Dental Anatomy Summer 2004 Final Review

General Features of Incisors

Dentition refers to all of the teeth in the maxillary arch and the mandibular arch
Humans have two dentitions through out life: primary (6mo.-12/13 yrs) permanent (6yrs
&up)
Primary dentition: 20 teeth- 10 maxillary and 10 mandibular
Permanent dentition: 32 teeth – 16 maxillary and 16 mandibular
Anterior teeth – incisors and canines
Posterior teeth – premolars and molars
Tooth identification systems:
- Universal – 1-32 starting at the UR quadrant and ending at the LR quadrant
- Palmer Notation System – utilizes brackets to represent the four quadrants
o Permanent teeth labeled 1-8
o Primary teeth labeled A-E
- International Numbering system – uses two digit for each tooth
o 1 permanent dentition, maxillary right
o 2 permanent dentition, maxillary left
o 3 permanent dentition, mandibular left
o 4 permanent dentition, mandibular right
o Same order for primary 5-8
Set traits – distinguish teeth in the primary from secondary dentition
Arch traits – distinguish maxillary form mandibular
Class Traits – distinguish the four categories of teeth … incisors, canines, premolars,
molars
Type traits – distinguish teeth within one class

Enamel – makes up the protective outer surface of the anatomic crown

There are four maxillary incisors: 2 central and 2 lateral

Function of Incisor Teeth

-The mandibular incisors act as moving blades against the stationary maxillary incisors to
cut food.

1. Cutting food
2. Enabling articulate speech
3. Help support the lips and maintain good appearance
4. Help guide the mandible during its movement

Morphology of Teeth

The five aspects: Facial (Labial or Buccal), Lingual, Mesial, Distal, Incisal (Occlusal)
Central incisors have two mesial surfaces contacting each other
If a space exists, it is known as diastema.

The facial surface of incisors develop from 3 lobes ( mesial, middle and distal) and the
two shallow vertical developmental depressions separate the parts of the facial surface
formed by these 3 lobes.

Mamelons are three scallops seen on the incisal edge; usually worn off after tooth in
function for awhile- unless malocclusion

Perikymata are fine horizontal lines on the crown surface

Class Traits

- Relatively rectangular and longer incisogingivally

- Narrowest in the cervical third and broader at the incisal third
- Mesial contact in the incisal to junction of incisal to middle thirds
- Distal contact is more cervical than mesial
- Are wider faciolingually than mesiodistally
- Roots are longer than crowns and may bend distally in the apical third
- Mesial and distal marginal ridges that converge toward the cingulum ( the fourth
lobe)
- Incisal edge of maxillary incisors is usually labial to the root axis
- Incisal edge of mandibular incisors is usually lingual to the root axis
- Depressions in middle third of mesial root surface ( mandibular also have distal
root depressions)

Arch Traits of Mandibular Incisors

1. Are smaller than Maxillary

2. Look more alike
3. Are nearly the same size
4. Have smaller roots than maxillary
5. Are flatter on mesial and distal sides
6. Have crown and roots relatively wider faciolingually than mesiodistally
7. Have contact areas located near the incisal edge
8. Have smoother lingual surfaces than maxillary
9. Have incisal ridges on or lingual to the root axis line
10. Have wear or attrition only on the incisal edge
11. have roots that are longer in proportion to the crown

Maxillary Central Incisors

- Crown is the longest of all human crowns and widest of all incisors
- Crown averages 11.2 mm
 Both the maxillary central and maxillary lateral incisor contacts are in the incisal
third
- Because it is short and conical, this tooth is a poor risk to support prosthetics
- the central incisor root is the only root in the maxilla which is as wide FL as is MD at
the cervix.
- Like all anterior teeth, this tooth tapers to the lingual, becoming narrower on the
lingual side than on the facial side
- A mesial depression running longitudinal is often present- located at the junction
of the middle and lingual third
- From distal, the distoincisal edge may be just lingual to the axis line due to slight
twisting of incisal edge.
- The mesial curvature of the CEJ is remarkable in that it is the largest of any tooth
– curvature on the mesial is greater than the distal
- Distal aspect of root lacks a depression
- Cingulum is off center to the distal, with a longer mesial marginal ridge

