Anterior Teeth Review Maxillary vs Mandibular Incisors Maxillary

Anterior Teeth Review

Maxillary vs Mandibular Incisors • Maxillary: wider M-D than F-L • Mandibular: wider F-L than M-D • Maxillary: more prominent lingual anatomy, may have lingual pits

Maxillary vs mandibular. . . • Maxillary: rounder roots in cross-section • Mandibular: roots more flat-oval F-L • All incisors (except mand central) have rounder distoincisal corner. Mand central is symmetrical

Maxillary vs mandibular… • Maxillary: incisal edge centered F-L • Mandibular: incisal edge lingual to F -L midline

Maxillary vs mandibular… • Maxillary incisors: lingual embrasure slightly greater than facial • Mandibular incisors: facial embrasure slightly greater than lingual • Mandibular: proximal HOC more incisal • Interesting observation: – Mandibular lateral I-C dimension slightly greater than max lateral I-C dimension

Maxillary vs mandibular… • Smallest tooth: mandibular central • Bilaterally symmetric: mand central • Most pronounced lingual anatomy: maxillary lateral • Incisal edge not perpendicular to F-L bisector: mandibular lateral (distal twist to lingual)

Unique Characteristics: Incisors

Maxillary Central Incisor • Greatest M-D dimension of anteriors • Greatest I-C crown dimension of maxillary anteriors (≥ max canine) • M-D and I-C widths closer to similar • CE line curvature on mesial is greatest of all teeth • Cervical root cross-section is rounded triangular

Maxillary Lateral Incisor • Smallest M-D and F-L dimension of maxillary teeth • M-D and F-L dimensions almost similar (MD > FL) • Most variable morphology (besides 3 rds) • Incisal edge most rounded of incisors – DI corner most rounded of all incisors • Distal contact (HOC) is most cervical of all incisors

Mandibular Central Incisor • Smallest M-D and F-L dimension of tooth • Root is shortest of anterior teeth • Bilaterally symmetrical (facial and incisal views) • M and D contacts at same level • MI and DI corners sharpest angles of incisors • Lingual smooth, no pits, small cingulum any central

Mandibular Lateral Incisor • MI corner nearly as sharp as mandibular central; DI more rounded • Crown uniquely twisted on distal – Distal HOC more lingual than mesial’s lateral central

Similarities of mandibular incisors • Least number of developmental lines and grooves • Smoothest linguals of anterior teeth • Least developed cingula • Incisal edge is lingual to F-L midline

Canines

Maxillary vs Mandibular Canines: • Maxillary: cusp tip centered F-L (or slightly labial to midline*) • Mandibular: cusp tip lingual to F-L midline (labial outline “moon-shape”)

Max vs Mand Canines… • Maxillary: longest root/tooth in mouth • Mandibular crown longer than maxillary (longest crown in mouth) • Maxillary crown wider M-D and F-L than mandibular max mand

Max vs Mand Canines. . . • Maxillary: more pronounced lingual anatomy; larger cingulum, possible lingual pit • Mandibular proximal contacts more incisal than maxillary max mand

Unique Characteristics: Canines

Maxillary Canines • • Greatest overall length (≥mandibular canine) Longest root of any tooth Largest F-L dimension of all anteriors Cusp tip in line with/facial to F-L midline

Maxillary Canine… • Facial and lingual cusp ridges most prominent of anteriors • Cingulum largest of anteriors • Facial surface most convex of anteriors • Distal contact more centered both F-L and I-C

Mandibular Canines • Overall length nearly as long as maxillary canine • I-C crown dimension greater than any tooth • Longest root in mandibular arch

Mandibular Canine… • Cusp tip is lingual to F-L midline –“C” or “moon-shape” • Mesial outline (crown + root) almost straight

Some examples of real teeth. . .

Lights!