Both are hard on the outside, have slightly softer parts inside, and are the same colors. But do teeth count as bones?
The answer to this question in its simplest form: No.
The more we learn about the structure of teeth and where they come from, the more magical these parts of us may seem. Although they share many characteristics with bones, teeth are not considered bones and there are a few key differences between the two.
Teeth, why are they not considered bones?
First, the surfaces of your bones are mostly collagen, while teeth have an enamel shell made of hydroxyapatite, a mineral form of calcium phosphate. Impressively, this enamel is harder than bone or even steel, but much more brittle. So you’re unlikely to scratch it, but you can crack it easily. Also, unlike bones, enamel cannot repair itself.
Another difference is that under the outer layer of bone there is a layer of spongy bone, while teeth have dentin under the enamel shell. Although dentin is similar to bone in terms of strength, unlike bone, it cannot be regenerated and can only repair damage.
This is where dentists come into play. Dentin is filled with microscopic channels containing fluid and nerve endings that transmit the pain that occurs with the development of caries.
Tooth development in humans can be seen as a rehearsed activity due to the fact that we have sets of progenitor and permanent teeth. Teeth begin to develop before birth. Babies are born with their first teeth hidden under the gums, which begin to emerge in an average of one year.
From the age of six, children have both primary and permanent teeth, which can make them look very interesting on X-rays. However, since the eruption of adult teeth, any lost or broken teeth will not replace them, so these teeth are your last chance to have healthy teeth. Of course, as in many fields, scientists continue their efforts to produce new teeth in this field.
Bone, on the other hand, will grow and regenerate throughout your life, so your childhood body plan doesn’t need to include telescopic leg bones that increase in length as you get older.
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