Teeth Names: Diagram, Types, And Functions - Medical News Today
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Medically reviewed by Olivia Sugimoto, D.M.D. — Written by Beth Sissons — Updated on June 3, 2025- Types of teeth
- Number of teeth
- Keeping teeth healthy
- Summary
Teeth are called incisors, canines, premolars, and molars. Each type of tooth has a specific function, including biting, chewing, and grinding food.
Teeth are made up of different layers — enamel, dentin, pulp, and cementum. Enamel, which is the hardest substance in the body, is on the outside of the tooth. The second layer is dentin, which is softer than enamel. The deepest layer inside the tooth is pulp, which consists of nerves and blood vessels. Cementum covers the root of the tooth, beneath the gums.
The number and types of teeth a person has change as they age. Typically, people have two sets of teeth during their lives—primary, or baby teeth, and permanent, or adult teeth. This article looks at types of teeth and their functions.
Types of teeth
Humans have the following types of teeth:
Share on PinterestIncisors
Incisors are the sharp teeth at the front of the mouth that bite into food and cut it into smaller pieces. They are flat with a thin edge. They are also called anterior teeth.
Children and adults have eight incisors — four central incisors at the front of the mouth, two on each row, with one lateral incisor positioned on either side of them.
Canines
Canines are the sharp, pointed teeth that sit next to the incisors and look like fangs. Dentists also call them cuspids or eyeteeth. Canines are the longest teeth, and people use them to tear food.
Both children and adults have four canines. Children usually get their first permanent canines between the ages of 9 and 12. The lower canines tend to come through slightly before those in the upper jaw.
Premolars
Premolars, or bicuspids, are bigger than the incisors and canines. They have many ridges that help chew and grind up food. Adults have eight premolars. The first and second premolars are the molars that sit next to the canines.
Young children do not have premolar teeth. These first appear as permanent teeth when children are 10 to 12 years old.
Molars
Molars are the biggest of all the teeth. They have a large, flat surface with ridges that allow them to chew food and grind it up. Adults have 12 permanent molars — six on the bottom and top jaw, and children have eight primary molars.
The last molars to erupt are wisdom teeth, or third molars, which usually come through between the ages of 17 and 21. These sit at the end of the row of teeth, in the far corners of the jaw. Some people do not have all four wisdom teeth, or the teeth may stay unerupted in the bone and never appear in the mouth.
Sometimes, wisdom teeth become impacted, which means they become trapped under the gum and are unable to come through properly.
Wisdom teeth that only come through halfway or are in the wrong position can increase the risk of infection or damage in the surrounding areas. It is essential to see a dentist if people have any issues with their wisdom teeth.
People may experience mild discomfort when their wisdom teeth start pushing through the gums, but anyone feeling a lot of pain or who has swelling should see a dentist.
A dentist may need to remove wisdom teeth if a person has tooth decay, pain, or an infection. People do not need these teeth for chewing, and they are difficult to keep clean because of their position far back in the mouth.
How many teeth do we have?
Children have 20 primary, or baby, teeth. Primary teeth first start to appear when babies are around 6 months old. Children usually have all their primary teeth by the age of 3.
These teeth gradually fall out, and 28 permanent teeth replace them. Sometimes, permanent teeth push the baby teeth out, but typically, permanent teeth come through the gums at the back of the mouth behind the last baby tooth in the jaw.
The first permanent teeth to erupt through the gums are four first, or ‘6-year’ molars, so-called because they usually come through when a child is about 6 years old.
The first baby teeth to fall out are the lower central incisors. The adult central incisors tend to erupt around the same time as the first permanent molars around age 6 to 7 years.
Usually, people have lost all of their baby teeth by around the age of 13 years.
The following table shows the different types of primary teeth and the usual ages children gain and lose them, according to the American Dental Association:
| Type of teeth | Age teeth come through | Age teeth are lost |
|---|---|---|
| Upper jaw | Upper jaw | Upper jaw |
| Central incisor | 8 to 12 months | 6 to 7 years |
| Lateral incisor | 9 to 13 months | 7 to 8 years |
| Canine | 16 to 22 months | 10 to 12 years |
| First molar | 13 to 19 months | 9 to 11 years |
| Second molar | 25 to 33 months | 10 to 12 years |
| Lower jaw | Lower jaw | Lower jaw |
| Second molar | 23 to 31 months | 10 to 12 years |
| First molar | 14 to 18 months | 9 to 11 years |
| Canine | 17 to 23 months | 9 to 12 years |
| Lateral incisor | 10 to 16 months | 7 to 8 years |
| Central incisor | 6 to 10 months | 6 to 7 years |
Most people also get four wisdom teeth in their late teens to early twenties, giving adults a total of 32 teeth, usually by the age of 21.
The following table shows the different types of permanent teeth and the usual ages they come through, according to the American Dental Association:
| Type of tooth | Typical age of tooth eruption |
|---|---|
| Canine | 11 to 12 years |
| First premolar | 10 to 11 years |
| Second premolar | 10 to 12 years |
| First molar | 6 to 7 years |
| Second molar | 12 to 13 years |
| Third molar or wisdom teeth | 17 to 21 years |
| Lower jaw | Lower jaw |
| Third molar or wisdom teeth | 17 to 21 years |
| Second molar | 11 to 13 years |
| First molar | 6 to 7 years |
| Second premolar | 11 to 12 years |
| First premolar | 10 to 12 years |
| Canine | 9 to 10 years |
| Lateral incisor | 7 to 8 years |
| Central incisor | 6 to 7 years |
The age at which teeth erupt or appear varies from child to child, so parents or caregivers need not be concerned if their child’s teeth do not exactly follow the patterns above. If the child experiences a delay of longer than 1 year, check with the child’s dentist. Dentists can take X-rays to make sure the adult teeth are present and developing properly.
Tips for keeping teeth healthy
People can keep their teeth and mouth clean with the following daily practices:
- brushing the teeth twice per day
- using a fluoride toothpaste
- flossing at least once per day
- eating a balanced diet
- avoiding excess sugar in food and drinks
Summary
Human teeth include incisors, canines, premolars, and molars. Children usually get all 20 primary teeth by around the age of 3. By around the age of 21, most people get their wisdom teeth and have all 32 permanent teeth.
Teeth are essential for chewing food properly and helping people to speak. Taking good care of all the teeth and maintaining good oral hygiene throughout a person’s life can help to keep teeth strong and healthy.
Visiting the dentist regularly for cleaning and a checkup can ensure teeth remain healthy and allow prompt treatment for any problems.
- Dentistry
- Nutrition / Diet
How we reviewed this article:
SourcesMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.- Adult dentition. (n.d.).https://www.smilesforlifeoralhealth.org/topic/adult-dentition/
- Eruption charts. (n.d.).https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/e/eruption-charts
- Primary dentition. (n.d.).https://www.smilesforlifeoralhealth.org/topic/primary-dentition/
- Taking care of your teeth and mouth. (2024).https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/taking-care-your-teeth-and-mouth
- Zimmerman B, et al. (2023). Physiology, tooth.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538475/
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Medically reviewed by Olivia Sugimoto, D.M.D. — Written by Beth Sissons — Updated on June 3, 2025Latest news
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