You Can't Handle the Tooth! Trivia Quiz

Answer: cementum

Cementum is the outermost layer of the root of a tooth and, fittingly enough, anchors it to the bone. It contains the greatest fluoride content of any tissue in the body. New cementum is formed throughout your lifetime to help keep the tooth attached to the bone.

Answer: incisor

Incisors are the frontmost teeth, and also the first to erupt during tooth development. They are thin because their primary use is to cut food into smaller bits for further chewing. Adults have four incisors on the top jaw and four on the bottom.

Answer: enamel

Enamel is one of the four major tissues that comprise a tooth. It is the hardest part of the human body because it almost entirely consists of hydroxyapatite, a mineral consisting of calcium, phosphate, and hydroxide. Because it is the outermost covering of the tooth, it is commonly the first to decay. Enamel is somewhat translucent and as a result can come in a variety of colors from pale yellow to blue-white.

Answer: gingiva

Gingiva is the formal name for the gums, the soft tissue that lines the mouth. The gingiva provide a seal for the teeth in your mouth and are red-pink when healthy. It is prone to infections that can result in periodontitis or gingivitis. Anatomically, gingiva can be classified as attached, interdental, or marginal.

Answer: molar

Molars are the large, flat teeth at the back of the mouth that are used to grind food. Most molars have four cusps to help them in grinding. People get twelve molars in total, three on each side of the upper and lower jaw. The third molars are known as wisdom teeth as they erupt much later in life than the other teeth. They commonly become impacted, and are extracted as a result.

Answer: canine

Canines are sometimes called eye teeth because they lie directly below your eye sockets. They are used to grip at and tear into food. Because of this, canines are the longest and sharpest teeth, and have very long roots to stay embedded in the skull. People have four canine teeth total, one on each side of the upper and lower jaw.

Answer: cusp

Cusps are the pointed projections that are present mostly on the back teeth. Cusps create additional projections that help grip food during chewing. In most people, the canines have one cusp, the bicuspids have two cusps, and the molars have four cusps. There are variations: for example, many Native Americans have a fifth cusp on the side of their molars known as the buccal cusp.

Answer: dentin

Dentin is the middle, somewhat yellow portion of a tooth and makes up the largest portion of it. It is harder than bone, but similar to it in structure, and consists of a porous matrix crossed by blood vessels. Dentin is softer than enamel and thus more elastic; in turn, it decays faster. Dentin can be classified as primary, secondary, or tertiary, depending on when it is formed.

Answer: bicuspid

Bicuspids are like smaller versions of molars. They are transition teeth located between the canines and the molars, and are functionally a cross between molars and canines. Most bicuspids have two cusps, hence the name. In people whose teeth are severely crowded, bicuspids are often the ones removed to make more room for straightening.

Answer: pulp

The pulp is the innermost part of the tooth. It helps to form the dentin layer when a tooth is being formed, and is the structure with the greatest proportion of living matter in a tooth. It supplies nutrients to the other living parts of the tooth, and is commonly the cause of pain that is felt due to changes in temperature or pressure.