Understanding the Permanent Dentition: Types and Count

The permanent dentition, also called the second dentition, consists of 32 teeth. These include:

- 8 Incisors (4 upper, 4 lower): The front teeth that are used for cutting and biting.

- 4 Canines (2 upper, 2 lower): The pointed teeth located on either side of the incisors.

- 8 Premolars (4 upper, 4 lower): The teeth located between the canines and molars. They are also known as bicuspids.

- 12 Molars (6 upper, 6 lower): The large back teeth that are used for grinding and chewing food.

- 4 Wisdom teeth (3rd molars): These are the last teeth to erupt, usually in the late teens or early twenties. Wisdom teeth are not always present and can be impacted, which means they do not fully emerge from the gums.