These teeth are found in many kinds of mammals. Many of these species have especially high-crowned teeth, that is, teeth that extend unusually far above the gumline, providing lots of extra material for wear. These teeth are called hypsodont . The teeth of cows and deer are hypsodont. The opposite condition, low-crowned teeth, is termed brachydont .
Human teeth are brachydont.
Herbivores must efficiently and thoroughly grind their food, which is many cases is hard and abrasive. The addition of hard enamel ridges to the teeth improves their grinding action. These teeth are often either lophodont or selenodont . Lophodont teeth have elongated ridges called lophs that run between cusps. Lophs may be oriented antero-posteriorally, or they run between labial and lingual parts of the tooth.