Yr 10 - Medical Science: Teeth

Incisors

• Chisel-like

• At the front

• Used for cutting

• Flat & sharp

Canines

• Pointed/sharp (eye teeth)

• Used for ripping / tearing

• Flesh from bones

Molars

• Flat, numerous

• At the back

• Used for crushing and grinding

Carnivores

Carnivores have large canines and sharp molars. They have sharp incisors at the

front of the mouth. Teeth are adapted to easily kill and consume prey. Meat does

not require much chewing before swallowing.

Herbivores

Herbivores have small canines due to their diet not containing meat. They have

large molars and a long, large jaw and diastema for breaking down plant

material, which requires a lot of chewing. Incisors at the front of the mouth are

sharp for cutting grass and leaves.

Omnivores

Omnivores have a balance of molars, incisors and canines due to the variation

in their diet. Teeth are unspecialised, which allows omnivores to efficiently

break down both meat and plant material.