Teeth Names Cheat Sheet Dentists Actually Use

Teeth names can feel confusing at first. But once you learn them, everything gets simple. Your mouth has different types of teeth. Each one has its own job to do. Some teeth cut food. Some teeth grind food. Others help you speak clearly. In this guide, you will learn every tooth name in easy words.

What Are Teeth Names? A Simple Breakdown

Teeth names describe every tooth in your mouth. Each name shows the tooth’s shape and job. Incisors sit in front. They cut your food. Canines are sharp. They tear food apart.

Premolars crush food into smaller bits. Molars sit at the back. They grind food fully. Adults have 32 teeth total. Kids have 20 teeth first. Knowing teeth names helps you understand your smile better.

All Teeth Names

Human teeth come in several types, and each one has a special shape and job. Some teeth help bite food, while others tear and grind it. Teeth names can also vary by their position in the mouth. The list below includes different tooth-related names and terms.

Name	Meaning	Origin
Incisor	A tooth used for cutting	Latin
Central Incisor	Front middle cutting tooth	Latin
Lateral Incisor	Incisor beside the central tooth	Latin
Canine	Pointed tooth used for tearing	Latin
Cusp	A pointed part of a tooth	Latin
Premolar	Tooth between canine and molar	Latin
First Premolar	First tooth in the premolar group	Latin
Second Premolar	Second tooth in the premolar group	Latin
Molar	Large tooth used for grinding	Latin
First Molar	First large grinding tooth	Latin
Second Molar	Second large grinding tooth	Latin
Third Molar	Last molar in the mouth	Latin
Wisdom Tooth	Final molar that appears later	English
Crown	Visible upper part of a tooth	Latin
Root	Part that holds the tooth in place	Old English
Enamel	Hard outer tooth covering	French
Dentin	Inner hard layer of a tooth	Latin
Pulp	Soft inner tissue of a tooth	Latin
Gum	Soft tissue around the teeth	Old English
Gingiva	Medical name for gums	Latin
Bite	The way upper and lower teeth meet	Old English
Jaw Tooth	A tooth positioned in the jaw	English
Front Tooth	A tooth at the front of the mouth	English
Back Tooth	A tooth at the back of the mouth	English
Permanent Tooth	Adult tooth that replaces a baby tooth	Latin
Primary Tooth	First set of teeth in children	Latin
Deciduous Tooth	Baby tooth that later falls out	Latin
Occlusal Surface	Chewing surface of a tooth	Latin
Cusp Tip	Pointed top of a tooth	Latin
Dental Arch	Curved arrangement of teeth	Latin

Human Teeth Names

Human teeth are designed to perform different jobs during eating and speaking. The front teeth mainly cut food, while pointed teeth help tear it. The back teeth crush and grind food into smaller pieces. Together, these teeth form a complete and useful dental structure.

Name	Meaning	Origin
Incisor	Cutting tooth	Latin
Central Incisor	Main front tooth	Latin
Lateral Incisor	Side front tooth	Latin
Canine	Pointed tearing tooth	Latin
Cuspid	Another name for a canine	Latin
First Premolar	First tooth behind the canine	Latin
Second Premolar	Second tooth behind the canine	Latin
First Molar	First large grinding tooth	Latin
Second Molar	Second grinding tooth	Latin
Third Molar	Last molar	Latin
Wisdom Tooth	Late-growing molar	English
Maxillary Tooth	Tooth in the upper jaw	Latin
Mandibular Tooth	Tooth in the lower jaw	Latin
Crown	Visible tooth portion	Latin
Root	Anchoring part of a tooth	Old English
Enamel	Protective outer layer	French
Dentin	Hard layer below enamel	Latin
Pulp	Inner living tissue	Latin
Cementum	Tissue covering the tooth root	Latin
Gingiva	Gum tissue	Latin
Alveolus	Socket holding a tooth	Latin
Bite	Contact between teeth	Old English
Occlusion	The way teeth meet	Latin
Dental Arch	Curved row of teeth	Latin
Tooth Socket	Space holding a tooth root	English
Chewing Tooth	Tooth used for grinding food	English
Cutting Tooth	Tooth used to slice food	English
Tearing Tooth	Tooth used to tear food	English
Permanent Tooth	Long-lasting adult tooth	Latin
Primary Tooth	First tooth of childhood	Latin

Different Teeth Names

Different teeth have different shapes based on the work they perform. Sharp teeth are useful for cutting and tearing food. Broad teeth help crush and grind harder foods. These names describe the main types and important parts of teeth.

