Final answer:
Humans have two sets of teeth: deciduous (baby) teeth and permanent teeth. The permanent teeth include eight incisors, four cuspids (canines), eight premolars (bicuspids), and twelve molars, which are used for biting, tearing, mashing, and crushing food, respectively.
Step-by-step explanation:
Types and Functions of Human Teeth
Humans have two sets of teeth in their lifetime: the deciduous teeth and the permanent teeth. The first set, known as baby teeth, comprises 20 teeth that typically begin to emerge around 6 months of age. These are eventually replaced by a full set of 32 permanent teeth between the ages of approximately 6 and 12 years. The teeth are arranged as follows:
- The eight incisors, with four on the top and four on the bottom, are used for biting into different kinds of foods.
- The four cuspids (or canines) are situated next to the incisors and are used to tear food.
- The eight premolars (or bicuspids), beside the cuspids, have a flatter shape for mashing foods.
- The twelve molars, including the wisdom teeth, are at the most posterior part and are used for crushing food, facilitating swallowing.
Each type of tooth has a unique shape and function that contributes to the overall process of mastication, or chewing. Understanding the different types of teeth can help with identifying them and realizing the importance of each in the digestion process.