What Would You Give Your Eyeteeth For?

Have you ever heard someone say “I would give my eye teeth for that”? The phrase suggests that your eye teeth are valuable and that giving them up would cause you hardship. Eye teeth are also called canine teeth. They seem to have gotten the name eye teeth because they are usually located below the eyes. They probably got the name canine teeth because they have a pointed biting surface that can be used for tearing food and because they resemble a dog’s tooth.

Canine teeth are really quite valuable. They are usually the longest rooted tooth in your mouth, and because of that, they are often the last teeth that a person loses if they lose teeth. The long root also makes them a good candidate for anchoring partials or bridges that replace your missing teeth. This is especially true for your lower arch, where your tongue can cause you problems with keeping a removable appliance in your mouth. The presence of even just the two eye teeth can make a big difference in keeping your lower appliance from moving around while you eat or talk.  (Dental implants are often put in the position of this tooth to help hold a lower denture in place—that’s how valuable this part of your mouth is!)

If you agree that you’d give your eye teeth to obtain your best dental health, we invite you to join Dr. Robb’s practice as a new patient.

*Note: The information in this article is not intended to replace the clinical judgement of your healthcare professionals.

Dr. Jennifer Robb is a general dentist with an office at 1612 Cooper Foster Park Rd., Lorain, OH 44053. You can reserve your seat by calling 440-960-1940. Dr. Robb can also be reached by way of the contact form on her website at www.drjrobb.com or find her on facebook at www.facebook.com/DrJenniferRobb