How Many Molars Do Adults Have?

Molars are the large, broad teeth located at the back of the mouth. Their wide biting surfaces help crush and grind food before it is swallowed, making them important for comfortable chewing and normal oral function.

An adult can have up to 12 permanent molars when all four wisdom teeth are present. Adults whose wisdom teeth never developed or have been removed will usually have eight molars.

How Many Molars Do Adults Have? The Short Answer

Adults normally have:

• Four first molars
• Four second molars
• Up to four third molars, commonly known as wisdom teeth

This means an adult may have:

• 12 molars when all four wisdom teeth are present
• Eight molars when the wisdom teeth are absent or have been removed
• Fewer than eight if one or more molars have been lost or extracted

There can be three molars on each side of the upper and lower jaws:

• First molar
• Second molar
• Third molar or wisdom tooth

Not everyone develops all four wisdom teeth. Some people develop fewer than four, while others have wisdom teeth that remain partly or completely beneath the gum.

Where Are the Molars Located?

Molars are positioned behind the premolar teeth at the back of the mouth.

Each side of the mouth can contain three upper molars and three lower molars. The first molar is closest to the premolars, while the third molar is positioned furthest back.

Because molars are difficult to see and reach with a toothbrush, plaque and food can collect around them more easily. Careful brushing, cleaning between the teeth and regular dental examinations are therefore important.

What Do Molar Teeth Do?

Molars have several important functions.

Grinding and crushing food

The broad biting surfaces of molars contain raised areas known as cusps. These help break food into smaller pieces, making it easier to chew and swallow.

Supporting the bite

Molars help maintain the height and stability of the bite. Losing a molar can alter the way the remaining teeth meet and may place additional pressure on other teeth.

Maintaining tooth position

Each molar helps support the position of neighbouring and opposing teeth. When a molar is lost, nearby teeth may gradually tilt or drift into the gap, while the tooth in the opposite jaw may move further out of its socket.

Protecting the front teeth

The back teeth carry much of the pressure generated during chewing. This helps reduce the amount of force placed on the smaller front teeth.

When Do Permanent Molars Come Through?

Permanent molars emerge in stages from childhood into early adulthood.

First permanent molars

The first permanent molars usually appear at around six to seven years of age. They are often called “six-year molars.”

These teeth erupt behind the existing baby teeth. No baby tooth falls out to make room for them, which means parents may not immediately realise that they are permanent teeth.

Because first molars emerge at a young age and must ideally last throughout adulthood, protecting them from decay is particularly important. Glow Dental provides regular assessments and preventive care as part of our children’s dentistry service.

Second permanent molars

Second molars commonly erupt at around 11 to 13 years of age. They are sometimes described as “twelve-year molars.”

They emerge behind the first permanent molars and may initially be difficult to clean while they are only partly through the gum.

Third molars or wisdom teeth

Wisdom teeth commonly emerge during the late teenage years or early adulthood, although there is considerable variation.

Some wisdom teeth:

• Erupt fully into a suitable position
• Only partly emerge through the gum
• Remain trapped beneath the gum or jawbone
• Grow at an angle towards the neighbouring molar
• Never develop at all

Wisdom teeth do not always require removal. A dentist may monitor them if they are healthy, symptom-free and can be cleaned effectively.

Do Children Have Molars?

Yes. Children develop primary molars as part of their first set of teeth. These baby molars are later replaced by permanent premolars.

The first permanent molars are different because they do not replace baby teeth. They emerge behind the primary molars and form part of the permanent adult dentition from the beginning.

This distinction is important because a newly erupted first permanent molar may mistakenly be treated as a temporary tooth. In reality, it needs to be protected for life.

Why Are Molars More Likely to Develop Tooth Decay?

Molars contain grooves, pits and fissures across their biting surfaces. Food and plaque can collect in these areas, particularly where the grooves are narrow or deep.

Molars are also harder to reach than the front teeth. This can make thorough brushing more difficult, especially for children or people with limited movement.

Early areas of decay may be repaired with a dental filling. Larger areas of damage may require a custom-made inlay or onlay or a dental crown.

Regular examinations allow a dentist to identify early changes before the tooth becomes painful or requires more extensive treatment.

What Problems Can Affect Molar Teeth?

Molars are strong, but they are exposed to significant chewing pressure and can develop several problems.

Tooth decay

Plaque collecting in the grooves or between molars can lead to decay. Early decay may not cause symptoms, while a deeper cavity can result in sensitivity, toothache or infection.

Cracked or fractured molars

Molars may crack because of heavy biting forces, large existing fillings, tooth grinding or biting unexpectedly hard food.

Symptoms can include sharp pain when biting, sensitivity to temperature or discomfort that is difficult to locate.

Failing fillings

A large or older filling can wear, fracture or allow leakage around its edges. The appropriate treatment depends on the amount of healthy tooth remaining and whether the tooth has developed further decay or cracking.

Infection inside the tooth

If decay, trauma or a crack reaches the dental pulp, the molar may require root canal treatment to remove infected or damaged tissue and help preserve the tooth.