Maxillary Lateral Incisors

- Less flat MD, and overall appears narrower MD than the maxillary central incisor
- Crown is narrower than the central incisor by about 2mm
- Mesio and distoincisal angles are rounder
- Mesial contact is in the incisal third near the junction near the junction of the
incisal and middle thirds
- Distal contact is at the junction of the middle to incisal thirds
- Root tapers towards the apex and usually curves distally
- Lingual fossa is smaller and more pronounced
- Cingulum is narrower and almost centered on the long axis of the tooth
- There are root depressions on the mesial and distal located mid root and the root
is narrower on the lingual than on the labial
- For all anterior teeth, the CEJ is more curved on the mesial than on the distal
- Mesiodistal measurement is greater than the faciolingual measurement
- The labial contour is more convex than the maxillary central incisor ( type trait)
- Incisal ridge straighter mesiodistally when compared to the central incisor

Mandibular Incisors

- Much smaller than the maxillary incisors

- Centrals and laterals are similar in size, shape
and anatomy

Mandibular Central Incisors

- facial surface is nearly smooth and can have two shallow depressions in the
incisal third
- Mesial cervical line curves more incisally than the distal
- Mesial and distal contact areas are within the incisal third at roughly the same
height
 - Root is narrow mesiodistally but wide faciolingually ; root tip may curve distally
- The lingual fossa of both mandibular incisors is barely visible and smooth and
shallow
- Incisal edge is on or lingual to the long axis of the root
- Root depressions can be found on both the mesial and the distal aspects in the
middle thirds of the roots – the distal depression tends to be more distinct than the
mesial depression.
- Labiolingual measurement of the crown is greater than the mesiodistal length

Mandibular Lateral Incisors

- smooth and minimal depressions
- mesial contact is in the incisal third, near the incisal edge
- distal contact is in the incisal edge but more cervical to the level of the mesial
contact
- Incisal edge is on the lingual to the long axis of the root
- A disto lingual twist of the incisal edge places the distal portion more lingual
- Distal portion of the root contains a depression that is more distinct than the
mesial
- Cingulum is off center to the distal

Maxillary Canines

- They are the longest of the permanent teeth, called the corner stones of the arches,
cuspids, eyeteeth or fangs
- Good teeth for prosthetic support
- These teeth help guide jaw movement and help to protect the other teeth in normal
function
- Erupt into the mouth at 11 years of age
- In humans the function with incisors is to :
o support the lip and facial muscles
o cut pierce and shear food morsels
o guide occlusion
o good anchors due to size and length of roots
- canines do not have mamelons
- both the rot and crown are wider faciolingually than mesiodistally
- maxillary canine cusp tip is labial to the long axis of the root
- mandibular canine cusp tip is lingual to the long axis of the root.
- Occasionally more than one root may appear in a facial and a lingual root.
- Both incisors and canines develop form three facial lobes and one lingual lobe
- The root bends distally in the apical third

For lack of time review Mandibular Canines on IDA… sorry

Canine Guidance

Anterior Guidance: the anterior tooth contacts that provide guidance of the mandible
*Class I – normal *Class II – deep bite *Class II division 2 *Class III- end to end
*Class III ( under bite) *Anterior open bite
- Mandibular movement – is a complex series of 3-dimensional rotational and
translational activities that develops during periods of growth, integrating dynamic tooth
contact relationships, joint dynamics, and coordinated neuromuscular activity.
- Protrusive mandibular movement – mandible moves forward from closed position
- Lateral Mandibular movement- mandible moves from the patient’s right and left
from closed position.
- Canine Guidance – only opposing canines touch during the lateral movement of
excursion. No contact of posterior teeth on same side or opposite side.
- Group Function – Most favorable alternative to Canine Guidance, in addition to
the canines, some posterior teeth on the same side as the lateral excursion
direction touch during the lateral movement.