Name	Meaning	Origin
Incisor	Sharp cutting tooth	Latin
Central Incisor	Middle front incisor	Latin
Lateral Incisor	Side incisor	Latin
Canine	Long pointed tooth	Latin
Cuspid	Pointed tooth with one cusp	Latin
Premolar	Tooth before the molar	Latin
Bicuspid	Tooth with two main cusps	Latin
First Premolar	First premolar tooth	Latin
Second Premolar	Second premolar tooth	Latin
Molar	Wide grinding tooth	Latin
First Molar	First major molar	Latin
Second Molar	Second major molar	Latin
Third Molar	Final molar tooth	Latin
Wisdom Tooth	Late-erupting molar	English
Deciduous Tooth	Temporary childhood tooth	Latin
Permanent Tooth	Adult replacement tooth	Latin
Primary Tooth	First natural tooth	Latin
Crown	Top visible section	Latin
Neck	Area between crown and root	English
Root	Lower anchoring section	Old English
Enamel	Strong outer coating	French
Dentin	Main inner tooth layer	Latin
Pulp	Soft central tissue	Latin
Cusp	Raised point on a tooth	Latin
Ridge	Raised line on a tooth	Old English
Groove	Small line between cusps	Old English
Fissure	Deep narrow tooth groove	Latin
Occlusal Surface	Top chewing area	Latin
Lingual Surface	Surface facing the tongue	Latin
Buccal Surface	Surface facing the cheek	Latin

Upper Teeth Names

Upper teeth are located in the upper jaw, also called the maxilla. They work together with the lower teeth during biting and chewing. The upper dental arch contains front and back teeth. Each tooth has a specific position and function.

Name	Meaning	Origin
Upper Central Incisor	Middle tooth in the upper front	Latin
Upper Lateral Incisor	Side front tooth in the upper jaw	Latin
Upper Canine	Pointed upper tearing tooth	Latin
Upper First Premolar	First upper premolar	Latin
Upper Second Premolar	Second upper premolar	Latin
Upper First Molar	First upper grinding tooth	Latin
Upper Second Molar	Second upper grinding tooth	Latin
Upper Third Molar	Final upper molar	Latin
Maxillary Incisor	Incisor in the upper jaw	Latin
Maxillary Canine	Canine in the upper jaw	Latin
Maxillary Premolar	Premolar in the upper jaw	Latin
Maxillary Molar	Molar in the upper jaw	Latin
Maxillary Central Tooth	Central upper front tooth	Latin
Upper Wisdom Tooth	Last upper molar	English
Upper Crown	Visible part of an upper tooth	Latin
Upper Root	Root of an upper tooth	English
Upper Dental Arch	Curved row of upper teeth	Latin
Upper Bite Tooth	Upper tooth involved in biting	English
Upper Front Tooth	Front tooth in the upper jaw	English
Upper Back Tooth	Back tooth in the upper jaw	English
Maxillary Cuspid	Another name for upper canine	Latin
Upper Bicuspid	Upper tooth with two cusps	Latin
Upper Chewing Tooth	Upper tooth used for chewing	English
Upper Grinding Tooth	Upper tooth used for grinding	English
Maxillary Crown	Crown of an upper jaw tooth	Latin
Maxillary Root	Root of an upper jaw tooth	Latin
Upper Primary Tooth	Baby tooth in the upper jaw	Latin
Upper Permanent Tooth	Adult tooth in the upper jaw	Latin
Upper Molar Crown	Crown of an upper molar	Latin
Upper Incisor Edge	Cutting edge of an upper incisor	Latin

Baby Teeth Names

Baby teeth are the first teeth that develop during childhood. They are also known as primary or deciduous teeth. These teeth help children eat, speak, and develop proper jaw structure. Most baby teeth are later replaced by permanent adult teeth.

