As a dedicated orthodontist in Los Angeles, Dr. David Alpan specializes in an interesting aspect of your teeth—their orientation, position, and contribution to your bite’s balance. Aside from remaining clean and disease-free, healthy teeth also have to be aligned properly to displace your bite’s pressure. However, maintaining your smile’s harmony is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to your teeth’s abilities. Today, we explore a few interesting facts that you may not know about your teeth, and what makes them such a formidable part of your anatomy.

Did You Know?

• Your tooth is comprised of three layers; enamel (on the outside), dentin (the main structure), and pulp (inner chamber that houses the nerves and blood vessels). The enamel that protects your teeth is the strongest substance that your body produces.
• Teeth are often confused with the same substance as your bone. Though crafted from the same minerals (such as calcium and phosphate), the proteins that form tooth enamel stretch them thousands of times longer, making it extremely more resilient than those of your bones.
• To remain strong, your teeth require a steady supply of its core minerals. Since your body doesn’t produce calcium naturally, you have to consume it through your diet, such as through dairy products, most meats, or nutritional supplements.
• Why are dental problems so troublesome if your teeth are so strong? Largely because of your teeth’s inability to repair or regrow its own structure when damaged or diseased, since they don’t contain the regenerative cells that most of your other body tissues contain.
• The strength and resilience of your tooth enamel has impressed scientists so much that experts believe its composition can hold the key to better technology in the future. Professor Herzl Chai, a researcher at Tel Aviv University, has spent years analyzing tooth enamel’s ability to effectively absorb and disperse intense amounts of stress without damage to its structure. He and other aerospace engineers believe that this ability can help propel aircraft and spacecraft designs of the future.

Take Good Care of Your Teeth with Help from Your L.A. Orthodontist

To learn how to care for your teeth properly and uphold their amazing abilities, schedule an appointment with your Dr. David Alpan by calling 213-513-7559 today for a free initial consultation. Alpan Orthodontics follows a long family tradition of enhancing your family’s smiles. For your convenience, we also have an offices in Los Angeles, and Century City. We proudly serve patients across all surrounding communities.