Chicago Family Dentist

Typically, a person’s “pearly whites” are known as their incisors. The incisors are the most visible teeth of the mouth and so have a large effect on a person’s appearance. The incisors are the first type of tooth in the mouth. There are four incisors on the top jaw and four on the lower jaw. Incisors get their name from the Latin “incidere,” which means “to cut.”

The majority of animals have incisors to some degree. In humans and other mammals, these teeth are designed to cut things sharply. In cats and dogs, incisors are small teeth because tearing meat is done with the canines and carnassials. An elephant’s tusks are really their upper incisors.

People typically have eight incisors, all of which are in pairs. There are four types of incisors:

- Maxillary central incisors
- Maxillary lateral incisors
- Mandibular central incisors
- Mandibular lateral incisors

The central incisors, all four of them, are the most central teeth in the mouth and make up the majority of the teeth other people will see when you smile. The maxillary central incisors are located on the top set of teeth while the mandibular ones are located on the bottom jaw. The lateral incisors are located one tooth over from the central incisors. Once again, mandibular teeth are on the bottom and maxillary teeth are on the top.

Because these teeth are so visible, it is very important that they be kept in optimal condition.

Contact a Chicago Dentist

For more information on your incisors or for help keeping them in pristine condition, contact Chicago family dentist Dr. Sumeet Bagai at 773-767-1554 to schedule an appointment or have your questions answered today.