ANATOMY of a tooth.

TALK ABOUT MULTITASKING! Teeth tear and grind food so that it can be digested; they provide shape to the mouth and assist in verbal communications. These hard structures are not visible or functional at birth. During the first three years, however, they painfully erupt through the gums and form two sets of ten evenly spaced teeth on the top and bottom of the mouth. Eventually, these baby, or primary teeth, are displaced by 32 permanent teeth of different shapes and functions. Teeth are the hardest substances in the body, but they are still susceptible to trauma and disease. In fact, teeth are made up of various parts, any one of which can be the source of a dental problem. Anyone who has had root canal surgery can attest to the fact that because of the anatomical location of the nerve root, this procedure is a lot different than a mere surface cavity repair. Dental trauma and personal injury claims are no strangers. Lawsuits have been advanced by people who have either fractured or loosened their teeth during an accident. Moreover, those who have bitten down on a foreign object while eating have also advanced litigation. Dentists have been sued for breaking a needle in a patient’s gum or for causing a nerve injury during the administration of anesthesia. Even Coca-Cola has been sued on the basis that its soft drink caused the plaintiff’s teeth to decay. By having a basic understanding of the anatomy and function of teeth, practitioners will have an easier time in presenting or defending a dental injury claim. This chapter provides an anatomical overview of this important body structure and highlights some of the dental issues that have arisen in a litigation context.