Human Teeth Model, Lower Jaw

Quick Answer: The human teeth model, lower jaw, is a lower jaw teeth model: a replica of the mandible with its row of lower teeth, used to teach the order and types of teeth in the lower arch and the jaw that holds them. It supports dental, dental hygiene and biology courses.

The Lower Arch Tooth by Tooth

In a full adult set the lower arch holds sixteen teeth. From the midline backwards on each side come the central incisor, lateral incisor, canine, first and second premolars, and first, second and third molars. The model lets students count and name them in order and learn the numbering systems used in clinics, such as the FDI notation, in which lower teeth fall in quadrants 3 and 4.

The mandible itself carries landmarks that matter in dentistry. Its horseshoe-shaped body holds the teeth; the ramus rises at the back to the condyle, which forms the jaw joint, and the coronoid process, where the temporalis muscle attaches. On the inner side of the ramus the mandibular foramen admits the inferior alveolar nerve, which supplies the lower teeth, and dentists aim their injection near it to numb one side of the lower jaw. A branch of the nerve emerges on the outer surface at the mental foramen, below the premolars.

The title does not state whether roots are shown, whether teeth can be removed, or whether the lower jaw teeth model is life size or enlarged. If roots are shown, students can check that lower molars have two roots, compared with three on upper molars.

Applications

• Teaching tooth names, order and numbering in the lower arch
• Showing the landmarks for an inferior alveolar nerve block
• Explaining how the lower jaw moves at the temporomandibular joint
• Comparing lower teeth with upper teeth and with milk teeth

Specifications

Care & Handling

• Support the model under the body of the mandible; the condyles and coronoid processes are thin.
• If individual teeth are removable, return each to its correct socket and check the count after lessons.
• Clean between the teeth with a soft brush and keep the model boxed.

Why Choose LabEquip

Dental schools and dental hygiene courses usually buy a lower jaw model to teach the mandibular arch on its own before working with full jaws. LabEquip lists it alongside the human skull model, which shows the mandible in position, in its biology lab products; use the contact page for questions.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many teeth are in an adult lower jaw?

Sixteen, if all the wisdom teeth are present: on each side two incisors, one canine, two premolars and three molars. Many adults have fewer because wisdom teeth are missing or have been removed.

How are lower teeth numbered in the FDI system?

The FDI system gives each tooth two digits. The first is the quadrant: 3 for the lower left and 4 for the lower right. The second counts from the midline, 1 for the central incisor to 8 for the third molar, so the lower right first molar is 46.

Where is the inferior alveolar nerve block given?

The needle is placed on the inner side of the mandibular ramus, near the mandibular foramen where the nerve enters the bone. This numbs the lower teeth on that side and, through the mental nerve, usually the lower lip and chin.

Why are lower wisdom teeth often impacted?

The lower third molars are the last teeth to erupt, usually in the late teens or twenties, and there is often too little space between the second molar and the ramus. The tooth can become stuck at an angle against its neighbour.

What does the ramus of the mandible do?

The ramus is the upright back part of the lower jaw. It gives attachment to the chewing muscles, carries the condyle that forms the jaw joint and the coronoid process, and has the opening through which the nerve to the lower teeth enters the bone.

What is the mental foramen?

It is a small opening on the outer surface of the mandible, usually below the premolars. The mental nerve and vessels pass through it to supply the skin of the chin and lower lip.

Last Updated: September 2026