Premolars
Premolars-1st-10-11; 2nd-10-12
Similarities with anterior teeth
Fac surface develops from three lobes
Buccal ridge more prominent in max arch
One developmental lingual lobe(cingulum or cusp)
Exception-man 2nd premolar can have 2 lingual lobes
Taper from the facial, crowns are narrower in the cervical third than occlusually
Proximal CEJ is convex coronally
Facial and lingual CEJ is convex apically
Lingual and facial surfaces are convex
Lingual side of the root and crown are narrower than the buccal side
Differences with anterior teeth
Facial surface now called buccal
Occlusal not incisal
Possess one facial cusp and one or two lingual cusps
Marginal ridges are oriented in a horizontal plane (not vertical)
Premolar crowns are shorter than anterior tooth crowns
Premolar roots are about the same length as central inc roots, but shorter than canines
Height of contour-
mes and dis aspect, crest of curv on buccal and lin are more occlusal than anterior teeth
exception-man 1st located as far cervically as anterior
Proximal contact areas are more cervically located than anterior teeth
Class traits
Buccal aspect
Buccal cusp tip often slightly mes to long axis
Mes cusp slope shorter than the distal
Exception-max 1st cusp tip slightly to the dis
Both mes and dis are convex around the contact areas
Dis contact normally slightly more cervical than the mes
Exception-man 1st mes contact slightly more cervical
Buccal surface of crowns is convex
Buccal ridge runs occluso-cervically in the middle of the crown
Buccal and lingual aspects
Buccal surface of roots is convex with a n apical taper
Apical third may possess a distal bed
Lingual aspects
crown is narrower on the lingual than the buccal
exception-man 2nd with three cusps
lingual surface is convex
lingual surface of roots is convex and narrower mes-dis than the facial aspect
Proximal
buccal and ling triangular ridges meet in the central groove forming the transverse ridge
exception-man 2nd three cusp form
Height of contour-
mes and dis aspect, crest of curv on buccal and lin are more occlusal than anterior teeth
exception-man 1st located as far cervically as anterior
mesial marginal ridge more occlusal than distal
exception-man 1st
occlusal
coronal tooth dimensions are considerably wider FL than MD
both buc and ling cusps have mes and dis cusp ridges or slopes which travel cervically to
join the marginal ridges
triangular ridges extend from the cusp to the central groove (together form the transverse
ridge)
exception-three cusped man 2nd
centrally developmental groove runs mesiodistally
exception-man 1st
fossae possess supplemental grooves to the buccal and lingual
from the occlusal the prox contacts are either on or slightly buccal to the mid-root axis
line
MAX
Buccal
1st are widest
1st crown is longer
2nd appear squat
mes and dis sides converge more on 1st
junction of the cusp ridge and proximal surfaces are more broad and angular on 1st
mes contact is in the middle third, near the junction of the middle and occlusal third
dis contact is slightly more cervical(still in middle third)
contact areas are more cervical as we move dis in arch
1st has a cusp tip slightly to the dis of the mid-tooth line, creates a mes cusp ridge longer
than the dis cusp ridge
2nd is opposite of 9.
buccal cusp is relatively long and sharp on the 1st
mes and dis slopes meet at nearly right angles
cusp tip on 2nd not as pointed with ridges that are a more obtuse angle
prominent buccal ridge on 1st
mesial depression next to buccal ridge(rarely a dis)
buccal ridge less prominent on 2nd
2nd root is longer on average than 1st
root to crown ration is highest for any max tooth
apical portion of the root of both premolars frequently bends to the distal
can bend mesially or straight, but not usually
buccal and mesial
1st usually has two divided roots branching from a common trunk
occasionally lingual root tip from buccal 1st
Lingual
narrower on the lingual side than buccal
ling cusp is shorter than the buc (noticeably on 1st)
mes and dis cusp ridges meet at a rounded cusp tip (sharper than molars)
cusp tip always bends toward the mesial on unworn lingual cusps
lingual root of two-rooted 1st is shorter than buc
both 1st and 2nd roots taper lingually
Proximal aspect
1st have prominent concavity cervical to the contact area
from prox the buc cusp tip is longer than ling cusp tip on 1st, nearly equal in 2nd
both cusps located well within the boundary of the root contour
2nd cusp tips are slightly closer together than first
dis marginal ridge is more cervical than mes marginal ridge so you can see more of the
occ surface from the dis
mes marginal ridge of 1st crossed by groove
less frequently see dis marg ridge groove
see mes and dis groove on 2nd much less frequently
mes cervical line curves more occlusally than distal
lingual CEJ more occ than buccal
lingual height of contour located in the middle third
buccal located more cervical at the junction of the middle and cervical thirds
frequently see two roots on 1st
this bifurcation is in the apical third to half off the root
1st have a prominent root depression, distal root depression starts more apically
Occlusal
1st is larger than the 2nd
possess a central developmental groove
1st has a central groove longer than the 2nd
mes and dis pits are closer to the marginal ridges on 1st
fewer supplemental grooves on 1st
1st possess a mes marginal ridge groove
crown dimensions greater BL than MD
V shaped on buc due to large buc ridge on 1st
lingual portion is shifted to the mes
1st have narrower ling surface than buc
2nd only slight lingual taper
ling crest of curvature is usually mes to a center line of tooth for both
1st mes aspect is straight or concave
dis is longer BL and more rounded
2nd is typically more symmetrical and less angular
mesial contacts are near the junction of the buccal and middle thirds
distal contact is more buccal on 1st than its mesial

