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Definition

noun, plural: permanent teeth

Any of the second and final set of teeth that replaces the deciduous teeth of mammals and humans.

Supplement

In adult humans, there are 32 permanent teeth consisting of:

• 8 incisors – replacing the 8 deciduous incisors
• 4 cuspids – replacing the 4 deciduous cuspids
• 8 premolars – replacing the 8 deciduous molars
• 12 molars

In contrast to the deciduous teeth that start to form in the embryo between the sixth and eighth weeks, the permanent teeth begin to form in the twentieth week. The deciduous teeth erupt in the mouth first during infancy and will start to shed and replaced by permanent teeth by the age of 5 and 7. This final set of teeth shall fully emerge and be complete at the age of 17 and 25 years when the last of the three molars (wisdom teeth) appear.

Synonyms:

• dens permanens
• second tooth

Compare: deciduous tooth
See also: permanent dentition, succedaneous tooth