Lec.

5
Morphology of
Deciduous Teeth
Assistant Professor
Aseel Haidar
Lec.5 Pedodontics Fifth stage

Assist. Prof .Dr. Aseel Haidar

Morphology of Deciduous Teeth

Studying tooth morphology includes understanding the shape,
configuration and parts of a tooth. It is very important for clinical application during
performing various procedures. Cavity preparations must conform to the thickness of
enamel and dentin, keeping in mind the location and size of the pulp. Restoration of natural
contours and morphology of deciduous teeth is needed for function, which can be achieved
only with a good knowledge of tooth morphology.

Maxillary Incisors
- The maxillary central and lateral incisors usually erupt by 7-8 months of age.

MAXILLARY CENTRAL INCISOR

- The deciduous maxillary central incisor is unique in that it is the only
tooth in the human dentition that has a greater mesiodistal dimension than
crown height. Therefore, the first notable difference between the maxillary
central incisor and its permanent successor is the fact that it has a
mesiodistal measurement greater than the incisocervical measurement.
- The contact points with adjacent teeth are broad (The mesial contact area
is near the mesioincisal angle and the distal contact area is in the incisal
third)
- Labial surface is smooth, flat and without developmental lines.
-The incisal edge is nearly straight even before abrasion becomes evident.
- There is a prominent lingual cingulum.
- The root is conical with tapered sides. It is roughly two and a half times as long as the
crown height.

- Anatomy of the pulp:

o The central incisor has two or three small projections (pulp horns) toward the
incisal edge. The mesial pulp horn is most prominent. The pulp horn is
approximately 2.3 - 2.4 mm from the incisal edge and about 1.2 mm from the
dentinoenamel junction (DEJ).
o Pulp chamber and canal are larger than perm’ ones,
o No distinct demarcation between the canal and the chamber.

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MAXILLARY LATERAL INCISOR

-The outline of the maxillary lateral incisor is similar to that of the
central incisor, but the crown is smaller in all dimensions. The length of
the crown from the cervical to the incisal edge is greater than the
mesiodistal width.
-The crown and root are more conical.
-The root outline is similar to that of the central incisor but is longer in
proportion to the crown.
-The distal incisal aspect is rounded and the distoincisal angle is more
rounded.

- Anatomy of the pulp:

o The pulp chamber is smaller and is about 2.6 mm from the incisal edge and
approximately 0.9 mm from the DEJ.
o The pulp chamber follows the contour of the tooth, as does the canal
o The root has similar shape, but is longer, thinner & tapered.

MAXILLARY CANINE
- They erupt at about 18 months of age.
- It is larger than maxillary incisors in all dimensions and all its surfaces are convex,
creating a more pronounced constriction at the cervix than is seen in the maxillary incisors.
The crown of the maxillary canine is more constricted at the cervical region than are
the incisors, and the incisal and distal surfaces are more convex. There is a well-
developed sharp cusp rather than a relatively straight incisal edge. The canine has a
long, slender, tapering root that is more than twice the length of the crown. The root
is usually inclined distally, apical to the middle third.

- Anatomy of the pulp:

o The pulp chamber follows the general contour of the tooth. Central pulpal
horn is projecting incisally. The pulp horn is 3.2 mm from the cuspal tip
o There is a little demarcation between the pulp chamber and the canal.
o The canal tapers as it approaches the apex.

Mandibular Incisors
- These teeth are the first to erupt into the oral cavity at about 6 to 7 months of age.

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MANDIBULAR CENTRAL INCISOR

The mandibular central incisor is smaller than the maxillary central
incisor, but its labiolingual measurement is usually only 1 mm less.
- The labial aspect presents a flat surface without developmental
grooves.
- The mesial and distal sides of the crown are tapered evenly from the contact
areas, with the measurement being less at the cervix.
- Crown is wide in proportion to its length.
- The lingual surface presents marginal ridges and a cingulum. The
middle third and the incisal third on the lingual surface may have
a flattened surface level with the marginal ridges, or there may be a
slight concavity.
- The incisal edge is straight and bisects the crown labiolingually.
- The crown is one-third the length of the root.
- The root is long, cylindrical and evenly tapered down at the apex, which is pointed. The
root is approximately twice the length of the crown.

- Anatomy of the pulp:

o The pulp canal follows the outline form of the surface topography of the
primary mandibular central incisors. The pulp is approximately 2.6 mm
from the incisal edge in the primary central incisor.
o Widest mesiodistally at the roof.
o Labiolingually it is widest at the cingulum.
o Oval in appearance, tapers as it reaches apex.
o Definite demarcation between the chamber and the canal.

MANDIBULAR LATERAL INCISOR

The outline of the mandibular lateral incisor is similar to that of the
central incisor but is somewhat larger in all dimensions except labiolingually (It is
somewhat longer but narrower than the primary central incisor).
-The lingual surface may have greater concavity between the marginal ridges.
The incisal edge slopes toward the distal aspect of the tooth.
- Cingulum of the lateral incisor may be a little more generous
than that of the central incisor.
- Crown root ratio is more in lateral than in central.
- The primary mandibular lateral incisor is distinguished from the
mandibular central incisor by the distoincisal angle, which is more rounded.
- The lingual surface of the crown may be more concave between the marginal ridges.

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- Incisal ridge tends to slope downward distally. This design lowers the distal contact area
apically, so that proper contact may be made with the mesial surface of the primary
mandibular canine
Anatomy of the pulp:
o The pulp of the mandibular lateral incisor has similar dimensions to that
of the primary mandibular central incisors but is somewhat smaller.
o Oval in appearance.
o Tapers as it reaches apex.
o No demarcation between the chamber and the canal.

MANDIBULAR CANINE
-The mandibular canines erupt at about 16 months of age.
-The mandibular canine appears more slender than the maxillary
canine because of the smaller mesiodistal diameter in relation to the crown
height. The relative lengths of the incisal edges are reversed in the
mandibular canine, making the distoincisal edge the longer of the two (The
distal marginal ridge is much lower than the mesial marginal ridge).
- It is a long narrow tooth, much smaller than the primary maxillary
canine.
- The point of contact is very close to the cervical third of the tooth.
- The root is long and slender and is about twice the crown length.
Note:
The form of the mandibular canine is similar to that of the maxillary canine, with
a few exceptions. The crown is slightly shorter, and the root may be as much as 2 mm
shorter than that of the maxillary canine. The mandibular canine is not as large
labiolingually as its maxillary counterpart (the marginal ridges and cingulum are
much less prominent making the labiolingual diameter smaller).

- Anatomy of the pulp:

o The pulp chamber follows the general outline of the tooth form. The pulp is
3.0 mm from the cuspal tip.
o Wide mesiodistally as labiolingually.
o No differentiation between canal and chamber.
o Ends in marked constriction at the apex.

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Lec.5 Pedodontics
Primary right anterior teeth, labial aspect.
A, Maxillary central incisor. B,
Maxillary lateral incisor. C, Maxillary
canine. D, Mandibular central incisor. E,
Mandibular lateral incisor. F, Mandibular
canine.
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Fifth stage
Primary right anterior teeth, lingual
aspect. A, Maxillary central incisor. B,
Maxillary lateral incisor. C, Maxillary
canine. D, Mandibular central incisor. E,
Mandibular lateral incisor. F, Mandibular
canine.