Incisors: The Front Cutting Teeth

Incisors are the eight chisel‑shaped anterior teeth (four maxillary, four mandibular). Their flat, sharp incisal edges are designed for:

• Biting/incising food (fruits, vegetables, meat).
• Initial food breakdown before molar grinding.
• Phonetics (e.g., /θ/, /ð/, /f/, /v/ require incisor contact).
• Esthetics and lip support.

Primary incisors erupt ~6–12 months; permanent successors erupt ~6–8 years. Trauma to upper centrals is common in children.