There are thirty-two teeth in total in the oral cavity of an adult dentition. One half, or sixteen, are embedded in the maxilla, while the lower half are situated within the mandible. The name of teeth on each arcade is self-explanatory - the top sixteen are named ‘maxillary teeth’, while the bottom half are named ‘mandibular teeth’.
The
mandible holds the bottom teeth and forms the lower portion of the face. It connects to the skull’s temporal bones through the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). The TMJ allows you to move your jaw when talking, chewing, eating, or yawning. The maxilla holds the upper teeth and is rigidly attached to the cranium.The temporomandibular joints (TMJs) allow the lower jaw to move smoothly. The lower jaw (
mandible) supports the bottom row of teeth and gives shape to the lower face and chin. This is the bone that moves as the mouth opens and closes. The upper jaw (maxilla) holds the upper teeth, shapes the middle of the face, and supports the nose.The upper left teeth begin with the number, "2". The lower left teeth begin with the number,
"3". The lower right teeth begin with the number, "4". For primary teeth, the sequence of numbers goes 5, 6, 7, and 8 for the teeth in the upper right, upper left, lower left, and lower right respectively.