Patient-friendly definition from the DentistsDirectory.org dental glossary.
Anterior teeth are the front six teeth in each arch — the four incisors and the two canines. Adults have twelve anterior teeth in total, six upper and six lower. Their position at the front of the mouth means they are the most visible when you speak, laugh, or smile, which is why most cosmetic dental treatment focuses on these teeth.
Incisors have a flat, chisel-shaped cutting edge designed to bite into food. Canines, with their single pointed cusp, grip and tear. Together the anterior teeth also play a critical role in speech — the positioning of the tongue against the upper front teeth produces many consonant sounds. Misaligned, missing, or worn front teeth can noticeably affect both speech clarity and biting efficiency.
Because anterior teeth are highly visible, aesthetics matter more in their restoration than in back teeth. Materials like porcelain veneers, tooth-coloured composite, and ceramic crowns are preferred over amalgam. Anterior teeth also have a single, relatively straight root compared to the two or three curved roots of molars, making root canal treatment on front teeth simpler, faster, and less expensive. When anterior teeth are lost, their replacement significantly affects facial appearance and smile symmetry.