The main teeth names are incisors, canines, premolars, and molars. Adults typically have 32 permanent teeth, and each type has a different shape, location, and job—from cutting and tearing food to crushing and grinding it.
If you’ve ever looked at a dental chart and wondered what terms such as cuspids, bicuspids, third molars, #8, or #19 actually mean, this guide makes it simple. Drawing on standard dental anatomy and U.S. tooth-numbering terminology, we’ll identify each tooth, explain what it does, show how many you normally have, and connect common dental names with the terminology your dentist may use.
Types of Teeth Names
There are four primary types of permanent teeth: incisors, canines, premolars, and molars. Their different shapes are not accidental. Each tooth is structurally adapted to a particular part of the chewing process, creating a coordinated system for biting, tearing, crushing, and grinding food.
A typical adult has 8 incisors, 4 canines, 8 premolars, and 12 molars, for a total of 32 permanent teeth when all third molars are present. Children normally have 20 primary teeth, which include incisors, canines, and molars but no premolars.
| Tooth type | Number in adults | Where they are | Main function | Common alternate name |
| Incisors | 8 | Front of the mouth | Cut and bite | — |
| Canines | 4 | Beside incisors | Tear and grip | Cuspids, eyeteeth |
| Premolars | 8 | Between canines and molars | Crush and chew | Bicuspids |
| Molars | 12 | Back of the mouth | Grind and crush | Third molars = wisdom teeth |
Quick memory trick: Incisors cut, canines tear, premolars crush, and molars grind.
Incisors — The Front Teeth
Incisors are the eight front teeth in a complete adult dentition. Four are located in the upper jaw and four in the lower jaw. Their relatively thin, sharp biting edges are designed to cut through food before it moves toward the back teeth.
There are two types: central incisors and lateral incisors. Central incisors sit closest to the middle of the mouth, while lateral incisors are immediately beside them. Because incisors are highly visible, they also play an important role in a person’s smile and in forming certain speech sounds.
Central Incisors
The two upper central incisors are the prominent front teeth that usually attract the most attention when someone smiles. Their broad crowns and relatively straight incisal edges make them particularly effective for biting into foods such as apples, sandwiches, and vegetables.
Lateral Incisors
Lateral incisors sit directly beside the central incisors. They are generally narrower than the central incisors and help complete the transition from the front cutting teeth toward the pointed canines.
Canines — Cuspids or Eyeteeth
Canines are the four pointed teeth located between the incisors and premolars. There is one canine in each quadrant of the mouth. Their pointed crowns and long roots make them well suited to gripping and tearing food.
You may hear canines called cuspids or eyeteeth. The latter name comes from their position beneath the eyes in the facial region. Canines also help maintain the shape of the dental arch and can guide certain jaw movements during chewing.
Unlike incisors, which have relatively straight cutting edges, canines have a pronounced cusp. That distinctive shape makes them among the easiest teeth to identify when looking at a dental diagram.
Premolars — Bicuspids
Premolars are the eight permanent teeth positioned between the canines and molars. Adults normally have two premolars in each quadrant: a first premolar and a second premolar. Their wider chewing surfaces allow them to perform an intermediate role between tearing and grinding.
Premolars are sometimes called bicuspids, although the number and shape of cusps can vary among individual teeth. One important difference between primary and permanent dentition is that children do not have primary premolars. Permanent premolars replace the primary molars as the mouth develops.
First Premolars
The first premolars sit immediately behind the canines. Their position and shape allow them to participate in both tearing and crushing, making them an important transition between the pointed canine and broad molar.
Second Premolars
The second premolars sit directly in front of the first molars. They generally have broader occlusal surfaces than the canines and contribute significantly to crushing food during chewing.
Molars — The Main Grinding Teeth
Molars are the large teeth at the back of the mouth and are primarily responsible for crushing and grinding food. Their broad crowns contain multiple cusps and provide substantial chewing surfaces.