Gum disease

Periodontal disease can damage the gum and bone supporting a molar. Advanced disease may cause gum recession, deeper periodontal pockets, mobility and eventual tooth loss.

Impacted wisdom teeth

A wisdom tooth is impacted when it cannot emerge normally because there is insufficient space or it is blocked by another tooth or bone.

Impacted or partly erupted wisdom teeth may be associated with:

• Pain or tenderness
• Inflamed gum around the tooth
• Food trapping
• Difficulty cleaning the area
• Decay affecting the wisdom tooth or neighbouring molar
• Repeated infection

Will Permanent Molars Fall Out?

Permanent molars are designed to last for life and do not naturally fall out in the way baby teeth do.

However, a molar can be lost because of:

• Extensive tooth decay
• Advanced gum disease and bone loss
• Severe infection or a dental abscess
• A deep crack or root fracture
• Trauma or injury
• An impacted wisdom tooth requiring removal

If a molar is painful, infected or badly damaged, extraction is not automatically the only option. Depending on the condition of the tooth, it may be restored with a filling, onlay, crown or root canal treatment.

A dentist should assess the tooth and explain whether it can be predictably repaired.

Can Molar Teeth Grow Back?

No. A permanent molar does not grow back after it has been extracted or lost.

Humans normally develop two sets of teeth:

• Primary or baby teeth
• Permanent adult teeth

Permanent molars belong to the adult set and are not naturally replaced by another tooth.

This is why preserving a restorable molar is usually desirable. Molars contribute to chewing, bite support and the stable position of surrounding teeth.

What Happens If a Molar Is Missing?

The effect of a missing molar depends on its location, the condition of the remaining teeth and the patient’s bite.

Possible changes include:

• Reduced chewing efficiency
• Movement or tilting of neighbouring teeth
• Food trapping around the gap
• Movement of the opposing tooth
• Changes in how biting forces are distributed
• Additional pressure on the remaining teeth

Not every missing wisdom tooth needs to be replaced. However, replacement may be considered where a first or second molar has been lost and the gap affects function or long-term dental stability.

How Can a Missing Molar Be Replaced?

Possible treatment options include:

Dental implant

A dental implant is placed into the jawbone and supports a replacement tooth. Suitability depends on bone volume, gum health, general health and other clinical factors.

Dental bridge

A dental bridge uses one or more neighbouring teeth to support a fixed replacement.

Partial denture

A partial denture is removable and can replace one or several missing teeth.

In some cases, leaving the space may also be considered. The dentist will assess the bite, neighbouring teeth and expected risks before recommending treatment.

When Should You See a Dentist About a Molar?

Arrange a dental assessment if you notice:

• Persistent toothache
• Pain when biting or chewing
• Lingering sensitivity to hot or cold
• A broken or cracked tooth
• A loose or missing filling
• Swelling around the tooth or jaw
• A bad taste or discharge
• Difficulty opening your mouth
• Pain or swelling around a wisdom tooth

Glow Dental provides emergency dental assessments for patients experiencing severe dental pain, swelling or another urgent problem.

How Much Does Molar Extraction Cost?

The cost of removing a molar depends on the position of the tooth, its roots and the complexity of the procedure.

At the time of writing, Glow Dental’s extraction fees are:

• Simple extraction: from £195
• Surgical extraction: from £300
• Wisdom tooth extraction: from £350 to £650

A simple extraction may be possible where the molar is fully visible, reasonably intact and straightforward to access.

Surgical extraction may be required where:

• The tooth is broken below the gum line
• The roots are curved or difficult to access
• The tooth is impacted
• Part of the tooth is covered by gum or bone
• The wisdom tooth is positioned at an angle

The fees above are a guide and may change. The final cost can only be confirmed after the dentist has examined the tooth and reviewed any necessary X-rays.

How to Look After Your Molars

To help keep molars healthy:

• Brush twice daily with fluoride toothpaste
• Clean between the teeth every day
• Pay particular attention to the back teeth
• Limit how frequently sugary foods and drinks are consumed
• Attend dental examinations at the interval recommended for you
• Arrange treatment promptly if a filling breaks or a tooth becomes painful
• Wear a protective night guard if advised for grinding or clenching

Book a Molar Assessment at Glow Dental

Pain, sensitivity, swelling or discomfort when chewing may indicate decay, a crack, infection or another problem affecting a molar.

Glow Dental provides dental examinations, restorative treatment, root canal care and extractions at our practice on Northcote Road in Battersea, close to Clapham Junction.

We welcome patients from Clapham, Wandsworth, Chelsea and surrounding areas of South West London.

During your appointment, we can examine the molar, take any necessary X-rays and explain whether a filling, onlay, crown, root canal treatment or extraction may be appropriate.

Patients attending for the first time can read our new patient information.

Book a dental assessment at Glow Dental.

Summary

Adults can have up to 12 molars: eight first and second molars, plus four wisdom teeth. Adults whose wisdom teeth are absent or have been removed usually have eight molars.

Permanent molars are essential for chewing and supporting the bite. They do not naturally fall out and cannot grow back after they have been lost.

Good daily cleaning, regular examinations and early treatment of decay, cracks or infection can help preserve these important back teeth for as long as possible.