Physiology of the Masticatory Apparatus and Surrounding Structures

- Maxillary and Mandibular arches are usually U-shaped

- On occasion they are tapered or V- shaped – generally occur in the maxillary
arch; due to pathologic narrowing of the anterior palate, or less commonly from a
severe thumb- sucking habit
- The arch of the maxilla tends to be larger than the arch of the mandible
- In the maxillary arch the canine and the first molar sit facial to the ideal ellipse
- In the mandibular arch the canine sits facial to the ideal ellipse
- The stability of the occlusion and the maintenance of tooth position are dependent
upon four primary forces that act upon teeth:
Occlusal forces, eruptive forces, Lip and cheek pressure, tongue pressure
- From the frontal perspective, the angulation of each anterior tooth’s long axis
converges toward the midline
- From a sagittal perspective, the angulation of each anterior tooth’s long axis flares
facially
- The form of teeth is consistent with the function they perform in mastication
Incising teeth – incisors tearing teeth- canines and premolars crushing teeth -
molars

- Form and function of the masticatory apparatus depends on :

Morphology of the teeth, angulation of the teeth, health of the periodontium,
anatomy of the supporting skeletal structures, origins and insertions of the
musculature, types of forces generated by the musculature, anatomy of the TM
joint, health of the overall system
 - proper curvatures are essential for proper function and good overall health of the
masticatory system
- over or undercontoured restorations decrease the self cleansing efficiency of the
dentition
- In evaluating proper curvatures we will consider:
- Proximal contact areas, interporximal spaces, embrasures, labial and buccal
contours, lingual contours, curvatures on the mesial and distal cervical lines
(proper curvatures have a direct bearing on the protection of the periodontium)
- Interproximal contacts – areas where adjacent teeth touch, located on the mesial
and distal surfaces teeth; these are not mere points
- The proper contact relation between neighboring teeth is important for the
following reasons:
It serves to keep food from packing between teeth and helps stabilize the dental
arches by the combined anchorage of all teeth
- Contact areas increase in size and are more cervically located as you move from
anterior teeth to posterior teeth
- Anterior teeth have interproximal contact areas that are normally centered in the
FL dimension
- Posterior teeth have interproximal contact areas that can be centered or located
buccal of center in BL dimension.
- There is normally a separation of 1 to 1.5 mm between the enamel and the
alveolar bone in a normal occlusion in the absence of disease
- When two teeth in the same arch are in contact, their curvatures adjacent to the
contact areas form spillway spaces called embrasure : buccal/ labial, lingual,
incisal/ occlusal, and gingival
- Function of Enbrasures:
o Creates a spillway for the escape of food during mastication
o Prevents food from being forced through the contact areas
- Alveolar crest – retain the tooth in alveolus, oppose lateral forces, and protect
deeper periodontal ligament structures
- Oblique – oppose axially directed forces
- Transseptal – prevent teeth from losing contact
- Horizontal – oppose lateral forces
- Interradicular – prevent tooth tipping and extrusion
- Apical – prevent tooth tipping and extrusion, protect vessel and nerve supply to
the tooth.

Physiologic Form of the Teeth and Periodontium

- Interproximal spaces are triangular spaces normally filled gingival tissue; the apex
of the triangle is the area of contact, the sides of the triangle are the proximal
surfaces of contacting teeth, the base of the triangle is the alveolar process.
- Contact areas of maxillary central incisors –V-shaped and larger lingually than
facially
- Contact areas of the maxillary canine and first premolar – centered on the distal
surface of the canine, but a little buccal to the center of the 1st premolar
 - Contacts of maxillary 1st and 2nd premolars – towards the buccal
- Contacts of maxillary 2nd premolars and 1st molars – towards the buccal on the
distal of the premolar, buccally located on the molar
- Contact areas of maxillary 1st and 2nd molars – broad and centered labiolingually
on the distal, buccally on the mesial
- Contact areas of maxillary 2nd and 3rd molars – Broad and centered labiolingually
on the distal, buccally on the mesial
- Contact areas of mandibular central incisors – centered labiolingually
- Contact areas of mandibular central incisors and laterals – centered labiolingually
- Contact areas of the mandibular lateral and canines – centered labiolingually
- Contact areas of mandibular canines and 1st premolars – centered labiolingually
on the canine, buccally on the premolar
- Contact areas of mandibular 1st and 2nd premolars – towards buccal,broader than
previous two teeth
- Contacts of mandibular 2nd premolars and 1st molars – wide and located on the
buccal of the premolar, buccally located on the molar
- Contact areas of 1st and 2nd mandibular molars – broad and bucally located
- LASTLY Contact areas of the 2nd and 3rd mandibular molars – broad and buccally
located.

Final is Friday… Hope this helps.