. Section 7 Different Types of Teeth
For Use with the KS2 Science Curriculum Topic 3A
Adapted by Oral Health Promotion, Devon 2014

2. Recap
Lets look at what we learnt last time.

3. The four types of teeth 1. incisor (cutting) (piercing) (crushing)
2. canine
(piercing)
3. premolar
(crushing)
4. molar
(grinding)

4. Incisor
Used for cutting.

5. Canine
The Roman’s called their dogs canines. Why is this a good name for this tooth ?

6. Premolar
Pre-Molar means in front of the molars. Its job is to crush things. Especially nuts. Just like this nutcracker.

7. Molar
Molar is the Latin name for this grinding bowl. This is what the molar does. It grinds our food before we swallow it.

8. Positions in the Mouth

9. Activity – Setting Up Teeth
Give each pupil a box
of plastic teeth
Ask them to sort the
teeth into the 4 different
types before trying to
put them in the pink
base provided.

10. Hint – If Needed

11. Milk and Adult Teeth
We have just assembled an adult mouth. The child’s mouth has no premolars. Or Wisdom teeth.* So how many teeth does a child have ? * (They were not present in the model either, but you can see the gap behind the molars where they could have come through.)

12. Comparison Child’s Mouth Adult Mouth Incisors 4 Incisors 4 Canines 2
Premolars 4
Molars 4
Molars
Wisdoms 2
Totals X 2 = x 2 = 32

13. Two sets of teeth to allow for growth infant has 20 teeth
adult has 32 teeth

14. Jaw growth The baby’s mouth is much smaller than the adult.
Thus it can only fit 20 small teeth. The adult has 32 large teeth.
The extra ones are the 8 premolars and the 4 wisdom Teeth

15. Dental x ray
Notice that there are lots of fillings in the back teeth !

16. The adult teeth follow the baby teeth down channels in the bone.
Losing any of the baby teeth in the wrong order, due to decay or to accidents, can make the adult teeth wander off course and become crooked.

17. Looking After Them
Your teeth should last a lifetime. Remember we only get two sets. If you don’t look after them your next set could be plastic !

18. With thanks to
Graeme Jones, Liverpool Dental Health Promotion