Many people in Miami Lakes ask us if teeth are really bones, which shows they don’t know how teeth are made. People call teeth bones but teeth and bones are very different structures with different materials and functions. If patients know this difference they will know how to take care of their teeth for life.
Teeth and bones look the same because they are both hard and white parts of the body but they are made of very different things. Collagen, a protein that makes bones flexible and calcium phosphate minerals that make bones stronger are the main components of bones. Teeth are made of enamel, dentin and pulp. Enamel is the hardest part of the body. Teeth have less collagen than bones which makes them more fragile but less likely to rot.
Teeth have multiple layers that bones don’t have. The enamel on the outside protects the inside and makes teeth white. Dentin is the main part of the tooth and is under the enamel. It has microscopic tubes that can send signals. The pulp which has nerves and blood vessels that keep the tooth alive is in the middle. Bones on the other hand have a more even structure all the way through. They have a hard outer layer and a softer interior marrow.
The capacity for healing and regeneration is one of the biggest differences between teeth and bones. When bones break or crack they can heal themselves by rebuilding the injured tissue through natural processes. Patients who recover from broken arms, legs or other bone injuries show this amazing ability to repair. But teeth can’t grow back or mend themselves the same way. When tooth enamel is injured by decay or trauma it can’t grow back on its own.
The blood supply to teeth and bones is also very different. Blood flows through the whole structure of bones which helps them to repair and stay healthy. Teeth on the other hand only get blood through the little opening at the tip of the root. Because blood doesn’t flow well in teeth when the nerve inside a tooth dies the tooth becomes non living tissue that needs special care to keep working.
We emphasize these differences at Specialty Smiles to help our Miami Lakes patients understand why dental care has to be done in such a precise way. When problems arise with teeth they need immediate professional care, bones can often heal with rest and time. If you wait to treat dental problems they can get worse and can’t be fixed on their own.
The process of development also sets teeth apart from bones. Throughout our lives bones grow and change by breaking down old tissue and making new tissue. This process allows bones to adapt to stress and fix small damage all the time. Teeth on the other hand only grow once when we are a child or teenager and then stay pretty much the same for the rest of our lives. This basic difference is why preventive dental care is so important for long term oral health.
Calcium is important for both teeth and bones but it works differently in each one. When bones need calcium they can take it from the blood. When they don’t need it they can also give it back to the blood. Once teeth are fully developed they can’t participate in this calcium exchange. So getting enough calcium while your teeth are growing is important for making teeth that are strong and healthy and will last a lifetime.
Because teeth and bones are made of different things the ways to treat them are very different. When we use Types of Braces to move teeth into better positions we use light controlled forces that work with the bone and ligaments around the teeth. This is very different from orthopedic therapies which are meant to help bones recover and get back in their proper places.
Patients who know that teeth are not bones are more likely to understand how important it is to take care of their teeth and get regular professional care.