Meaning & use
bicuspids
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“bicuspids” is a form of “bicuspid”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meaning
nounplural
The two teeth on each side of the mouth that sit between the canine and the molar teeth; premolars.
Grammar: Usually plural when talking about the set; the singular is bicuspid.
Patterns
- the bicuspids
- upper/lower bicuspids
- first/second bicuspids
The dentist said my bicuspids are healthy but need a good cleaning.
She had two bicuspids removed before getting braces.
The upper bicuspids help tear and crush food.
Word forms
| singular | bicuspid |
|---|
Common combinations
- upper bicuspids
- The upper bicuspids are located just behind the canines.
- lower bicuspids
- His lower bicuspids are slightly crooked.
- first bicuspid
- The first bicuspid often appears around age ten.
- extract a bicuspid
- The oral surgeon had to extract a bicuspid to make room.
Synonyms and how they differ
- premolars
- The everyday term for the same teeth; bicuspids is more technical and mainly used in dentistry.
Word family
- bicuspid adjective
- Having two points or cusps, as some teeth or a heart valve.
Commonly confused: bicuspids or molars?
bicuspids vs molars
Molars are the larger back teeth with several cusps; bicuspids are the smaller teeth in front of them.
Practice
Which sentence uses bicuspids correctly?
Choose one answer.
Bicuspids are the premolar teeth behind the canines. Option A describes molars, option C is nonsense because teeth are not broken by running, and option D confuses them with wrist bones.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “bicuspids”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.