Permanent Incisors

Introduction:

Centrals and laterals

#7, 8, 9, 10 and 26,25,24,23
Maxillary larger than mandibular
Important in esthetics, mastication,
phonetics

Terminology:
CEJ
mamelons

cingulum
lingual fossa
marginal ridge
incisal ridge

Some common traits:

Incisal edge present = incisor
Mamelons: 2 or 3
2-3 pulp horns
Lingual marginal ridges
more parallel to long axis
Presence of lingual fossa
and cingulum

Permanent Maxillary
Central Incisor

General characteristics:
Arch position: on either side of midline
Adjacent mesial surfaces

Universal #8 and #9
M-D almost as wide as
I-C dimension*
Wider M-D than F-L*
(I-C > M-D > F-L)
Widest M-D of all anterior teeth*
*typetrait

Development timeline*

Beginning calcification: 3 - 4 months

Completion of enamel: 4 - 5 years
Eruption: 7 - 8 years
Root completion: 10 years
(2 years later)

*Fuller/Denehy

Labial View
Basic crown shape is trapezoidal
Surface generally flat,
developmental depressions visible
M-D and I-C dimension
more nearly equal*

(as compared

to other incisors)
Facial CE line curvature more flat
(than any other anterior teeth)

#8

Labial view:
Incisal edge perpendicular to long
axis
Facial height of contour in cervical
third
Mamelons visible in newly erupted
teeth: MF, MidF, DF

Labial view: mesial outline

Mesial outline nearly straight
MI angle sharp
Mesial contact area (HOC)
at incisal third

#8

Labial view: distal outline

Outline more convex than mesial
DI angle more rounded
Distal contact area (HOC) near
junction of incisal-middle third

Lingual View
Slightly narrower M-D than labial
Surface has both convexity
and concavity

Marginal ridges, M and D

Cingulum
Lingual fossa
Incisal ridge

Lingual view:
M and D outlines similar to labial view
CE curvature greater than labial,
slight offset to distal
Lingual height of contour
at cervical third
M and D marginal ridges
border lingual fossa

Mesial View
Crown basically triangular
Mesial CE line curvature is
greatest of any tooth*
long
Incisal edge is in line with
axis
(mesial
Mesial height of contour
contact area) at
incisal third

Mesial view:
Labial outline

slightly convex
height of contour at cervical third
incisal 2/3 nearly flat

Lingual outline: S-shape

concave incisally
convex cervically
height of contour at cervical third

Incisal edge slopes lingually

Distal View
Generally similar to mesial
Distal surface slightly
more convex than mesial
CE line curvature
is less than mesial
Distal HOC near junction of
incisal-middle third

Incisal View

Roughly triangular outline*

Lingual narrower than labial
Wider M-D than F-L*
Incisal edge is midway faciolingually

*typetrait

Root
Single, conical, straight
Cross-section at cervical
roughly triangular*
Ratio of crown to root:
2/5 to 3/5

How to tell if you have

a maxillary central:
Presence of incisal edge, sloping lingually
M-D width broad (8-9 mm)
M-D almost as wide as I-C dimension*

Wider M-D than F-L*

I-C > M-D > F-L

Relatively flat labial surface

M and D incisal corners relatively
sharp
Root cross-section more triangular

How to distinguish
right from left:
Mesial outline straighter than distal*
(distal has more convexity than mesial)
MI angle is sharper than DI*
CE line curvature is greater on mesial*
Mesial HOC more incisal than distal*
Lingual cervical line sometimes
offset distally

M
#8

Mesial

Rule: Maxillary anterior

teeth do not bifurcate*
an anomoly

Next
Maxillary Lateral Incisor

Permanent Maxillary
Lateral Incisor

General Characteristics
Second tooth from midline
Between maxillary central and
maxillary canine
Universal numbers: #7 and #10
Resembles maxillary central except:

Smaller in all dimensions except root length*

Generally more rounded
Displays more variation in form

Development Timeline:

Beginning calcification: 1 year

Completion of enamel: 4 - 5 years
Eruption: 8 - 9 years
Root completion: 11 years

Labial View
Mesial outline
More convexity than
mesial of central
HOC (contact area) is at
incisal third (closer to the
junction of the incisal and
middle thirds)
#7

Labial View
Distal outline
DI corner noticeably more rounded
than MI (most rounded incisal
corner*)
HOC is at junction of
incisal-middle third to the
middle of the middle third

Labial view:
Incisal edge outline

More rounded than central esp. DI

corner
Greatest rounding of any incisor*
Typically 2 mamelons

Labial height of contour:

cervical third

Lingual View
Marginal ridges more prominent
Lingual fossa deeper
Lingual pit often present
Linguo-gingival fissure
sometimes present
Height of contour
at cervical third

Mesial View
Labial outline is convex
Lingual outline is S-shape
CE line curvature greater
than distal
Incisal edge is inline
with long axis of tooth
Mesial HOC near junction of
incisal and middle 1/3

Distal View
Similar to mesial except
HOC more cervical
(closer o middle 1/3)
CE line curvature less
than mesial

Incisal View
Generally more convexity than
central, rounded triangular outline
MD FL dimension*
Incisal edge is midway faciolingually

Root
Single rooted
Root wider F-L than M-D
Root cross-section more
ovoid than central
Apical third may
be deflected
distally*

Variations and anomalies:

Most variations in form besides
third molars*
May be congenitally missing
Peg lateral: peg-shaped crown

How to tell if you have a

maxillary lateral:

Smaller in size than max central

More distinct lingual anatomy
Presence of deeper lingual fossa
Presence of lingual pit
Incisal outline more rounded
M and D outlines more rounded

How to tell right from left:

MI corner sharper than DI corner*
Mesial CE line curvature greater
than distal
Mesial height of contour more
incisal than distals*
Distal outline more convex*
Apex deflected distally

M
#7

Wax Quiz

C.E. Line:

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