The incisors, 8 in number, « the teeth of the smile », are used to cut food. The canines, of which there are 4 in the jaw, are the teeth with the longest roots. They allow for shredding, and are therefore absent from the jaws of herbivores.

The premolars (8) and molars (between 8 and 12) are used for grinding. These are the chewing teeth, the strongest in the mouth.

Finally, wisdom teeth only grow from the age of 15. The « normal » appearance of these 4 teeth is becoming increasingly rare in humans.