muela

Muela is the term used in Spanish to refer to a molar tooth, the large posterior tooth in humans and other mammals specialized for grinding food. In the human dentition, molars are located in the back of both the upper and lower jaws and play a key role in mastication, breaking down food before swallowing and digestion.

The word muela comes from Latin mola, meaning millstone, reflecting the tooth’s grinding function. In addition to referring to a permanent molar, the term can describe a deciduous (primary) molar in children, often called a milk molar, which are eventually replaced by permanent premolars. In another sense, muela also designates a grinding stone or wheel used in mills or for sharpening tools.

Anatomically, adults typically have 12 molars: three per quadrant—first molars, second molars, and third molars (the wisdom teeth). Eruption timing varies: first molars appear around age six, second molars around age twelve, and third molars during late adolescence to early adulthood, though many people have partially erupted or impacted third molars. Molars generally have broader crowns with multiple cusps and roots; upper molars usually have three roots, while lower molars have two.

Clinical relevance includes susceptibility to dental caries in the grooves of the chewing surfaces and periodontal issues if oral hygiene is insufficient. Wisdom teeth often require evaluation for alignment or extraction due to crowding or impaction.