Permanent anterior teeth

Cliff Lee
Generalities
• Dental formula for anteriors:
• I 2/2, C 1/1, (P 2/2, M 3/3)
𝟐,𝟏,(2,3)
•
𝟐,𝟏,(2,3)
• Calcification dates
• Anteriors show first evidence of calcification before age 1
• Eruption sequence
• Mandibular centrals = 6-7
• Mandibular laterals = 7-8
• Maxillary centrals = 7-8
• Maxillary laterals = 8-9
• Mandibular canines = 9-10
• Maxillary canines = 11-12
Shapes
• Mesio-incisal angle is more “square”, Distal-incisal angle is
more “rounded”

• From a facial/lingual view, all teeth have crown shaped like a

trapezoid, with the short side gingival
• From proximal view, anterior teeth have crown shaped like a
triangle/wedge
Contact points
Inciso-gingival contact points
Mesial Distal
maxillary central incisal junction of incisal & middle
maxillary lateral jxn of incisal & mid middle
maxillary canine jxn of incisal & mid middle

mandibular central incisal incisal

mandibular lateral incisal incisal
mandibular canine incisal mid 1/3

All teeth have facio-lingual contact points in the middle third of the
crown
Embrasures
• Facial embrasures narrower than lingual embrasures on all teeth
except maxillary first molar and between mandibular centrals (F=L)
• Incisal embrasures (anteriors)
1. Largest b/w maxillary canine and lateral
2. Mandibular canine and lateral
3. Maxillary lateral and central
4. Maxillary centrals
5. Mandibular lateral central
6. Mandibular centrals
Incisors
• Mamelons are bumps found on incisal edges of permanent incisors
• Three = mesial, distal, and a small “middle” lobe
• Usually worn away as you get older
• Cingulum = lingual lobe
• Centered:
• Max lateral
• Max canine
• Mand central
• Distal:
• Max central
• Mand lateral
• Mand canine
• One root, typically one canal
Maxillary central incisors
• Widest ANTERIOR tooth, mesio-distally
• Mandibular first molar widest overall
• The only tooth with pulp wider mesio-distally than facio-lingually
• The only tooth with a cross section through CEJ that appears
triangular
• SECOND tallest crown in the mouth
• Mandibular canine #1, maxillary canine #3
Maxillary central incisors
• “Fan” shaped crown
• Short, but straight root, blunt apex
• Cingulum displaced distally
• Lingual anatomy = MMR, DMR, LF, cingulum
• Incisal view = triangle shape
Maxillary lateral incisors
• Best developed lingual anatomy
• Most likely to have dens-in-dente
• Second most congenitally malformed or missing (#1 = third molars,
#3 = mandibular 2nd premolar)
• Peg-shaped
Maxillary lateral incisors
• Crown smaller than max central
• Root as long or longer than max central
• Lingual anatomy = MMR, DMR, LF, cinugulum
• Incisal view = oval
Mandibular central incisors
• Smallest tooth
• Narrowest tooth mesio-distally
• Most symmetric tooth
• “Only” mandibular anterior w/ both its mesial and distal inciso-gingival
contact points at the same level
• First succedaneous tooth
• Smallest facial and incisal embrasure
Mandibular central incisors
• Facial CEJ different level than lingual CEJ
• Incisal edge is lingual to long axis of tooth
• Lingual anatomy = MMR, DMR, LF, cinuglum
• 40% have two root canals
• Incisal edge lingual to axis
Mandibular lateral incisors
• Incisal edge is twisted on its apex
• Sloped incisal ridge
• Smooth/shallow lingual anatomy
• Poorly defined lingual fossa/marginal ridge
• Incisal edge lingual to axis
Canines
• No mamelons
• Long crowns, long roots
• Lingual anatomy = MMR, DMR, cingulum, LR, MF, DF
• Wider bucco-lingually than incisors
Maxillary canines
• Widest ANTERIOR tooth facio-lingually
• Longest tooth inciso-apically
• Has the longest root
• Third longest crown (#1 = mand canine, #2 = max central)
Maxillary canines
• Lingual anatomy = MMR, DMR, cingulum,
LR, MF, DF
• Mesial cusp slope shorter than distal
• Incisal edge facial to axis
Mandibular canines
• Longest crown (#2 = max central, #3 = max canine)
• Second longest tooth (#1 = maxillary canine)
• Second longest root (#1 = maxillary canine)
• Anterior tooth most likely to have bifurcated root
• Only tooth that has mesial inclination of root (but can also be distal)
Mandibular canines
• Lingual anatomy = MMR, DMR, cingulum,
LR, MF, DF
• Incisal edge lingual/centered over axis