Tooth ID: Tooth Fast Facts

Developmental depressions are present in the incisal third

What facial developmental feature is characteristic of the maxillary central incisor?

Imbrication lines may be present in the cervical third

What cervical facial feature may be present on the maxillary central incisor?

More likely than the central to have a linguogingival developmental groove

Which maxillary incisor is more likely to have a linguogingival developmental groove near the cingulum?

Prominent labial ridge and lingual ridge

What ridges are especially prominent on the maxillary canine?

Mesial half is thicker labiolingually and more convex

How do the mesial and distal halves of the maxillary canine compare from the incisal view?

Cusp ridges occupy about 1/3 of the crown height

How much of the crown height is occupied by the cusp ridges of the maxillary canine?

Cusp ridges occupy about 1/4 to 1/5 of the crown height

How much of the crown height is occupied by the cusp ridges of the mandibular canine?

Cusp tip appears displaced mesially

Where is the cusp tip positioned on the mandibular canine?

Mesial half is thicker labiolingually and more convex

How do the mesial and distal halves of the mandibular canine compare from the incisal view?

Buccal developmental depressions usually present

What facial developmental feature is commonly present on the mandibular first premolar?

Mesial and distal fossae are often irregular in shape

How are the fossae of the mandibular first premolar described?

Marginal ridges are thicker than on the maxillary first premolar

How do the marginal ridges of the maxillary second premolar compare with the first premolar?

Mesial marginal ridge, central groove, and distal marginal ridge each occupy about 1/3 of the occlusal surface

How is the occlusal surface of the maxillary second premolar divided mesiodistally?

Distal contact is more centered buccolingually than the mesial contact

How do the proximal contacts compare on the maxillary first molar?

Mesial contact is more centered buccolingually than on the maxillary first molar

How does the mesial contact of the maxillary second molar compare with the first molar?

Cervical bulge is more prominent on MB than DB

How does the buccal cervical bulge compare on the maxillary second molar?

Cervical bulge is more prominent on MB than DB

How does the buccal cervical bulge compare on the maxillary third molar?

Buccal cusps are close together and may be fused

What root/cusp relationship is characteristic of the maxillary third molar from the buccal aspect?

Wrinkled appearance from abundant supplemental anatomy

What occlusal surface appearance is common on maxillary and mandibular third molars?

Mesioincisal and distoincisal angles may appear nearly equal

How do the incisal angles often compare on the mandibular central incisor?

Cingulum may be slightly distal

Where may the cingulum be positioned on the mandibular central incisor?

Incisal ridge appears twisted on the root

How does the mandibular lateral incisor appear from the incisal view?

Buccal cervical bulge

What cervical crown feature is emphasized on the mandibular first molar?

Occlusal grooves are usually symmetrical

How are the occlusal grooves of the mandibular second molar described?

Lingual cusps are more pointed than facial cusps

How do lingual and facial cusps compare on the mandibular second molar?

Mesial cusps are slightly larger than distal cusps

How do mesial and distal cusp sizes compare on the mandibular second molar?

Distal cervical line is straighter than mesial cervical line

How do the mesial and distal cervical lines compare on the mandibular second molar?

Mesial marginal ridge is more occlusal than distal marginal ridge

How do the mesial and distal marginal ridges compare on the mandibular second molar?

Roots vary in number, size, and curvature and are often fused

Describe the root variability of the mandibular third molar.

4 major cusps + possible Cusp of Carabelli

How many cusps does a maxillary 1st molar have?

3 roots

How many roots does a maxillary 1st molar have?

Buccal HOC = cervical third; lingual HOC = middle third

What are the heights of contour on a maxillary 1st molar?

Mesial contact is more buccal; distal contact is more centered buccolingually

How do the proximal contacts compare on a maxillary 1st molar?

Rhomboidal

What is the occlusal outline of a maxillary 1st molar?

Oblique ridge

What major ridge is characteristic of a maxillary 1st molar?

Mesiolingual

Which cusp is largest on a maxillary 1st molar?

Lingual half is wider mesiodistally than buccal half

How does mesiodistal width compare between the lingual and buccal halves of a maxillary 1st molar?

DL cusp is smaller than on the 1st molar

How does the DL cusp of a maxillary 2nd molar compare with the 1st?

3 roots, usually closer together than on the 1st molar

How many roots does a maxillary 2nd molar have, and how do they compare with the 1st molar?

Buccal half is wider mesiodistally than lingual half

How does mesiodistal width compare between the buccal and lingual halves of a maxillary 2nd molar?

4 cusps, ML largest

How many cusps does a maxillary 2nd molar usually have, and which is largest?

Highly variable; may have 3 or 4 cusps

How many cusps may a maxillary 3rd molar have?

3-cusp form is heart-shaped

What is the occlusal outline of a 3-cusp maxillary 3rd molar?

Roots are shorter and often close together/fused

Describe the roots of a maxillary 3rd molar.

5 cusps

How many cusps does a mandibular 1st molar have?

3 buccal + 2 lingual

How are the cusps distributed on a mandibular 1st molar?

