Dentition facts for kids

Dentition is the development of teeth and where the teeth are in the mouth. Almost all mammals have up to four different types of teeth: incisors, canines, premolars, and molars. Animals that have different types of teeth are called "heterodont". If they do not, they are called "homodont".

In mammals, the young have a set of primary teeth (milk teeth) that fall out after a few years. When they fall out, adult teeth grow in. Animals that have milk teeth and adult teeth are called diphyodont.

Archaeology

Dentition is important in archaeology. Dentition is used to study human migration. Tooth enamel contains trace elements which show where they grew.

Related pages

• Teeth
• Dental formula

• Adovasion J. M. and David Pedler. 2005. The peopling of North America. North American Archaeology. Blackwell, Oxford. 35-36.

Images for kids

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  Cast of a human upper jaw showing incisors, canines, premolars, and two of the three possible sets of molars.

See also

In Spanish: Dentición para niños