Most adults have 32 teeth, including wisdom teeth. Of these, 16 are in the upper jaw and 16 are in the lower jaw. These include incisors, canines, premolars, molars, and wisdom teeth. If all four wisdom teeth are removed, an adult will have 28 teeth.
You may have fewer than 32 teeth, depending on whether all of your teeth have erupted or if you have had them extracted or lost. Babies and children have fewer teeth than adults. They may also have more than 32 teeth.
In this article, we will discuss the number of permanent teeth in the upper and lower jawbones, whether there are more or fewer than normal numbers, etc.
Illustration by Zoe Hansen for Verywell Health
Number of adult maxillary teeth
Most people have the same number of teeth in their upper and lower jaw. The upper jaw has 16 teeth.
These 16 teeth include the incisors, canines, premolars, and molars.
- 4 front teeth: Front teeth help hold and cut food. It also helps you feel the texture of food.
- 2 canines: These pointed teeth, also called canines, help them grasp and tear food.
- 4 premolars: Premolars are also called molars because they look like molars and have two cusps (points). They are located between the canines and molars and help cut and tear food.
- 6 molars—3 on each side of the upper jaw: The molars have wisdom teeth, so if the wisdom teeth are extracted or do not come out at all, only 4 molars remain. Most chewing takes place on the molars. Molars grind food well.
Number of lower teeth in adults
Like the upper jaw, the lower jaw also has 16 teeth, including four incisors, two canines, four premolars, and two to three molars.
Wisdom teeth are the last teeth to emerge. Wisdom teeth are located at the very back of the mouth, and there are two in each jaw. These symptoms may appear as early as the teenage years or as late as the early 20s. Wisdom teeth are often removed.
Wisdom teeth can grow in normally and do not cause pain or problems, but more often than not, they are impacted rather than fully erupted, meaning they do not break through the gums. This can lead to infection or other oral health problems, so dentists recommend having the tooth extracted.
Not everyone has wisdom teeth. About 25% of people worldwide do not have wisdom teeth. This is considered an anatomical deformity rather than pathological (disease-related).
Adult Human Teeth: Number, Location, Description, and Function | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
incisor | canine | premolar | molar | |
number | eight | 4 pieces | eight | 8 (12 including Jihye) |
Location in the mouth | front | On both sides of the wisdom teeth | behind the fangs | At the back |
explanation | chisel shape | Slightly more pointed than front teeth | Pointed and ridged | The largest and flattest surface and ridges of all teeth |
function | Storing/Cutting Food | Grab/tear food | tearing or grinding food | chew/grind food |
Having fewer or more adult teeth
The number of permanent teeth may be more or less than 32.
According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, adults ages 20 to 64 have an average of 25.5 teeth left due to tooth loss. Additionally, about 2.2% of these adults have no remaining teeth. Causes of tooth loss include dental trauma or injury, gum disease, tooth decay, poor dental hygiene, lack of professional dental care, and smoking.
“hyperdontia” is the medical term for extra teeth, called supernumerary teeth. They can grow anywhere along the curve where the teeth attach to the jaw. Extra teeth may grow on one or both sides of the mouth. You may have one or several extra teeth.
Overbite usually does not require treatment, but your dentist may recommend removing the extra teeth if they interfere with your oral health.
If you have less than 32 teeth, hypodontiaThis refers to a condition where someone is born without teeth. In this case, teeth 1 to 6 never grow. This condition is inherited and can be passed from parents to children. Treatments include bridges, dentures, and dental implants.
Hypodontia This refers to a congenital condition in which six or more teeth are missing (at birth). The teeth most often lost are the premolars, front teeth, or third molars (wisdom teeth). Teeth may be small in size or narrow in shape.
In the case of oligodontia, primary teeth may remain in place while permanent teeth emerge. Treatment for oligodontia may include bone grafting, braces, bridges, partial dentures, dental implants, and tooth reshaping.
Children have fewer teeth
Children have only 20 teeth, called primary, temporary or deciduous teeth. They are located in each jaw, 10 in each jaw. This includes four incisors, two canines, and four molars.
Baby teeth begin to erupt through the gums when a baby is about 6 months old. The lower front teeth are the first to emerge, and most children have all 20 baby teeth by the age of 3.
Children lose their baby teeth between the ages of 6 and 12. Those teeth are replaced by permanent teeth, with the molars being the first permanent teeth to erupt.
Maintaining Healthy Adult Dental Health
Maintaining and maintaining your teeth requires lifelong care. The best way to avoid cavities and gum disease (the two main causes of tooth loss) is good oral hygiene and regular visits to your dentist.
Good hygiene includes:
- brushing teeth properlyThis involves using fluoride toothpaste for two minutes twice a day.
- Brushing your teeth before going to bed Removes bacteria and plaque that builds up on teeth throughout the day.
- Floss at least once a dayUse a special pick, floss stick, floss, or water floss
- Use of oral hygiene products at least once a day
- Consume less sugar Brushing your teeth after eating sweet foods
In addition to practicing good oral hygiene, visit your dentist at least twice a year for cleanings and exams (more often if your teeth need additional care) to keep your teeth healthy. Additionally, to prevent dental problems and tooth loss, it is recommended to avoid trauma or dental injuries and not smoke.
summary
You will have two full sets of teeth throughout your life. Teeth are essential for biting and grinding food.
A complete set includes 16 teeth in the lower jaw and 16 teeth in the upper jaw. Among them are 8 incisors, 4 canines, 8 premolars, and 8 or 12 molars.
Four of the molars are wisdom teeth, which can come in as early as your teens or as late as your early twenties. It is also possible for wisdom teeth to never develop at all, which is common and does not cause any problems.
Tooth loss and conditions that result in having more or fewer teeth can also result in a lack of teeth. Children tend to have fewer teeth than adults.
If you take good care of your teeth, they can last a lifetime. To keep your teeth in good condition and avoid tooth loss, brush and floss your teeth regularly and see your dentist every six months for a cleaning and checkup. It's also a good idea to protect your teeth from injury and not smoke.