05/22/2021
What are the types of teeth?
Your teeth are one of the strongest parts of your body. They’re made from proteins such as collagen, and minerals such as calcium. In addition to helping you chew through even the toughest foods, they also help you speak clearly.
Most adults have 32 teeth, called permanent or secondary teeth:
8 incisors
4 canines, also called cuspids
8 premolars, also called bicuspids
12 molars, including 4 wisdom teeth
Children have just 20 teeth, called primary, temporary, or milk teeth. They include the same 10 teeth in the upper and lower jaw:
4 incisors
2 canines
4 molars
Primary teeth start to erupt through the gums when a baby is about 6 months old. The lower incisors are usually the first primary teeth to come in. Most kids have all 20 of their primary teeth by age 3.
Children tend to lose their primary teeth between the ages of 6 and 12. They’re then replaced by permanent teeth. Molars are usually the first permanent teeth to come in. Most people have all of their permanent teeth in place by age 21.