Name	Meaning	Origin
Baby Tooth	A tooth that appears during childhood	English
Primary Tooth	First set of teeth	Latin
Deciduous Tooth	Temporary tooth that falls out	Latin
Milk Tooth	Common name for a baby tooth	English
Primary Incisor	Baby cutting tooth	Latin
Primary Central Incisor	Middle baby front tooth	Latin
Primary Lateral Incisor	Side baby front tooth	Latin
Primary Canine	Baby pointed tooth	Latin
Primary Cuspid	Another name for baby canine	Latin
Primary First Molar	First baby grinding tooth	Latin
Primary Second Molar	Second baby grinding tooth	Latin
Upper Baby Incisor	Baby incisor in the upper jaw	English
Lower Baby Incisor	Baby incisor in the lower jaw	English
Upper Baby Canine	Baby canine in the upper jaw	English
Lower Baby Canine	Baby canine in the lower jaw	English
Upper Baby Molar	Baby molar in the upper jaw	English
Lower Baby Molar	Baby molar in the lower jaw	English
Milk Incisor	Front milk tooth	English
Milk Canine	Pointed milk tooth	English
Milk Molar	Grinding milk tooth	English
Baby Crown	Visible part of a baby tooth	English
Baby Root	Root of a baby tooth	English
Primary Dental Arch	First curved row of teeth	Latin
Deciduous Incisor	Temporary cutting tooth	Latin
Deciduous Canine	Temporary pointed tooth	Latin
Deciduous Molar	Temporary grinding tooth	Latin
Eruption Tooth	Tooth emerging through the gums	Latin
Shedding Tooth	Tooth ready to fall out	English
Replacement Tooth	Adult tooth replacing a baby tooth	English
Mixed Dentition	Stage with baby and adult teeth	Latin

Bottom Teeth Names

Bottom teeth are located in the lower part of the mouth. They are attached to the lower jaw and support biting and chewing. These teeth meet the upper teeth to process food. Their names depend on their type and position.

Name	Meaning	Origin
Bottom Central Incisor	Middle front tooth in the lower jaw	English
Bottom Lateral Incisor	Side front tooth in the lower jaw	English
Bottom Canine	Pointed lower tooth	English
Bottom First Premolar	First lower premolar	English
Bottom Second Premolar	Second lower premolar	English
Bottom First Molar	First lower grinding tooth	English
Bottom Second Molar	Second lower grinding tooth	English
Bottom Third Molar	Last lower molar	English
Bottom Wisdom Tooth	Final lower molar	English
Lower Incisor	Cutting tooth in the lower jaw	English
Lower Canine	Tearing tooth in the lower jaw	English
Lower Premolar	Premolar in the lower jaw	English
Lower Molar	Molar in the lower jaw	English
Mandibular Incisor	Lower jaw cutting tooth	Latin
Mandibular Canine	Lower jaw pointed tooth	Latin
Mandibular Premolar	Lower jaw premolar	Latin
Mandibular Molar	Lower jaw grinding tooth	Latin
Bottom Front Tooth	Front tooth at the bottom	English
Bottom Back Tooth	Back tooth at the bottom	English
Bottom Chewing Tooth	Lower tooth used for chewing	English
Bottom Grinding Tooth	Lower tooth used for grinding	English
Bottom Crown	Visible part of a lower tooth	English
Bottom Root	Anchoring root of a lower tooth	English
Lower Dental Arch	Curved row of lower teeth	Latin
Mandibular Arch	Dental arch of the lower jaw	Latin
Lower Bicuspid	Lower premolar with two cusps	Latin
Lower Cuspid	Another name for lower canine	Latin
Lower Primary Tooth	Baby tooth in the lower jaw	Latin
Lower Permanent Tooth	Adult tooth in the lower jaw	Latin
Lower Incisal Edge	Cutting edge of a lower incisor	Latin

Lower Teeth Names

Lower teeth form the dental arch of the mandibular jaw. They include incisors, canines, premolars, and molars. Every type helps with biting, tearing, or grinding food. Proper alignment helps the lower and upper teeth work smoothly together.

