muelas

Muelas is the Spanish plural of muela, meaning molars, the rear teeth in mammals used for grinding food. In humans, molars include the first, second, and third molars.

A typical adult dentition contains 12 molars: three molars in each of the four quadrants of the mouth, including the third molars or wisdom teeth. The first molars usually erupt around age six, followed by the second molars around age 12; third molars often erupt in late adolescence or early adulthood and may be impacted, requiring removal in some cases.

Molars have broad crowns and multiple cusps, designed for grinding rather than tearing; chewing surfaces are formed by ridges called cusps and are arranged into a complex occlusal surface that interacts with the upper molars in a bite.

The term muela comes from Latin mola meaning millstone, reflecting the grinding function of these teeth. In dental health, molars are prone to caries if not properly cleaned, and they are common sites for fillings, crowns, root canals, and wisdom tooth removal.

Outside dentistry, Muelas is used as a surname and appears in toponyms in Spanish-speaking regions, where it designates places perhaps named for local features or historical associations. The plural form muelas is also used generically in Spanish texts to refer to molars without specifying type.