Incisor

The incisors (Latin dentes incisivi, shortened only incisors, singular incisor to incidere, cut ') are the teeth, which are used for biting food. They are relatively sharp and are at the front of the jaw.

Human incisors

In humans, two middle ( dental formula 11, 21, 31 and 41) and two lateral incisors are ( dental formula 12, 22, 32 and 42) in the upper and lower jaw. The incisors are the canines along with the " front teeth ".

Other Mammals

In various mammals the incisors have undergone changes in the course of evolution. Thus, the upper incisors of elephants form the tusks of animals. The incisors of rodents are incisors. Ruminants have no incisors in the upper jaw, as an abutment for the incisors of the lower jaw serves the dental plate.

Almost all carnivore species each have six small incisors in the upper and lower jaws. The few exceptions are the sloth bear, which has only two incisors in the upper jaw of each half to soak through the resulting gap insects, and the sea otter, which carries only four incisors in the lower jaw.