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How are primary teeth different from permanent teeth?
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dentistry
The practice of dentistry involves preventing, diagnosing, and treating oral disease, as well as correcting deformities of the jaws, teeth, and oral cavity.
Primary teeth (also known as deciduous or baby teeth) differ from permanent teeth in several key physical and developmental characteristics:
- Physical Composition: Primary teeth are smaller, whiter, and more prone to wear than permanent teeth. Their enamel is only about half as thick as that found on permanent teeth and is less hard.12
- Anatomy: Primary teeth feature more pointed cusps, relatively large pulp chambers, and small, delicate roots.1
- Quantity and Type: Humans have 20 primary teeth, consisting of incisors, canines, and molars. In contrast, the permanent dentition includes 32 teeth, which incorporate premolars (bicuspids) that replace the primary molars, as well as additional adult molars that do not replace any primary teeth.1
- Development: Primary teeth begin to appear around six months of age and are typically shed between the ages of 5 and 13 as their roots are resorbed to make way for permanent teeth.1