Human tooth
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Human teeth function to mechanically break down items of food by cutting and crushing them in preparation for swallowing and digesting. As such, they are considered part of the human digestive system.
Image showing incisors and canine teeth, situated in gums above and below
3D rendering showing the types of teeth
Radiograph of lower right third, second, and first molars in different stages of development
Bottom teeth of a seven-year-old, showing primary teeth (left), a lost primary tooth (middle), and a permanent tooth (right)
Alveolar process
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The alveolar process is the portion of bone containing the tooth sockets on the jaw bones. The alveolar process is covered by gums within the mouth, terminating roughly along the line of the mandibula
Alveolar region of the maxilla (white) and mandible (orange) cut away to the right
German illustration (c. 1910) depicting interior of jawbones, with nerves, veins, and arteries leading to teeth—and thus the alveolar area
This X-ray film reveals some bone loss on the right side of the mandible. The associated teeth exhibit poor crown-to-root ratios and may be subject to secondary occlusal trauma.
X-ray showing alveolar defect causing cleft lip and cleft palate