A complete adult dentition contains 12 molars: four first molars, four second molars, and up to four third molars. The third molars are commonly called wisdom teeth.
First and second molars are important working teeth because they handle considerable chewing forces. Third molars are different: some people never develop them, some have them removed, and others retain them without problems.
First Molars
The first permanent molars are sometimes called the six-year molars because they commonly erupt around age six. They do not replace baby teeth; instead, they emerge behind the primary molars.
Second Molars
Second molars generally erupt later than first molars and continue the grinding function farther toward the back of the dental arch.
Third Molars
Third molars are the teeth farthest toward the back of each dental arch. They are better known as wisdom teeth and commonly appear during the late teenage years or early adulthood.
Not everyone develops four wisdom teeth. When there is insufficient space for a third molar to emerge normally, it may become impacted, potentially requiring evaluation by a dentist or oral surgeon.
How Many Teeth Do We Have? — Teeth Names by Number
A full set of adult teeth contains 32 permanent teeth, including four third molars. The total is divided evenly between the upper and lower jaws: 16 teeth in the maxillary arch and 16 in the mandibular arch.
Children normally have 20 primary teeth. Their primary dentition contains eight incisors, four canines, and eight molars. As the jaws develop, these primary teeth are gradually replaced by permanent teeth, with permanent premolars taking the place of the primary molars.
| Dentition | Incisors | Canines | Premolars | Molars | Total |
| Primary teeth | 8 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 20 |
| Permanent teeth | 8 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 32 |
Why might an adult have fewer than 32 teeth? A person may have fewer because wisdom teeth were never formed, remain unerupted, or were removed. Tooth loss from decay, gum disease, trauma, or other dental conditions can also reduce the number of teeth present.
Teeth Names and Numbering
Knowing the name of a tooth is only part of dental identification. Dentists also use tooth-numbering systems to identify an exact tooth in dental records, treatment plans, X-rays, and insurance documentation.
In the United States, the Universal Numbering System is commonly used for permanent teeth. The numbering starts with the upper-right third molar as #1, moves across the upper teeth to #16, then continues around the lower arch from #17 through #32.
U.S. Universal Tooth Numbering Chart
| Number | Tooth |
| #1 | Upper-right third molar |
| #2 | Upper-right second molar |
| #3 | Upper-right first molar |
| #4 | Upper-right second premolar |
| #5 | Upper-right first premolar |
| #6 | Upper-right canine |
| #7 | Upper-right lateral incisor |
| #8 | Upper-right central incisor |
| #9 | Upper-left central incisor |
| #10 | Upper-left lateral incisor |
| #11 | Upper-left canine |
| #12 | Upper-left first premolar |
| #13 | Upper-left second premolar |
| #14 | Upper-left first molar |
| #15 | Upper-left second molar |
| #16 | Upper-left third molar |
| #17 | Lower-left third molar |
| #18 | Lower-left second molar |
| #19 | Lower-left first molar |
| #20 | Lower-left second premolar |
| #21 | Lower-left first premolar |
| #22 | Lower-left canine |
| #23 | Lower-left lateral incisor |
| #24 | Lower-left central incisor |
| #25 | Lower-right central incisor |
| #26 | Lower-right lateral incisor |
| #27 | Lower-right canine |
| #28 | Lower-right first premolar |
| #29 | Lower-right second premolar |
| #30 | Lower-right first molar |
| #31 | Lower-right second molar |
| #32 | Lower-right third molar |
So if your dentist says “tooth #8,” they’re referring to the upper-right central incisor from the patient’s perspective in the Universal Numbering System. Tooth #19 is the lower-left first molar.
FDI and Palmer Tooth Numbering
The Universal system is particularly relevant in the United States, but it is not the only dental notation system. The FDI World Dental Federation system uses two digits to identify a tooth, while Palmer notation uses a quadrant symbol combined with a number.
This is why the same physical tooth can have different identifiers depending on the numbering system being used. Understanding the system is therefore essential when comparing U.S. dental records with international textbooks, research, or educational resources.
