Dental Morphology

3rd molar
Sabrina Cachiguango
Cristina Rojas
• Age of eruption 17-21 years
• Roots completed 18-25 years
• First sign of calcification 8-10 years
• Enamel completed 12-16 years
• characteristics
• It presents several anomalies, both morphologically and in position.
• It complements the function of the second molar, which is rarely well
developed.
• Several third molars are seen with 5 cusps or more, with the crown
larger than the second molar, causing an uneven occlusion due to
occlusal misalignment.
• Partial eruption of the third molar can cause periodontal disorders on
the distal side of the second molar, even in the reabsorption of the distal
root of the second molar.
• Vestibular face
• Broader crown in the mesiodistal areas than
in the neck
• vestibular cusps are rounded and short
• the mesial and distal crest is at a somewhat
greater distance between the cervical line
and the tip of the cusp
• Lingual face
• The crown and the root converge lingually but to a small degree, from
this face the mesiodistal surface is very distinct.
• The mesiodistal dimension in the neck, by lingual, always greater than
that of the first
• The mesial and distal curvatures of the crown, which describe the
contact areas, are more noticeable from the lingual face, because
they have a lower level than the first molar.
• Mesial face.
• For this face, the roots shorter than the second molars, the mesial
more conical from the neck to the apex.
• Usually at the apex the root is sharper.
• Distal face.
• The anatomical aspect of the mesial half of the tooth is similar to the
second molar
• The distal root looks smaller, both in length and buccolingual
dimension, when compared to the large size of the crown.
• Occlusal face.
• This face is poorly developed in most cases
• allowing occlusal malalignment
• tends to a rounded profile and a smaller vestibulolingual distance in
the distal half.