Shark teeth grow in rows behind the functional teeth, constantly replacing any teeth that are lost. Sharks essentially have a conveyor belt of teeth!
Here's a breakdown of the shark tooth growth process:
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Continuous Replacement: Unlike humans who have two sets of teeth in their lifetime, sharks continuously grow and shed teeth throughout their lives. This is because shark teeth aren't deeply rooted in their gums like ours.
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Rows of Teeth: Sharks have multiple rows of teeth embedded in their gums. The functional row (the one they use to bite) is at the front. Behind this are rows of replacement teeth waiting to move forward.
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Formation in the Jaw: New teeth develop within the jaw.
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Movement Forward: As a tooth in the front row is lost (which happens frequently due to the stresses of feeding), a tooth from the row behind it moves forward to take its place.
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Fast Turnover: Some sharks can lose and replace a tooth every week or two, resulting in the loss of thousands of teeth over their lifetime.
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Dermal Papilla: Each tooth develops from a dermal papilla, a small cluster of cells that produces the hard enamel and dentin.
In summary, shark teeth grow in a continuous, conveyor-belt fashion, with new teeth developing behind the functional row and constantly moving forward to replace lost or damaged teeth. This regenerative ability allows sharks to maintain an effective biting surface throughout their lives.
