Root
Also: tooth root, basal portion
The thick, often U- or V-shaped base of a shark tooth that anchored it in the jaw. It is porous, takes mineral color readily, and its condition strongly affects a fossil tooth's grade and value.
The root is the heavy base of a shark tooth — the part that held it in the gum and jaw, rather than the cutting surface above. On a Megalodon tooth the root is broad and thick, often forming a wide U or shallow V, and it makes up a large share of the tooth's overall mass and display footprint.
Why collectors care about the root
Because the root is porous, it absorbs groundwater minerals during burial and frequently shows the richest patina on the whole specimen. It is also the part most often chipped, worn, or missing. Root completeness feeds directly into a tooth's slant height and its grade — a full, undamaged root commands a real premium.
Root and authenticity
Missing root corners are the single most common place to find restoration, so we disclose any rebuilt root material plainly. To see how root condition feeds into a grade, our guide on grading and valuing shark teeth lays out the full picture.