MAXILLARY THIRD MOLAR

• The maxillary third molar often appears as a

developmental anomaly.
• It is seldom as well developed as the
maxillary second molar to which it often
bears resemblance.
• The third molar supplements the second
molar in function and its fundamental
design is similar.
 The crown is smaller, and the roots are
shorter as a rule ,with the inclination
towards fusion with the resultant anchorage
of one tapered root.
First evidence of calcification:7-9 years

Enamel completed:12-16 years

Eruption:17-21 years

Root completed:18-25 years

BUCCAL ASPECT
 From the buccal aspect, the crown of the third
molar is shorter cervico-occlusally and narrower
mesiodistally than that of the second molar.
 The roots are usually fused,functioning as one
large root,and they are shorter cervico-apically.
 The fused roots end in a taper at
the apex.
 The roots have a distinct slant to the distal,
giving the apices of the fused root a more
distal relation to the center of the crown.
LINGUAL ASPECT
 In comparision with the maxillary second
molar,only one large lingual cusp is present,and
therefore no lingual groove is evident.
 However in many cases,a third molar with the
same essential features has a poorly
developed distolingual cusp with a
developmental groove lingually.
MESIAL ASPECT
 From the mesial aspect,aside from the
differences in measurement,the main feature is
the taper to the fused root and a
bifurcation,usually in a region of the apical third.
 The root portion is considerably shorter in
relation to the crown length.
 Both the crown and the root
portions tend to be poorly
developed with irregular
outlines.
DISTAL ASPECT
 From the distal aspect,most
of the buccal surface of the
crown is seen.
• More of the occlusal surface
may be seen than can be seen
on the second molar from this aspect because of
the more acute angulation of the occlusal
surface in relation to the long axis of the root.
 The measurement from the cervical line to
the marginal ridge is short.
OCCLUSAL ASPECT
 The occlusal aspect of maxillary third molar
presents a heart shaped outline.
 The lingual cusp is large and well developed,and
little or no distolingual cusp is evident,which
gives a semicircular outline to the tooth from
one contact area to another.
 Three functioning cusps are
seen on this type of tooth:
two buccal and one lingual
• The occlusal aspect of this tooth usually presents
many supplemental grooves and many accidental
grooves unless the tooth is very much worn.
• The third molar may show four distinct cusps.
• This type may have a strong oblique ridge,a
central fossa and a distal fossa, with a lingual
developmental groove similar to that of the
rhomboidal type of second molar.
PULP CHAMBERS AND CANALS
 The maxillary third molar has the most
variable anatomy of any of the maxillary
teeth.
 A sample of longitudinal cross section,
displayed in a same manner as for all the
other maxillary teeth, shows a comparison
of this molar with the other maxillary
molars.
 When maxillary third molar is compared in
development and eruption with the other
maxillary molars it is evident that the third
molar is smaller than the other molars.
 The crown is usually triangular or round rather
than quadrilateral.
 The roots are shorter, more curved and have a
greater tendency for root fusion, which makes
this teeth appears to be single rooted.
 The pulp chamber will have less secondary
dentin than the older first and second
molars.
 This allow easier access to the canals.
 If third molars can be managed well and are
functioning, they should be maintained,
because they can provide suitable support
for restorative procedures in later years.