There are 4 kinds of teeth:

	1.	Incisors
	2.	Canines
	3.	Premolars
	4.	Molars

The 4 front teeth are the central and lateral incisors (2 of each on top and 2 of each on the bottom). Next to the incisors are the long and strong canines, or cuspids. Next to these are the 2 premolars (8 total), sometimes called the bicuspids. The last 3 teeth (12 total) are the molars. They are numbered first (6 year), second (12 year), or third (wisdom teeth) molars, depending on their location. The molars have pits and fissures that can harbor cariogenic bacteria and are commonly the site of dental caries.

In addition to naming the teeth, dentists give the deciduous (primary) teeth letters for identification, whereas permanent teeth are assigned numbers. In children, for example, the tooth farthest back on the upper (maxillary) right would be "A" and the last tooth on the lower (mandibular) right would be "T". Similarly, in the permanent teeth, tooth number 1 is the tooth farthest back on the right side of the mouth in the upper (maxillary) jaw and tooth number 32 is farthest back on the bottom (mandibular) right side of the mouth.

For more information, refer to the images in the Chapter 1 Photo Gallery.