How many teeth are in a full set of adult human teeth? A complete adult human dentition has 32 permanent teeth.
The teeth are divided evenly between the upper jaw, or maxilla, and the lower jaw, or mandible: 16 in each. Each jaw contains four incisors for cutting, two canines for tearing, four premolars for crushing, and six molars for grinding. The final four molars are the third molars, commonly called wisdom teeth.
Humans first develop 20 primary teeth, often called baby or milk teeth. These are gradually replaced by permanent teeth, with the first adult molars commonly appearing around ages 5 or 6. By about age 13, most people have 28 permanent teeth; wisdom teeth often emerge between ages 17 and 21, although they may remain impacted, be removed, or never develop.
The number 32 describes a full standard set, not necessarily the number visible in every adult mouth. Missing teeth, dental extractions, congenitally absent wisdom teeth, and extra teeth can all change an individual's total.