Harbour mouth molar installation

The six giant tooth sculptures (described as wisdom teeth) which stand on Portsmouth Drive at the end of Otago Harbour are impressive in size and are reminiscent of the Moai (stone heads) on Easter Island.

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They are sculptured from Oamaru stone and were unveiled in April 2010.

However, sadly they are anatomically incorrect as any second year dental student will tell you (knowing this is a compulsory part of Tooth Morphology study).

All six of the teeth have four separate roots.

Lower wisdom teeth usually have one or two roots. The occasional upper wisdom tooth may have three roots.

In our combined practise we have certainly seen some unusually shaped teeth, such as one tooth with two crowns, some very deformed teeth, and even some extra teeth. But, never a four rooted tooth.

Undoubtedly a four rooted tooth exists, but it is not the norm.

For more about the sculptures please click here.