The incisor (derived from the term incision, coming from the Latin The incision, incise) is a type of tooth, located in the oral cavity and used to cut food.

The human dentition has eight incisors distributed as follows:

• Two upper central incisors
• Two upper lateral incisors
• Two lower central incisors
• Two lower lateral incisors

They constitute the dental arches located in front of the maxilla and the mandible, corresponding respectively to the upper and lower jaws.

The incisors are the first visible teeth and have an important role in dental aesthetics. It is they who are at the forefront of the physical traumas of childhood.

The expression “happy teeth” is used to designate the distance between the two upper medial incisors. This distance is actually called a “diastema”.

The central and lower lateral incisors are often much the same.

Located in the oral cavity and at the angle of the dental arch, there are 4 canines, distributed as follows:

• two upper canines, located on either side of the upper incisors
• two lower canines, located on either side of the lower incisors.

Canines are sharp teeth with two sharp edges. Thanks to this and their pointed shape, canines are used to shred sturdier foods like meat. It is a different tooth from other teeth since the beginning of the mammalian line.

All carnivores have a strongly developed fang canine, but the ancestor common to all current families of carnivores, the Miacis, a small prehistoric mammal of 60 million years old, had 44 teeth and poorly developed canines.

These teeth are sometimes called the “teeth of the eye” because their very long roots reach up to the region of the eye. This is the reason why an infection in the upper canines can sometimes be transmitted to the orbital region.

The premolar (molar, from Latin molaris, derived from grindstone, meaning grinding wheel) is a type of tooth that is mainly used for grinding food.

The premolars are positioned between the canines, located at the front of the dental arch, and the molars, located at the rear. The human dentition has eight permanent premolars distributed as follows:

• four upper premolars, two of which are located on each upper half jaw.
• four lower premolars, two of which are located on each lower half jaw.

The premolars are teeth of slightly cubic appearance, forming a crown generally having two rounded tubercles.

The molar (from Latin molaris, derived from grindstone, meaning grinding wheel) is a type of tooth that is mainly used for grinding food.

Located in the oral cavity, the molars make up the most posterior teeth in the dental arch. The human dentition has 12 permanent molars distributed as follows:

• six upper molars, three of which are located on each upper half-jaw and follow the upper premolars.
• six lower molars, three of which are located on each lower half jaw and follow the lower premolars.

The third molars, called wisdom teeth, are often a source of problems and pain. In particular, they can cause infections or displacement of the teeth.

Here is the physiological eruption schedule for permanent teeth

Lower teeth

– First molars: 6 to 7 years

– Central incisors: 6 to 7 years

– Lateral incisors: 7 to 8 years

– Canines: 9 to 10 years old.

– First premolars: 10 to 12 years.

– Second premolars: 11 to 12 years old.

– Second molars: 11 to 13 years old.

– Third molars (wisdom teeth): 17 to 23 years old.

Upper teeth

– First molars: 6 to 7 years

– Central incisors: 7 to 8 years

– Lateral incisors: 8 to 9 years

– First premolars: 10 to 12 years.

– Second premolars: 10 to 12 years old.

– Canines: 11 to 12 years old.

– Second molars: 12 to 13 years old.

– Third molars (wisdom teeth): 17 to 23 years old.