THE PERMANENT INCISOR TEETH

Introduction/Morphology/Function/Lo cation

Maxillary Central Incisor

Chronology
3-4 months

Initial calcification

Crown completion

4-5 years

Eruption into occlusion

Root completion

7-8 years
10 years

Maxillary Central Incisor

The maxillary central incisor is the first tooth closest to the midline. It is the most prominent tooth in the mouth.

 These teeth, along with the lateral incisors, play an important part of a person's appearance. Their shape, color, size, and placement directly relate to how a person looks.

 The labial surface is convex, both mesial to distal and gingival to incisal. The root is about one and a half to two times the length of the crown. The root appears constricted at the CEJ and then swells in the body, tapering suddenly at the apical portion. Therefore, it ends in a rather blunt apex. The root tends to incline slightly distally.

Labial:
It has a nearly straight incisal edge and a gracefully curved cervical line. The mesial presents a straight outline; the distal aspect is more rounded. Mamelons are present on freshly erupted, unworn central incisors. Proximal height of contour of the MESIAL surface is in the incisal 1/3 and the distal height of contour is at the junction of the incisal and middle 1/3, mesio-facio-incisal point angle is quite sharp, quite pointed, and the disto-facioincisal angle is more rounded.

distoincisal angle

mesioincisal angle

Lingual:
The lingual aspect presents a distinctive lingual fossa that is bordered by mesial and distal marginal ridges, the incisal edge, and the prominent cingulum at the gingival. The lingual surface is concave, except the gingival one-third where the cingulum is present The lingual height of contour is shown in the center of the lingual aspect of the cingulum and is located in the gingival 1/3 of the lingual surface, which is typical of most BUT NOT ALL teeth.

Lingual fossa
Marginal ridges

cingulum

Incisal ridge

Proximal:
When viewed mesially or distally, the crown appears wedge-shaped and leans lingually. The incisal ridge of the crown is aligned on the long axis of the tooth along with the apex of the tooth. The lingual surface is concave, except the gingival one-third where the cingulum is present.
Undulation of cervical margin greater on mesial aspect

Mesial

Distal

Incisal:
The incisal edge is nearly a straight line, though slightly crescent shaped. Distal contour is broader and more rounded than the mesial contour
M

Root
One tapering root which, when looked at in cross-section, is roughly triangular with rounded angles. There is only one root canal but two pulp horns one mesial and one distal.

GEOMETRIC FORM of the MAXILLARY CENTRAL INCISOR:

Labial

Lingual

Maxillary lateral incissor

Chronology
Initial calcification
10-12 months

Crown completion

4-5 years

Eruption into occlusion

8-9 years

Root completion

11 years

Labial
The maxillary lateral incisor resembles the central incisor, but is narrower mesio-distally. The cervical region is narrowed mesio-distally, giving a long mesial surface with a sharp mesio-incisal angle and a short distal surface with a pronounced rounding of the disto-incisal angle The mesial contact is at the junction of the incisal third and the middle third. The distal contact is located at the center of the middle third of the distal surface.

Distal inicsal angle

Mesial Incisal angle

Lingual
The lingual surface has two pronounced marginal ridges.

Marginal ridges

NOTICE: the mesial and distal marginal ridges meet at a V-notch just incisal to the cingulum. This V-notch is often punctuated with a deep pit. (Sometimes a deep invagination occurs here called a Dens-in-Dente; or tooth within a tooth). You should check on this term in the textbook. But, in any case, a deep pit, called the LINGUAL PIT is frequently present on this surface of the lateral incisor. It is important here to learn a new term: "LINGUOGINGIVAL FISSURE". This feature appears frequently on maxillary lateral incisors and some maxillary canines. It is a vertical crack, a non-coalesced or non-fused fissure eminating from the point at which the mesial and distal marginal ridges meet at the crest of the cingulum. This vertical fissure is not seen on all maxillary lateral incisors, but it is frequently present. It may run vertically from the lingual pit, up over the crest of the union of the two marginal ridges and then proceed apically toward the cemento-enamel junction on the lingual aspect of the cingulum. It is rarely, but sometimes present, on maxillary central incisors and never on mandibular incisors. The rest of the lingual surface of this tooth is not remarkable compared to the central inciso

Proximal
The crown appears wedgeshaped when viewed mesially or distally.

Mesial

Distal

Incisal
The tooth is narrower mesiodistally than the upper central incisor; however, it is nearly as thick labiolingually.

VIEW of the ROOT in CROSS SECTION:

In this view the root of the maxillary lateral appears identical to that of the maxillary central incisor, but smaller in diameter and circumference.

