Tooth diagram

What this diagram shows

Each tooth has a crown, the part you can see above the gum, and one or more roots that hold it in the jawbone. The crown is covered in enamel, the hardest substance in the human body. Under the enamel is dentin, which makes up most of the tooth, and in the middle is the pulp, with nerves and blood vessels that keep the tooth alive. This cross-section shows all of these, plus the gum. Explore, Labels and Quiz me work as on our other diagrams.

The Tooth buttons switch between three types. Incisors at the front have a thin, flat edge for biting. Canines are pointed for gripping and tearing and have the longest roots. Molars at the back are wide and bumpy for crushing and grinding, and often have two or three roots.

Why comparing teeth helps

Seeing the three shapes side by side, with the same layers inside, links shape to job. The challenge asks the student to match foods to teeth, so they reason from the shape rather than memorize a list. It is also a natural way into why we brush: enamel can't grow back once it is damaged.

Common misconceptions

• Teeth are not bones. They are made of different materials, and enamel, unlike bone, cannot repair itself.
• Teeth are alive. The pulp has nerves and blood vessels, which is why a damaged tooth can hurt.
• Baby teeth matter, even though they fall out. They hold space for adult teeth and help children chew and speak.
• Most of a tooth is hidden. The roots below the gum are often longer than the crown above it.

A 10-minute teeth activity

• Ask the student to look in a mirror and count their teeth, or feel them with their tongue.
• In Explore, tap each layer of the molar from the outside in.
• Switch types and ask which of the three they can find in their own mouth.
• Play Which tooth does the job? and ask for a reason each time.
• Talk about how sugar and plaque damage enamel, and why brushing twice a day helps.

Where this fits in school

• US, grades 1 to 5: teeth are a common health and science topic, and NGSS 4-LS1-1 asks students to argue that internal and external structures support survival.
• England, Year 2: pupils describe the importance of exercise, healthy eating and hygiene for humans.
• England, Year 4: pupils identify the different types of teeth in humans and their simple functions, alongside the digestive system.

Learning more

Science is part of Eurekami's skill map, with lessons that draw science diagrams live and narrate them in English or Spanish. When a question is tricky, the AI tutor asks guiding questions so the student does the reasoning. Parents can follow what their child has practiced in the weekly report.