Name	Meaning	Origin
Mandibular Central Incisor	Middle lower front tooth	Latin
Mandibular Lateral Incisor	Side lower front tooth	Latin
Mandibular Canine	Pointed lower tearing tooth	Latin
Mandibular First Premolar	First premolar in the lower jaw	Latin
Mandibular Second Premolar	Second premolar in the lower jaw	Latin
Mandibular First Molar	First lower grinding tooth	Latin
Mandibular Second Molar	Second lower grinding tooth	Latin
Mandibular Third Molar	Final lower molar	Latin
Lower Wisdom Tooth	Last molar in the lower jaw	English
Lower Central Tooth	Middle tooth in the lower arch	English
Lower Side Tooth	Tooth beside the lower center	English
Lower Cuspid	Another name for a lower canine	Latin
Lower Bicuspid	Lower premolar with two cusps	Latin
Lower Front Tooth	Tooth at the lower front	English
Lower Back Tooth	Tooth at the lower back	English
Lower Chewing Tooth	Tooth used for chewing	English
Lower Grinding Tooth	Tooth used for grinding	English
Mandibular Crown	Visible part of a lower tooth	Latin
Mandibular Root	Anchoring part of a lower tooth	Latin
Lower Enamel	Outer protective layer	English
Lower Dentin	Inner hard tooth layer	English
Lower Pulp	Inner soft tooth tissue	English
Lower Dental Arch	Curved arrangement of lower teeth	Latin
Mandibular Arch	Lower jaw tooth arch	Latin
Lower Primary Incisor	Baby cutting tooth in the lower jaw	Latin
Lower Primary Canine	Baby pointed tooth in the lower jaw	Latin
Lower Primary Molar	Baby grinding tooth in the lower jaw	Latin
Lower Permanent Incisor	Adult cutting tooth in the lower jaw	Latin
Lower Permanent Canine	Adult pointed tooth in the lower jaw	Latin
Lower Permanent Molar	Adult grinding tooth in the lower jaw	Latin

Front Teeth Names

Front teeth are the most visible teeth when a person smiles. They mainly help bite and cut food into smaller pieces. The front section usually includes incisors and canines. Their appearance also plays an important role in speech and facial aesthetics.

Name	Meaning	Origin
Central Incisor	Main middle front tooth	Latin
Lateral Incisor	Front tooth beside the center	Latin
Upper Central Incisor	Middle upper front tooth	Latin
Lower Central Incisor	Middle lower front tooth	Latin
Upper Lateral Incisor	Side upper front tooth	Latin
Lower Lateral Incisor	Side lower front tooth	Latin
Front Canine	Pointed tooth near the front	English
Upper Canine	Pointed tooth in the upper front area	Latin
Lower Canine	Pointed tooth in the lower front area	Latin
Cuspid	Another name for a canine	Latin
Front Incisor	Cutting tooth at the front	Latin
Cutting Tooth	Tooth used to slice food	English
Biting Tooth	Tooth used to bite food	English
Smile Tooth	Visible tooth when smiling	English
Anterior Tooth	Tooth located toward the front	Latin
Anterior Incisor	Front cutting tooth	Latin
Anterior Canine	Front pointed tooth	Latin
Upper Front Tooth	Tooth at the upper front	English
Lower Front Tooth	Tooth at the lower front	English
Front Dental Arch	Front section of the tooth arch	Latin
Incisal Edge	Sharp edge of an incisor	Latin
Front Crown	Visible crown of a front tooth	English
Front Root	Root of a front tooth	English
Primary Front Tooth	Baby tooth at the front	Latin
Permanent Front Tooth	Adult tooth at the front	Latin
Primary Incisor	Baby cutting tooth	Latin
Permanent Incisor	Adult cutting tooth	Latin
Central Smile Tooth	Main visible front tooth	English
Side Smile Tooth	Visible tooth beside the center	English
Anterior Dentition	Group of front teeth	Latin

Dog Teeth Names

Dog teeth are commonly called canines because they are pointed and sharp. In humans, canine teeth help tear food into smaller pieces. The name is linked to the prominent teeth found in dogs. These teeth are positioned between the incisors and premolars.