Mandibular Central Incisor

Chronology
Initial calcification 3-4 months

Crown completion

4-5 years

Eruption into occlusion Root completion

6-7 years 9 years

Labial
The mandibular central incisor is the smallest tooth in the dental arch. It is a long, narrow, symmetrical tooth. The incisal edge is straight. Mesial and distal outlines descend apically from the sharp mesial and distal incisal angles. The crown, when viewed labially, appears flat and almost symmetrical. The disto-incisal angle is marginally rounder than the mesio-incisal angle.

Lingual:
The lingual surface has no definite marginal ridges. The surface is concave and the cingulum is minimal in size.

Proximal:
Both mesial and distal surfaces present a triangular outline. From the mesial or distal aspect the crown appears wedge-shaped and leans lingually. As in the maxillary anterior teeth the cervical undulation is greater on the mesial surface. The mesial and distal surfaces are grooved, the distal groove being more pronounced than the mesial groove.

Mesial

Distal

Incisal:
The incisal edge is at right angles to a line passing labiolingually through the tooth reflecting its bilateral symmetry.

Root
One root which is flattened mesiodistally. One root canal and a mesial and distal pulp horn. Slender, thin mesiodistally and wide faciolingually.

Mandibular lateral incisor

Chronology
Initial calcification 3-4 months

Crown completion

4-5 years

Eruption into occlusion

7-8 years

Root completion

10 years

Labial
This tooth resembles the central incisor, but is somewhat larger in most proportions. There is a lack of the bilateral symmetry seen in the central. The mesio-incisal angle is sharp and the disto-incisal angle rounded. The mesial side is slightly longer than the distal side.
D M

Mandibular

Central incisor

Lateral incisor

Lingual
Except for the lack of symmetry, this tooth resemble the central. The lingual surface is similar to that of the central incisor.

Proximal
Like the central, the crown presents a triangular outline. From the mesial or distal aspect the crown is wedgeshaped and leans lingually. The cervical undulation is greater on the mesial surface.
Mesial Distal

Incisal
The incisal edge 'twisted' from the 90 degree angle with a line passing labiolingually through the tooth. Viewed from the incisal edge the crown is slightly twisted on the root to follow the dental arch

MAXILLARY AND MANDIBULAR CANINES

General characteristics of All Canines

Class Traits

Crowns are pentagon shaped (facial views).

Pentagon Shape

Cusps have mesial ridges shorter than distal ridges (facial views).

Maxillary Right Canine

Vertical labial ridges are prominent (more so on maxillary canines).

Facial View

Crowns are wider faciolingually than mesiodistally (similar to mandibular incisors) (incisal views).

labial

distal

mesial

Lingual

Type (and Arch) Traits That Distinguish the Maxillary Canine from the mandibular Canine

Both maxillary and mandibular canine crowns are oblong with the mesiodistal dimension less than the incisocervical dimension, but the dimension of mandibular canines is more narrow than on maxillary canines.

Maxillary Facial View

Mandibular

Maxillary canines have mesial crown contours convex to flat cervically versus mandibular canines which have mesial crown contours more on line with the contour of the root.

Maxillary Facial View

Mandibular

Lingual ridges with mesial and distal fossae are less prominent on mandibular canines than maxillary canines.

Maxillary Lingual View

Mandibular

Cingula of maxillary canines are large and centered mesiodistally. On mandibular canines they are often slightly to the distal. D

Maxillary

Mandibular

Incisal View

Incisal ridges on maxillary canines are straighter mesiodistally. On mandibular canines the distal cusp ridge bends distolingually.

Maxillary

Mandibular

Incisal View

The cusp tip of the maxillary canine is on or labial to the root axis
whereas the mandibular cusp tip is lingual to the root axis line. (proximal & incisal view)

labial

labial

lingual
Maxillary

lingual Mandibular

Type Traits Distinguishing Maxillary 1st from 2nd Premolars

Max right 1st pm

Mesial

Distal

Maxillary right 2nd pm

Mesial

Distal

Buccal cusps of maxillary 1st premolars are tipped more to the distal with mesial cusp slopes longer than distal cusp slopes. THESE ARE THE ONLY PREMOLARS WITH THESE CHARARACTERISTICS.

Maxillary 1st PM

Maxillary 2nd PM

Buccal cusps of maxillary 1st premolars are more pointed versus maxillary 2nd premolars where they are more obtuse.

Maxillary 1st PM

Maxillary 2nd PM

Buccal ridges are more prominent in maxillary 1st premolars.

