third molar tooth


third molar tooth

[TA] eighth permanent tooth in the maxilla and mandible on each side, making it the most posterior tooth in human dentition; usually erupts between the 17th and 23rd years; the roots are often fused, the separation being marked only by grooves; because it tends to erupt in an anterosuperior direction, the lower third molar often becomes impacted against the lower second molar; it is common for one third molar (or more) to fail to develop. Synonym(s): dens molaris tertius [TA], dens serotinus ☆ , dens sapientiae, third molar, wisdom tooth

third mo·lar tooth

(thĭrd mō'lăr tūth) [TA] Eighth permanent tooth in maxilla and mandible on each side, making it most posterior tooth in human dentition; usually erupts between the 17th and 23rd years; roots are often fused, separation being marked only by grooves; because it tends to erupt in an anterosuperior direction, lower third molar often becomes impacted against lower second molar; common for one third molar (or more) to fail to develop.
Synonym(s): dens serotinus [TA] , wisdom tooth.

third mo·lar tooth

(thĭrd mō'lăr tūth) [TA] Eighth permanent tooth in maxilla and mandible on each side, making it most posterior tooth in human dentition; usually erupts between the 17th and 23rd years; roots are often fused, separation being marked only by grooves; because it tends to erupt in an anterosuperior direction, lower third molar often becomes impacted against lower second molar; common for one third molar (or more) to fail to develop.
Synonym(s): dens molaris tertius [TA] , dens sapientiae, dens serotinus, wisdom tooth.