MORPHOLOGY OF

DECIDUOUS DENTITION

Presented by - Sharib
Hussain JR1

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION
MEASUREMENTS OF EACH TOOTH
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EACH
TOOTH
CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS
REFERENCES

INTRODUCTION
SETS OF TEETH

PRIMARY or
DECIDUOUS
DENTITION

PRIMARY- begins from

14 weeks in utero till 3

years of age.

PERMANENT
DENTITION

PERMANENT-begins to
erupt at the age of 6
and completed at the
age of 14 to 15 except
3rd that is completed at
the age of 18 to 25.

MEASUREMENT OF PRIMARY TEETH

MAXILLARY
LENGTH
OVERALL

LENGTH OF
CROWN

LENGTH OF
ROOT

CENTRAL
INCISOR

16 M.M

6 M.M

10 M.M

LATERAL
INCISOR

17 M.M

5.6 M.M

11.4 M.M

20 M.M

6.5 M.M

13.5 M.M

15.2 M.M

5.2 M.M

CANINE
FIRST MOLAR
SECOND MOLAR

17.4 M.M

5.7 M.M

10 M.M
11.7 M.M

MEASUREMENT OF PRIMARY TEETH

MANDIBULAR
LENGTH
OVERALL
CENTRAL
INCISOR
LATERAL
INCISOR

14 M.M

15.2 M.M

CANINE

17.5 M.M

FIRST MOLAR

15.8 M.M

SECOND MOLAR

16.8 M.M

LENGTH OF
CROWN

LENGTH OF
ROOT

5 M.M

9 M.M

5.2

10 M.M

6 M.M

6 M.M

5.5 M.M

11.5 M.M

9.8 MM

11.3 M.M

MAXILLARY CENTRAL INCISOR

LABIAL ASPECT

LINGUAL ASPECT
ROOT

CERVICAL LINE
CROWN

DISTO INCISAL ANGLE

MESIO INCISAL ANGLE

CINGULUM
MMR
LINGUAL FOSSA

DMR

MMR

DMR
CINGULUM

LABIAL OUTLINE

LINGUAL OUTLINE

LATERAL INCISOR

ROOT

CERVICAL LINE
CROWN

CINGULUM
LINGUAL FOSSA

INCISAL RIDGE

DMR

MMR

CINGULUM
ROOT

LABIAL OUTLINE
LINGUAL OUTLINE

MAXILLARY CANINE

ROOT

CERVICAL LINE
CINGULUM
MMR
DMR
DISTAL SLOPE LINGUAL RIDGE
MESIAL SLOPE
BUCCAL CUSP

DISTAL CUSP RIDGE

MESIAL CUSP RIDGE

DMR

MMR

CINGULUM

ROOT

CINGULUM
LABIAL OUTLINE
LINGUAL OUTLINE

MANDIBULAR CENTRAL
INCISOR
CROWN

LINGUAL FOSSA

CINGULUM
CERVICAL LINE

ROOT

LABIAL OUTLINE
LINGUAL OUTLINE
CINGULUM

ROOT

INCISAL RIDGE

MMR

MMR

CINGULUM

MANDIBULAR LATERAL INCISOR

outline is similar to
those of primary
central incisor.

larger in all measurements

except labiolingually
where two teeth are
practically identical.
INCISAL RIDGE

CROWN

LINGUAL FOSSA
CINGULUM
CERVICAL LINE

ROOT

LABIAL OUTLINE
LINGUAL OUTLINE

ROOT

INCISAL RIDGE

MMR

DMR

CINGULUM

MANDIBULAR CANINE
CROWN

DMR
MMR
CINGULUM

CERVICAL LINE

ROOT

LABIAL OUTLINE
LINGUAL OUTLINE

ROOT

MESIAL CUSP RIDGE

DISTAL CUSP RIDGE

CINGULUM

MAXILLARY FIRST MOLAR

LINGUAL ROOT

MB ROOT

DB ROOT

CERVICAL LINE

BD GROOVE

LD GROOVE

LINGUAL ROOT
DB ROOT
MB ROOT

ML CUSP
MB CUSP

DB CUSP
DL CUSP

OCCLUSAL ASPECT

rectangular with shortest sides of rectangle represented by

marginal ridges.
In occlusal surface central fossa a mesial triangular fossa is just
inside a mesial marginal ridge with a mesial pit in this fossa.

MAXILLARY SECOND MOLAR

LINGUAL ROOT

MB ROOT

DB ROOT

CERVICAL LINE

BD GROOVE

LD GROOVE
FIFTH CUSP

 BUCCAL ASPECT
It has characteristics resembling the permenant maxillary
first molar but it is smaller.
There are two well defined buccal cusps with a buccal
developmental groove between them.
Crown is much larger than that of first primary molar.
Point of bifurcation between buccal roots is close to
cervical line of crown.

