Mandibular Molars (objectives +highlighted + quiz)

Describe the functions of the mandibular molars:

-mastication (grinding)

-maintenance of vertical dimension of face

-support cheeks (esthetics)

-keep tongue confined within arch of mouth

Age of 1st molar eruption

6-7 years

Age of 2nd molar eruption

11-13 years

Age of 3rd molar eruption

17-21 years

All molars: Which dimension is greater, mesiodistal or occlusocervical?

mesiodistal

All molars are shortest in what direction?

shortest teeth occlusocervically

How many cusps do all molars have? (range)

3-5

Buccal or lingual view: which direction do molars taper?

mesial to distal

Buccal or lingual view: which cusp is short, distal or mesial?

distal cusps

occlusal view: All molar crowns have buccal to lingual tapper EXCEPT

maxillary first molar with large distolingual cusp

Buccal height of contour location:

cervical third (true for all teeth)

lingual height of contour location:

middle third (true for all posterior teeth)

Mesial contact location:

middle third

distal contact location:

middle third

Which dimension is much wider than buccolingual dimension?

mesiodistal

Name the 5 cusps of the mandibular first molar:

-mesiobuccal

-distobuccal

-distal

-mesiolingual

-distolingual

The occlusal crown outline of the mandibular first molar is said to be: (shape)

hexagonal

First molars typically have how many buccal cusps?

3

Second molars typically have how many buccal cusps?

2

Mandibular molars are the shortest teeth in what direction?

occlusocervically

Mandibular molars typically have how many roots? What are they called?

-2 roots

-mesial and distal

1st molar: How many cusps can be seen from the buccal view?

5

buccal view: Name the 5 cusps of the first molar:

-mesiobuccal

-distobuccal

-distal

-mesiolingual

-distolingual

first molar, buccal view: what cusps are referred to as working cusps?

mesiobuccal and distobuccal

What are features of the working cusps?

shorter, more blunt or round

first molar, buccal view: what cusps are referred to as non-working cusps?

mesiolingual and distolingual (more pointed and longer)

1st molar, buccal view: what direction are the two roots positioned?

mesially and distally

1st molar, buccal view: which root is a little longer and is more curved?

mesial root

1st molar: How many cusps can be seen from the lingual view?

3

1st molar, lingual view: what 3 cusps are visible?

mesiolingual, distolingual, distobuccal

What is the anatomical crown? What might cause it to change overtime?

-area of the covered with enamel (Think: enameltomical)

-may change due to attrition (aging) or trauma

Picture: B

What is the clinical crown? What might cause it to change overtime?

-amount of tooth exposed occlusal to the gingiva

-may change due to gingival level, eruption, wear

Picture: A

What is the anatomical root? What might cause it to change overtime?

-area of the tooth covered with cementum

-may change due to root resorption, cementum deposition, or root amputation

What is the clinical root? What might cause it to change overtime?

-amount of tooth embedded in the alveolar bone

may change over time due to gingival level or eruption

1st mandibular molar, occlusal view: List the 5 cusps from largest to smallest

1. mesiobuccal

2/3. mesiolingual and distolingual (same size)

4. distobuccal cusp

5. distal cusp

(Think MesioBuccal - MB - My Butt is the biggest)

1st mandibular molar, occlusal view: list the 4 developmental grooves

1. central groove

2. mesiobuccal groove

3. distobuccal groove

4. lingual groove

True or False - the mandibular first molars do not have transverse ridges.

True: each cusp has definite triangular ridges, but none meet. Therefore, the occlusal surface does not have transverse ridges.

2nd molar, buccal view: How many cusps are visible?

4

2nd molar, buccal view: Which cusps are taller from this view?

lingual cusps (taller and more pointed in comparison to buccal cusps)

2nd molar, buccal view: True or False - this tooth has a distal cusp.

False - no distal cusp.

2nd molar, buccal view: True or False - This tooth has a single buccal groove.

True - it often ends in a pit.

occlusal view: True or False - The 2nd molar is smaller in all dimensions than the 1st molar.

True

2nd molar, occlusal view: List the 4 cusps of nearly equal size.

1. mesiobuccal

2. distobuccal

3. mesiolingual

4. distolingual

2nd molar, occlusal view: List the 3 developmental grooves

-lingual

-buccal (often ends in a pit)

-central

(Think: Snoop Dogg is from the LBC)

2nd molar, occlusal view: How many transverse ridges (most of the time)?

2

Which teeth often do not erupt?

third molar

Which tooth would you expect to be the shortest tooth occlusocervically? (give tooth #)

#32 and #17

Mandibular Molars typically have __(a.)__ roots. These are the ___(b.)___ and __(c.)__ roots.

a. 2

b. mesial

c. distal

What anatomical feature is located just apical to the buccal pit on mandibular first molars?

Cervical ridge

How many cusps are visible from the lingual of #30?

3

The ______ crown is defined as the amount of tooth exposed occlusal to the gingiva.

clinical

(Think clingiva)

Developmental grooves of the mandibular first molar include:

a. Central Groove

b. Mesiobuccal Groove

c. Distobuccal Groove

d. Lingual Groove

e. All of the above

e. All of the above

Tooth #19 will have how many transverse ridges?

0

Mandibular second molars typically have __(a.)__ cusps and __(b.)__ named grooves

a. 4

b. 3