MB > ML > DL > DB > D

What is the cusp-size order of a mandibular 1st molar?

2 roots: mesial and distal

How many roots does a mandibular 1st molar have?

Buccal HOC = cervical third; lingual HOC = middle third

What are the heights of contour on a mandibular 1st molar?

Lingual CEJ is more occlusal than buccal CEJ

How does the CEJ compare on the buccal vs lingual surfaces of a mandibular 1st molar?

Buccal half is wider mesiodistally

Which half of a mandibular 1st molar is wider mesiodistally?

Mesial half is wider buccolingually

Which half of a mandibular 1st molar is wider buccolingually?

4 cusps of relatively even size

How many cusps does a mandibular 2nd molar have?

+ pattern

What is the typical groove pattern of a mandibular 2nd molar?

2 roots, closer together than on the 1st molar

How many roots does a mandibular 2nd molar have, and how do they compare with the 1st molar?

Buccal HOC = cervical third; lingual HOC = middle third

What are the heights of contour on a mandibular 2nd molar?

Mesial half

Which half has the larger buccal cervical bulge on a mandibular 2nd molar?

Highly variable

How many cusps does a mandibular 3rd molar have?

Roots vary and are often fused

Describe the roots of a mandibular 3rd molar.

Buccal HOC = cervical third; lingual HOC = middle third

What are the heights of contour on a mandibular 3rd molar?

Usually 2 cusps

How many cusps does a maxillary 1st premolar have?

Buccal cusp is about 1 mm longer than lingual

How do cusp heights compare on a maxillary 1st premolar?

Usually 2 roots

How many roots does a maxillary 1st premolar usually have?

Mesial developmental groove

What marginal groove is characteristic of a maxillary 1st premolar?

Mesial developmental depression extending from root onto crown

What proximal depression is characteristic of a maxillary 1st premolar?

Lingual cusp is offset mesially

How is the lingual cusp positioned on a maxillary 1st premolar?

Usually 2 cusps

How many cusps does a maxillary 2nd premolar have?

Buccal and lingual cusps nearly equal in height

How do cusp heights compare on a maxillary 2nd premolar?

Usually 1 root

How many roots does a maxillary 2nd premolar usually have?

No mesial concavity or mesial marginal groove

What mesial features are usually absent on a maxillary 2nd premolar?

Shorter central groove with more supplemental anatomy

Describe the central groove/supplemental anatomy of a maxillary 2nd premolar.

2 cusps

How many cusps does a mandibular 1st premolar have?

Lingual cusp is much smaller than buccal

How do cusp sizes compare on a mandibular 1st premolar?

Mesiolingual developmental groove

What groove is characteristic of a mandibular 1st premolar?

Prominent transverse ridge

What ridge is prominent on a mandibular 1st premolar?

Mesial marginal ridge slopes lingually at about 45°

Describe the mesial marginal ridge of a mandibular 1st premolar.

Usually 1 root

How many roots does a mandibular 1st premolar have?

Usually 3 cusps

How many cusps does a mandibular 2nd premolar usually have?

1 buccal + ML + DL

What is the usual cusp arrangement of a 3-cusp mandibular 2nd premolar?

Buccal > ML > DL

What is the cusp-size order of a 3-cusp mandibular 2nd premolar?

Y pattern

What groove pattern is typical of the 3-cusp mandibular 2nd premolar?

H or U pattern

What groove patterns are typical of the 2-cusp mandibular 2nd premolar?

Square

What is the occlusal outline of the mandibular 2nd premolar?

Nearly horizontal

How are the mesial and distal marginal ridges oriented on a mandibular 2nd premolar?

1 cusp

How many cusps does a maxillary canine have?

Mesial cusp ridge shorter than distal before wear

How do the cusp ridges compare on an unworn maxillary canine?

Bulky, smooth cingulum

Describe the cingulum of a maxillary canine.

More incisal curvature mesially

How does the CEJ compare mesially vs distally on a maxillary canine?

Asymmetrical diamond

What is the incisal-view outline of a maxillary canine?

1 cusp

How many cusps does a mandibular canine have?

Mesial cusp ridge shorter than distal

How do the cusp ridges compare on a mandibular canine?

Mesial crown/root outline nearly straight

Describe the mesial outline of a mandibular canine.

Mesial contact more incisal than distal

How do the contacts compare on a mandibular canine?

Less-developed lingual anatomy than maxillary canine

How does the lingual anatomy of the mandibular canine compare with the maxillary canine?

0 cusps; incisal edge

How many cusps does a maxillary central incisor have?

Mesioincisal sharper than distoincisal

How do the incisal angles compare on a maxillary central incisor?

Mesial CEJ curves more incisally than distal

How does the CEJ compare mesially vs distally on a maxillary central incisor?

Straight root

Describe the root of a maxillary central incisor.

0 cusps; incisal edge

How many cusps does a maxillary lateral incisor have?

More rounded angles than maxillary central

How do the incisal angles of a maxillary lateral compare with the central?