What Are the Back Teeth You Chew With?

Adults have four different types of teeth: incisors, canines, premolars and molars. The shape of teeth reflects the function. The eight incisors located in the front of the mouth are slightly pointed to help you cut and bite into food. Because the four canine teeth are extremely pointed, they help tear food. The eight premolars, or bicuspids, have flatter surfaces to help crush food. Finally, the eight or 12 molars in the very back of your mouth have large, flat chewing surfaces.

Characteristics of Molars

• In general, molars are short teeth with four or more slightly raised points called cusps. These cusps help you grind food so that you can swallow it. Each of the molars has multiple roots to anchor the tooth to the jaw. The upper molars have three roots while the lower molars have only two roots each.

First Molars

• First molars are also called 6-year molars because they appear at about 6 years of age. There are four first molars, located directly behind the second premolars. Each of the first molars has five cusps.

Second Molars

• At about 12 years of age, your four second molars appear. These teeth, located directly behind the first molars, have four cusps each.

Third Molars

• Commonly referred to as wisdom teeth, third molars erupt between the ages of 17 and 25. Because these teeth appear so late, there is often not enough space in the mouth to accommodate them. When there is not enough space, the wisdom teeth can become impacted and prone to infection. Many adults, therefore, have their wisdom teeth removed.