molar

tooth

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June 30, 2026

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A molar is a type of tooth with a broad, flat surface designed for grinding food. These are the teeth located in the back of the mouth in mammals, behind the incisors and canines. Teeth, in general, are hard structures found in the jaws and mouth of vertebrates, used for eating, defense, and other functions. They consist of a crown, which is visible, and one or more roots that anchor the tooth in the jawbone. The main layers of a tooth are enamel (the hardest tissue), dentine, and pulp. Humans have two sets of teeth: primary (deciduous) and permanent. The permanent dentition includes incisors for cutting, canines for tearing, premolars, and molars for crushing and grinding.12

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tooth
Tooth form and function
…incisors, two canines, and four molars in each jaw. The primary molars are replaced in the adult dentition by the premolars, or bicuspid teeth. The 12 adult molars of the permanent dentition erupt (emerge from the gums) behind the primary teeth and do not replace any of these, giving a…
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…incisors, two canines, and four molars in each jaw. The primary molars are replaced in the adult dentition by the premolars, or bicuspid teeth. The 12 adult molars of the permanent dentition erupt (emerge from the gums) behind the primary teeth and do not replace any of these, giving a…
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kangaroo
Dentition
The four permanent molars on each side of both jaws erupt in sequence from front to back and move forward in the jaw, eventually being pushed out at the front. Thus, an old kangaroo may have only the last two molars in place, the first two (and the…
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The four permanent molars on each side of both jaws erupt in sequence from front to back and move forward in the jaw, eventually being pushed out at the front. Thus, an old kangaroo may have only the last two molars in place, the first two (and the…
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manatee
Form and function
…silica, manatees constantly grow new molars. These teeth progress from the rear of the jaws forward as older, worn teeth drop out at the front of the mouth. Unlike almost all other mammals, tooth replacement occurs throughout life.
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…silica, manatees constantly grow new molars. These teeth progress from the rear of the jaws forward as older, worn teeth drop out at the front of the mouth. Unlike almost all other mammals, tooth replacement occurs throughout life.
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