Final answer:
An adult typically has eight premolars as part of the permanent dentition, which also includes incisors, canines, and molars. The premolars are specially designed for mashing food.
Step-by-step explanation:
How Many Premolars Are in an Adult Mouth?
In the mouth of an adult, there are a total of eight premolars, also known as bicuspids. These teeth are part of the permanent teeth set, which is the second set of teeth that emerges during middle childhood. The adult mouth is designed to hold 32 teeth in total, which include 8 incisors, 4 canines, 8 premolars, and 12 molars. Specifically, the premolars are located posterior to the cuspids and are recognized for their flatter shape with two rounded cusps. These features make them particularly suitable for mashing foods. Unlike the incisors and canines, which are more focused on biting and tearing, premolars take on a pivotal role in the mastication process by crushing and grinding ingested food. The permanent teeth replace the deciduous or baby teeth and come in full number by early adulthood, with the exception of wisdom teeth, which sometimes remain impacted and may require removal.