Every tooth has a specific job or function (use the dental arch in this section to locate and identify each type of tooth):

• Incisors: Incisors are the squarish, sharp-edged teeth in the front of the mouth. There are four on the bottom and four on the top. The sharp, chisel-shaped front teeth (four upper, four lower) used for cutting food.
• Canines: On either side of the incisors are the sharp canines. The upper canines are sometimes called eyeteeth or cuspids. Sometimes called cuspids, these teeth are shaped like points (cusps) and are used for tearing food.
• Premolars: Behind the canines are the premolars, or bicuspids. There are two sets, or four premolars, in each jaw. These teeth have two pointed cusps on their biting surface and are sometimes referred to as bicuspids. The premolars are for crushing and tearing food.
• Molars: The molars, situated behind the premolars, have points and grooves. There are 12 molars – three sets in each jaw called the first, second, and third molars. The third molars are the wisdom teeth, thought by some to have evolved thousands of years ago when human had larger jaws and ate mostly raw foods that required extra chewing power. But because they can crowd out the other teeth or cause problems like pain or infection, a dentist might need to remove them. Molars are used for grinding and chewing food, these teeth have several cusps on the biting surface to help in this process.