LINGUAL ASPECT The crown shows three cusps.

Mesiolingual cusp which is large and well developed.
Third is supplemental cusp which is apical to mesiolingual
cusp and is called as TUBERCLE OF CARABELLI or fifth
cusp.
This cusp is poorly developed.

OCCLUSAL ASPECTRhomboidal and has four well developed cusps and one
supplementary cusp-.
Occlusal surface has a central fossa with a central pit, a well
defined mesial triangular fossa, just distal to mesial marginal
ridge, with a mesial pit at its center.
Oblique ridge is prominent and connects mesiolingual cusp
with distobuccal cusp.
Distal to oblique ridge ,distal fossa is found which harbours
distal developmental groove.

MANDIBULAR FIRST MOLAR

MB CUSP

ML CUSP

DB CUSP

DL CUSP

CERVICAL LINE

DISTAL ROOT

MESIAL ROOT

LINGUAL

 BUCCAL ASPECT From the buccal aspect , mesial outline of this crown is
almost straight from contact areas to cervix, constricting
the crownvery little at the cervix.distal portion of crown is
shorter than mesial portion.
Two buccal cusps are rather distinct, mesial cusp is larger
than distal cusp.
Roots are long and slender.
LINGUAL ASPECT-The crown and root converge lingually
to a marked degree on mesial surface.
Distolingual cusp is rounded.
Mesiolingual cusp is long and sharp at the tip.

MB CUSP
ML CUSP

DB CUSP
DL CUSP

DISTAL ROOT
MESIAL ROOT

MESIAL ASPECT

DISTAL ASPECT

OCCLUSAL ASPECTIt is rhomboidal.

Mesiolingual cusp is larlest and well developed.
Buccal developmental groove of occlusal surface divides the two
buccal cusps evenly.
Mesiobuccal cusp has a well defind triangular ridge on the occlusal
surface which terminates in the center of occlusal surface
buccolingually at the central developmental groove.

MANDIBULAR SECOND
MOLAR
MB CUSP

DB CUSP

ML CUSP

DISTAL CUSP

DL
CUSP

CERVICAL LINE

MESIAL ROOT

DISTAL ROOT

BUCCAL ASPECT
The mesiobuccal and distobuccal developmental grooves
divide the buccal surface of crown occlusally into three
cuspal portions almost equal in size.
It has mesiobuccal, buccal and distobuccal cusps.
It differs from mandibular permanent first molar which has
uneven distribution buccally, presenting two buccal cusps
and one distal cusp. Roots are long and slender.
Point of bifurcation of roots starts immediately below CEJ of
crown and root.
LINGUAL ASPECT Two cusps of almost equal dimensions are observed.
A short lingual groove is between them.
The two lingual cusps are not quite as wide as the three
buccal cusps; this arrangement narrows the crown lingually.
Roots from this aspect give somewhat the same appearance
as from the buccal aspect.

MB CUSP
ML CUSP

DB CUSP
DL CUSP

MESIAL ROOT

DISTAL ROOT

 MESIAL ASPECT
Crown resembles permanent mandibular first
molar.
Lingual cusp is longer than buccal cusp.
Mesial root is broad and flat with a blunt apex.
DISTAL ASPECT
Crown is not wide distally as it is mesially;
therefore it is possible to see mesiobuccal and
distobuccal cusps from this aspect.
Distolingual cusp is well developed .
Distal marginal dips down more sharply and it is
shorter buccolingually than the mesial marginal
ridge.
Distal root is almost as broad as mesial root and is
flattened over distal surface.

OCCLUSAL ASPECTIt is somewhat rectangular.

Three buccal cusps are similar in size.
Two lingual cusps are also equally matched.
Well defined triangular ridges extend occlusally
from each of cusp tips.
Distal triangular fossa is not well defind as mesial triangular fossa.

CLINICAL CONSIDERATION
Maximum thickness of enamel is 1-1.5 mm. So depth of
cavity should be less.
Broad contact areas in deciduous dentition require more
width of proximal box.
Pulpal floor is made saucer shaped high pulp horns.
Marked cervical constriction so cautions to keep MD
extension less to avoid pulpal exposure.
Usally MOD cavity should not be restored with amalgum
alone as it can lead to fracture of tooth so it should be
restored with stainless steel crown.

CONCLUSION
Though when the child is born, there is no
presence of teeth in the oral cavity, but
the development of tooth had already
initiated in the alveolar process. It is
important to understand the normal
morphology of individual tooth and to
appreciate their role according to the
requirement.

REFERENCES
Dental Anatomy , Physiology and
Occlusion

Nelson and Ash

Dental Anatomy Its Relevance To Dentistry

Julian B. Woelfel

Rickne C.Scheid
Dentistry for Child and Adolescent