Teeth Anatomy and Teeth Names
The name of a tooth describes its type and position, while dental anatomy explains its physical structure. Every tooth has a crown and root, with specialized tissues that protect the inner structures and anchor the tooth within the jaw.
The visible crown is covered primarily by enamel, the highly mineralized outer layer. Beneath it is dentin, which surrounds the pulp. The root is covered by cementum and connects with supporting periodontal tissues that help hold the tooth in place.
| Tooth part | What it does |
| Crown | Visible portion above the gum line |
| Enamel | Protects the crown from wear and chemical attack |
| Dentin | Forms most of the tooth beneath enamel |
| Pulp | Contains nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue |
| Neck | Area where crown and root meet |
| Root | Anchors the tooth within the jaw |
| Cementum | Covers the tooth root |
| Periodontal ligament | Helps attach the tooth to surrounding bone |
The relationship between shape and function explains why tooth types look different. Incisors have cutting edges, canines have pointed cusps, premolars have broader chewing surfaces, and molars have large, multi-cusped crowns built for grinding.
Why Knowing Teeth Names Matters
Learning the names of your teeth isn’t just useful for memorizing a dental diagram. It can make conversations with your dentist much easier. When a dental professional refers to a canine, premolar, molar, or a number such as #30, you can understand exactly which region they’re discussing.
It is also useful when reading dental X-rays, treatment plans, educational materials, or insurance documents. Knowing the difference between primary and permanent teeth, for example, immediately clarifies why a child’s dental chart looks different from an adult’s.
A simple way to remember the entire system is:
Front → back:
Incisors → Canines → Premolars → Molars
Function:
Cut → Tear → Crush → Grind
That sequence turns a complicated-looking dental chart into a pattern that’s surprisingly easy to remember.
FAQ: Teeth Names
What are the 4 types of teeth?
The four main types of permanent teeth are incisors, canines, premolars, and molars. Incisors cut food, canines tear it, premolars crush it, and molars primarily grind it.
What are the names of all 32 teeth?
A complete adult dentition contains 8 incisors, 4 canines, 8 premolars, and 12 molars. The 12 molars include four first molars, four second molars, and four third molars, commonly called wisdom teeth.
What are the front teeth called?
The front teeth are called incisors. Adults normally have four upper and four lower incisors. The central incisors are closest to the midline, while the lateral incisors sit immediately beside them.
What are the back teeth called?
The back teeth include premolars and molars. Premolars are positioned behind the canines, while molars occupy the back of the mouth and provide broad surfaces for crushing and grinding food.
What are canine teeth also called?
Canines are also known as cuspids and are sometimes called eyeteeth. They are the pointed teeth located between the incisors and premolars.
What are premolars also called?
Premolars are commonly called bicuspids, although the term does not perfectly describe every premolar’s cusp configuration. Adults normally have eight premolars, two in each quadrant.
Are wisdom teeth molars?
Yes. Wisdom teeth are third molars, meaning they are the third and final molars in each quadrant. A complete adult dentition can have four wisdom teeth, although many people have fewer.
How many teeth do children have?
Children normally have 20 primary teeth. These consist of eight incisors, four canines, and eight molars. Primary teeth do not include premolars.
What is tooth #8?
In the U.S. Universal Numbering System, tooth #8 is the upper-right central incisor. It is one of the two central incisors in the upper jaw.
What is tooth #19?
Tooth #19 is the lower-left first molar in the U.S. Universal Numbering System. It is one of the large permanent molars responsible for grinding food.
What are the teeth numbers in the U.S.?
The Universal Numbering System labels permanent teeth #1 through #32. It begins with the upper-right third molar, moves across the upper arch, then continues around the lower arch to the lower-right third molar.
What is the difference between baby teeth and adult teeth?
Primary or baby teeth number 20, while a complete permanent dentition contains 32 teeth. Primary dentition has no premolars; permanent premolars eventually replace the primary molars.