Name	Meaning	Origin
Canine	Pointed tooth used for tearing	Latin
Cuspid	Tooth with a single pointed cusp	Latin
Eye Tooth	Common name for an upper canine	English
Dog Tooth	Common name for a canine tooth	English
Upper Canine	Canine located in the upper jaw	Latin
Lower Canine	Canine located in the lower jaw	Latin
Maxillary Canine	Upper jaw canine	Latin
Mandibular Canine	Lower jaw canine	Latin
Primary Canine	Baby canine tooth	Latin
Permanent Canine	Adult canine tooth	Latin
Deciduous Canine	Temporary canine tooth	Latin
Tearing Tooth	Tooth used to tear food	English
Pointed Tooth	Tooth with a sharp tip	English
Cusp Tooth	Tooth with a raised point	Latin
Canine Crown	Visible upper part of a canine	Latin
Canine Root	Anchoring root of a canine	Latin
Canine Cusp	Pointed tip of a canine	Latin
Upper Cuspid	Upper pointed canine tooth	Latin
Lower Cuspid	Lower pointed canine tooth	Latin
Human Canine	Canine tooth in humans	Latin
Primary Cuspid	Baby pointed canine	Latin
Permanent Cuspid	Adult pointed canine	Latin
Maxillary Cuspid	Another name for an upper canine	Latin
Mandibular Cuspid	Another name for a lower canine	Latin
Canine Ridge	Raised feature near a canine	Latin
Canine Arch	Position of canines in the dental arch	Latin
Anterior Canine	Canine located toward the front	Latin
Upper Eye Tooth	Common name for an upper canine	English
Lower Dog Tooth	Common name for a lower canine	English
Canine Dentition	Arrangement of canine teeth	Latin

Cat Teeth Names

Cat teeth are specially shaped for catching and eating food. Their sharp incisors and canines help grip and tear. Premolars and molars help cut food into smaller pieces. Cat dental names are generally based on the same main tooth types used in veterinary anatomy.

Name	Meaning	Origin
Cat Incisor	Small front tooth of a cat	English
Cat Canine	Long pointed tooth of a cat	English
Cat Premolar	Tooth used for cutting food	English
Cat Molar	Back tooth used for processing food	English
Feline Incisor	Front tooth in a cat	Latin
Feline Canine	Pointed tearing tooth in a cat	Latin
Feline Premolar	Premolar of a cat	Latin
Feline Molar	Molar of a cat	Latin
Kitten Tooth	Tooth of a young cat	English
Kitten Incisor	Baby front tooth of a kitten	English
Kitten Canine	Baby pointed tooth of a kitten	English
Kitten Premolar	Baby premolar of a kitten	English
Deciduous Feline Tooth	Temporary cat tooth	Latin
Permanent Feline Tooth	Adult cat tooth	Latin
Feline Cuspid	Another term for a cat canine	Latin
Carnassial Tooth	Specialized cutting tooth in carnivores	Latin
Upper Carnassial	Major cutting tooth in the upper jaw	Latin
Lower Carnassial	Major cutting tooth in the lower jaw	Latin
Feline Crown	Visible part of a cat tooth	Latin
Feline Root	Anchoring part of a cat tooth	Latin
Feline Enamel	Protective outer tooth layer	Latin
Feline Dentin	Hard inner tooth layer	Latin
Feline Pulp	Soft inner tooth tissue	Latin
Cat Front Tooth	Tooth at the front of a cat’s mouth	English
Cat Back Tooth	Tooth at the back of a cat’s mouth	English
Cat Tearing Tooth	Sharp tooth used for tearing	English
Cat Cutting Tooth	Tooth used for slicing food	English
Feline Dental Arch	Curved arrangement of cat teeth	Latin
Primary Feline Tooth	First set of cat teeth	Latin
Adult Feline Tooth	Permanent tooth of an adult cat	Latin

Tips for Learning Teeth Names

Learning teeth names is easy once you know the basics. Each tooth has a job and a place. This helps you talk about your teeth with ease. Use these tips to remember them fast.

• Learn one tooth type at a time.
• Use a mirror to see your own teeth.
• Say each name out loud.
• Match each name to its job.

Conclusion

Teeth names are simple once you break them down. Each tooth has its own job, from cutting to grinding food. Knowing these names helps you understand your smile and talk to your dentist with ease.

Whether it’s incisors, canines, premolars, or molars, every tooth plays a part. Keep this guide handy next time you want to learn more about your teeth.

FAQ’s