Human Anatomy Part 1 - K. A. Dyubenko, A. K. Kolomiyytsev, Y. B. Chaykovsky 2002

Special Part
Splanchnology, splanchnologia [the study of viscera] - Digestive system, systema digestorium
Teeth - General Information

Teeth, dentes, are Organs composed primarily of hard Tissues. They serve to bite, hold, and chew food, and also play a vital role in speech production. The teeth are positioned in the jaws such that their crowns form dental arcades or arches. The dental arch of the Maxilla, arcus dentalis maxillaris, is semi-elliptical in shape (Fig. 202 A), whereas that of the Mandible, arcus dentalis mandibularis, is parabolic (Fig. 202 B).

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Fig. 202. Dental arches:

A - semi-ellipse; B - parabola

Each dental arch in an adult contains 16 teeth: 4 incisors, 2 canines, 4 premolars, and 6 molars. The arrangement of teeth in the jaws is graphically represented by a dental formula, which maps out the dental arches by designating each tooth in a given half of the jaw with an arabic numeral. This formula is widely used in dental practice. A horizontal line separates the upper and lower jaws, while a vertical line separates the right and left sides. The dental formula is structured as follows:

where 1, 2 are incisors; 3 is the canine; 4, 5 are premolars; 6, 7, 8 are molars.

In anatomy, a dental formula is conventionally used where numbers denote the quantity of teeth in each group. The notation proceeds from left to right, starting with the incisors in the dental arch of one half of the jaw. The adult dental formula is structured as follows:

where 2 represents two incisors; 1 represents one canine; 2 represents two premolars, and 3 represents three molars, meaning the number of teeth in the upper and lower jaws is identical. The dental arches separate the oral vestibule from the Oral Cavity proper.

In humans, teeth develop twice during a lifetime: first, 20 temporary (deciduous) teeth, dentes decidui, followed by 32 permanent teeth, dentes permanentes.



Last update: 08/08/2026

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