dentition Type, number, and arrangement of teeth. An adult human has 32 teeth. In each jaw are four incisors, two canines, four premolars, four molars and, in most adults, up to four wisdom teeth. Children lack the premolars and four molars. The incisors are used for cutting; the canines for gripping and tearing; the molars and premolars for crushing and grinding food. A herbivore has relatively unspecialized teeth that grow throughout life to compensate for wear, and are adapted for grinding. A carnivore has a range of specialized teeth related to killing, gripping, and crushing bones. In carnivores, unspecialized milk teeth are replaced by specialized adult teeth, which have to last a lifetime.

dentition In bivalve Mollusca, the articulating tooth-and-socket system in the shell hinge system. Various types may be recognized, e.g. desmodont, dysodont, heterodont, isodont, pachydont, schizodont, and taxodont.

dentition The type, number, and arrangement of teeth in a species. This can be represented concisely by a dental formula. See also permanent teeth; diphyodont; monophyodont; polyphyodont; heterodont; homodont.

dentition (den-tish-ŏn) n. the number, type, and arrangement of the teeth as a whole in the mouth. permanent d. the 32 teeth usually present by the age of 21, made up of incisors, canines, premolars, and molars. primary d. the teeth of young children, which are progressively lost in preparation for the eruption of the permanent teeth. It consists of 20 teeth, made up of incisors, canines, and molars only.

den·ti·tion / denˈtishən/ • n. the arrangement or condition of the teeth in a particular species or individual.