Incisors

The incisors are the four frontmost teeth. They are flat-edged, designed by evolution to cut or shear plant-based foods. This is why incisors are larger in herbivores like rabbits and smaller in carnivores like dogs, where the canines are more prominent.

As humans, our mix of plant-based and meat-based diets has led to prominent incisors that help us bite food into smaller pieces to be chewed by the molars. There are two types of incisors: central and lateral.

Central incisors are the four teeth in the front, two on the top and two on the bottom. The lateral incisors are the four teeth on either side of the central incisors. Due to the prominence of these teeth, issues with incisors negatively impact the patient’s bite. Crooked incisors can result in an overbite, underbite, edge bite, or crossbite.

Braces are the frontline treatment for crooked incisors. As with any teeth, brushing twice and flossing once a day can prevent tooth decay and gum disease in the incisors.