Maxillary 1st PM

Maxillary 2nd PM

Maxillary 1st premolars usually have a divided root versus maxillary 2nd premolars which usually have one root.

mesial

mesial

Maxillary premolars have their lingual cusps tipped (bent) toward the mesial.

Lingual cusp displaced mesially

Maxillary 1st PM Lingual View

Maxillary 2nd PM

Both maxillary premolars have mesial and distal root depressions but only the maxillary 1st premolars exhibit a mesial crown concavity.

Mesial View

Maxillary 1st PM

Maxillary 2nd PM

Mesial marginal ridge grooves are almost always present on maxillary 1st premolars and are less common on maxillary 2nd premolars.
Occlusal View

Maxillary 1st PM

Maxillary 2nd PM

The central developmental grooves on maxillary 1st premolars are longer (from mesial to distal pit) than those of maxillary 2nd premolars where they are only 1/3 or less of the mesiodistal dimension.

Occlusal View

Maxillary 1st PM

Maxillary 2nd PM

Occlusal outlines of maxillary 1st premolars are more asymmetrical with the lingual cusp tip bent mesially, and mesial marginal ridge straight to concave, versus maxillary 2nd premolars which are more symmetrical overall.

Occlusal View

Maxillary 1st PM

Maxillary 2nd PM

Buccal cusp
Distobuccal cusp ridge Mesiobuccal cusp ridge

Buccal triangular ridge

Central developmental groove

Distal marginal ridge

Transverse ridge Lingual triangular ridge Mesial marginal ridge Mesiolingual cusp ridge

Distolingual cusp ridge

Lingual cusp

Maxillary right 1st PM occlusal surface

Buccal cusp

Distobuccal cusp ridge

Mesiobuccal cusp ridge T r a n v e r s e ri d g e

Central developmental groove

Buccal triangular ridge Lingual triangular ridge

Distal marginal ridge

Mesial marginal ridge Mesiolingual cusp ridge

Distolingual cusp ridge

Lingual cusp

Maxillary 1st PM Mesial View

Buccal root

Lingual root

Mesial developmental depression

Mesial marginal developmental groove

Buccal cusp

Lingual cusp

Maxillary 1st PM Mesial View

Buccal root Lingual root

Mesial developmental depression

Mesial marginal developmental groove

Lingual cusp Buccal cusp

Mand 1st & 2nd PM

Type Traits Distinguishing st from 2nd Premolars Mandibular 1

Mand right 1st pm

Mesial

Distal

Mand rt 2nd pm

Mesial

Distal

Mandibular 1st premolar buccal cusps are more pointed versus on 2nd premolar where they are more obtuse.
Facial View D M M

Mandibular 1st PM

Mandibular 2nd PM

Mesial proximal contacts (and marginal ridges) of mandibular 2nd premolars are more occlusal than distal contacts (following the general rule)

whereas the reverse is true on mandibular 1st premolars (EXCEPTION) where mesial contacts and marginal ridges are more cervical.
Facial View

Mandibular 1st PM

Mandibular 2nd PM

Lingual cusps of mandibular 1st premolars are very small and nonfunctional. On 2nd premolars the lingual cusps function and are relatively longer. Mesial View

Mandibular 1st PM

Mandibular 2nd PM

Lingual cusps of mandibular 2nd premolars are positioned to the mesial (or, if there are two lingual cusps, the mesiolingual is the more prominent).

Lingual View

Mandibular 1st PM

Mandibular 2nd PM

Mandibular 1st premolars have a mesiolingual groove separating the mesial marginal ridge from the lingual cusp while 2nd premolars do not possess this characteristic.

Lingual View

Mesial View

Mandibular 1st PM Mandibular 2nd PM

Mandibular 1st PM Mandibular 2nd PM

Mesial marginal ridges of 1st premolars slope cervically toward the lingual at about 45 from horizontal. On 2nd premolars they are more horizontal.

Mesial View

Mandibular 1st PM

Mandibular 2nd PM

The mesial root surfaces of mandibular 2nd premolars are the only premolar root surface (maxillary and mandibular, mesial and distal) not likely to have a mid-root depression.

Mesial

Mandibular 2nd PM

Mandibular 1st premolars are the only premolars that have the mesiolingual corner, with its mesiolingual groove and low marginal ridge, pinched or squeezed in, forming about a 45 angle with the lingual surface. This makes the occlusal outline somewhat diamond shaped.

Occlusal View

Mandibular 1st PM

Mandibular 2nd PM

Two types of mandibular 2nd premolars U type Two cusp type round a. Bucal cusp b. Lingual cusp H type

Three cusp type

-Square -Buccal cusp largest -Mesiolingual cusp -Distolingual cusp-smallest