Mandibular vs. Maxillary, Numbering, and Siding

Mandibular Incisors

Mandibular are smaller than maxillary; flat roots; crown more slender

Maxillary Incisors

Maxillary crown is larger than mandibular, more spatulate; Round roots

Mandibular Incisor 1 vs. 2

Second is larger and more spatulate, first is more slender

Maxillary Incisors 1 vs. 2

First is much larger; second is smaller but shaped like the first

Siding Incisors

Roots tip to side; Crown curved on side; Cervical margin more sinous on mesial side (more deeply convex)

Mandibular Canines

Shorter roots than maxillary; Taller, sleeker crown

Maxillary Canines

Robust, long roots; Shorter, broad crown

Siding Canines

Roots tip to side; Crown shorter on mesial; Crown protrudes on distal; Cervical margin more sinous on mesial side

Mandibular Premolars

Round to oval with 2 cusps; shorter roots, single root; Rounder crown, larger buccal cusp connected to lingual by enamel ridge

Maxillary Premolars

Round to oval with 2 cusps; Larger roots, sometimes there are 2 roots; More oval crown, cusps separated by a groove

Mandibular Premolars 3 vs. 4

PM3 has a rounder crown vs. PM4 which has a more squared crown, also cusps and basins are an equal size

Maxillary Premolars 3 vs. 4

PM3 has cusps less equal in size and a canine fossa (mesial side) vs. PM4 which has equal size cusps and no canine fossa

Siding Mandibular PM3

Dip on the mesial side; Smaller, higher basin mesial

Siding Mandibular PM4

Mesial marginal ridge shorter and higher than distal

Siding Maxillary PM3

Canine fossa is on the mesial side; Mesial slope of buccal cusp longer than distal

Siding Maxillary PM4

Mesial slope of buccal cusp shorter than distal

Mandibular Molars

Oval crown, long mesial to distal (max. length is larger of 2 measures); Have two FLAT roots that trend distal; Y5 pattern with the hypoconid

Maxillary Molars

Oval crown, long buccal to lingual (max. breadth is larger of two measures); Have 3 ROUND roots--buccal has two, lingual has one; Pronounced hypocone (most common on first molar)

Molars 1 vs. 2 vs. 3

Decrease in size from first to third; Y5 pattern is most common on number one (Mandibular); Hypocone most common on first molar (Maxillary)

Siding Mandibular Molars

Groove on buccal side (sometimes with a pit in it); Buccal side more rounded; Hypoconid, the cusp distal to the distal arm of the Y, points buccal-distal