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Dentistry vocabulary · Teeth and Oral Anatomy

Premolar

Meaning in dentistry, with examples

/priːˈmoʊlər/nounCore term

In dentistry, premolar means: One of the teeth between the canines and the molars, usually with two points (cusps) on the biting surface. Adults normally have eight, while children's first teeth include none.

In Turkish: küçük azı dişi, premolar

How it is used

Named first and second premolar, upper or lower. Premolars are the teeth most often extracted to make space in orthodontic treatment. Some American dentists call them bicuspids.

Example sentences

  1. The orthodontist wants to extract two upper premolars to relieve the crowding.

  2. There's a small cavity between the lower premolars.

Common collocations

  • first premolar
  • second premolar
  • upper premolars
  • premolar extraction
  • molarOne of the large, wide teeth at the back of the mouth used for grinding food. Adults have up to twelve, including the four wisdom teeth.
  • canineThe long, pointed tooth at each corner of the dental arch, between the lateral incisor and the first premolar. Upper canines have the longest roots of all the teeth.
  • crowdingA lack of space in the jaw for all the teeth to line up straight, so that they overlap, twist or are pushed out of the arch.
  • toothOne of the hard, white structures in the jaws used for biting and chewing. Each one has a crown above the gum and one or more roots held in the bone.

More terms: Teeth and Oral Anatomy

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.