Tooth #2 in particular
About the upper right second molar
Tooth 2 is the upper right second molar, seventh from the midline and, for anyone whose wisdom teeth are gone or never came in, the last tooth on the upper right. It is tooth 17 in the FDI system and UR7 in Palmer notation. Its neighbor in front is the first molar, tooth 3. Behind it is the wisdom tooth, tooth 1, if that tooth is present. When you close, it meets the lower right second molar, tooth 31. Second molars share the grinding with the first molars. This one typically erupts at about 12 to 13 years. It typically has three roots that are often closer together or fused, with three or four canals inside.
What tends to go wrong here
Location is the main issue with tooth 2. Being far back, it is harder to brush and floss than almost any other tooth. The cheek presses against its outer surface, and the back surface faces away from everything, so plaque can sit there undisturbed. It is also the tooth an upper right wisdom tooth leans against. A tilted or partly erupted tooth 1 can trap food against the back of tooth 2 and cause decay or gum problems on a surface you cannot see and a brush barely reaches. That kind of damage is often silent and is usually picked up on x-rays, which is one reason dentists image this corner even when nothing hurts.
If it needs treatment
For tooth 2, access is the main difficulty: there is less room to work this far back, and how wide you can comfortably open affects how long an appointment takes. The roots are also near the sinus, which a dentist considers before a root canal or an extraction. If work is proposed, ask whether the treatment will be done in the office or referred to a specialist, what the x-ray shows about the roots and the sinus, whether a wisdom tooth behind it is contributing to the problem, and what happens to your bite if the tooth is removed. Your dentist can also show you how to angle a brush to reach it.
What it does
What the upper right second molar is for
Second molars sit behind the first molars and share the grinding. Often called the "twelve-year molars".
Anatomy
Roots and canals of tooth #2
Typically three roots, often closer together or fused, with three or four canals. These are typical patterns. The only way to know the anatomy of your own tooth is an x-ray, which is why one is taken before a root canal or extraction.
Common problems
What tends to go wrong with second molars
Being far back, second molars are harder to brush and floss. They are also the tooth a wisdom tooth leans against, which can cause decay or gum problems on their back surface.
If it needs treatment
Root canal, crown, or extraction on tooth #2
Access is the main difficulty: there is less room to work this far back. The roots are near the sinus.
| Root canal: what to expect |
| Tooth extraction: what to expect |
| Dental crown: what to expect |
| Extraction or root canal? |
General information · Not dental advice
This page describes a typical second molar. It cannot tell you anything about your own tooth #2. We always recommend seeing a dentist. Nothing on this site can examine your mouth or tell you what is wrong. If something hurts, looks wrong, or worries you, book an exam, and go sooner if it is getting worse.
Emergency? If you have trouble breathing or swallowing, swelling that is spreading toward your eye or neck, a fever with facial swelling, or bleeding that will not stop, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room immediately. Full disclaimer