MORPHOLOGY OF PRIMARY DENTITION AND

ERUPTION

SEQUENCE

I. Srujana
1st year PG
 contents

 Introduction
 Importance of primary teeth
 General Description of Primary Teeth
 Specific Description of each Tooth
 Clinical Significance and importance
 Eruption Sequence
 References
 INTRODUCTION
• Primary teeth are often called deciduous teeth
• The term deciduous is derived from latin word meaning “fall off”.
• Other common terminologies used are temporary teeth, milk teeth or
baby teeth.
 TOOTH NUMBERING SYSTEM FOR PRIMARY DENTITION

Zsigmondy/Palmer Notation

E D C B A A B C D E
E D C B A A B C D E

Universal Notation system

A B C D E F G H I J
Right T S R Q P O N M L K left

FDI System/Two Digit System

55 54 53 52 51 61 62 63 64 65
85 84 83 82 81 71 72 73 74 75
 IMPORTANCE OF PRIMARY TEETH
1. Efficient mastication of food.

2. Maintenance of a normal facial appearance (aesthetics).

3. Formulation of clear speech (phonetics).

4. Prevent malocclusion.

5. Guide the eruption of permanent teeth and maintaining of

space and arch continuity for the emergence of permanent
teeth
The morphology of primary teeth is very important
clinically in performing various procedures.

 Cavity preparations must confine to the thickness of

enamel & dentin keeping in mind the size & location of
pulp horns .

 Restoration of normal morphology of primary teeth is

needed for function , this can be achieved by good
knowledge of morphology.

 Knowledge regarding normal morphology will guide us

to prevent malocclusion in future.
 GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF PRIMARY
TOOTH
Crowns :
 They have short crowns.
 They are constricted at the
cervical portion.
 They have thin enamel & dentin
layers.
 Enamel rods in the cervical
portion extend slightly occlusally
from the CEJ.
 The occlusal surface is narrow
labiolingually.
 The color of primary teeth is
whiter than the permanent teeth.
Roots :
 The roots of primary anterior
teeth are narrow mesiodistally.
 The roots of primary molars are
longer & more slender in
relation to their crowns.
 The roots of primary molars are
more flared towards the apex
(this provides a room for
development of their successors
tooth buds).
Pulp:
 Relatively larger.
 Greater variation in size
and location.
 Mesial pulp horn is
higher.
 Form of pulp chamber of
the deciduous tooth
follows the surface of the
crown, Usually each pulp
horn under each cusp.
 SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION OF EACH
TOOTH
MAXILLARY CENTRAL
INCISORS
 Erupts around 8-12
months of age.
 Unique in respect that,
incisors are the only
teeth that are wider
mesiodistally than they
are long incisocervically.
 Prominent lingual Crown length: 6.0 mm
cingulum. Root length: 10.0 mm
Mesiodistial dia: 6.5 mm
Labiolingual dia: 5.0 mm
MAXILLARY
LATERAL INCISORS

 Erupts around 9-13

months of age.
 Smaller than central
incisors.
 Crown and root are
conical.
 Distoincisal aspect is
more rounded.
Crown length: 5.6 mm
Root length: 11.4 mm
Mesiodistial dia: 5.1mm
Labiolingual dia: 4.0 mm
MAXILLARY CANINES

 Erupts around 16-22

months of age.
 Best described as being
long and sharp.
 Mesial cusp slope is
longer than distal cusp
slope.
 Long slender roots.

Crown length: 6.5 mm

Root length: 13.5 mm
Mesiodistial dia: 7.0 mm
Labiolingual dia: 7.0 mm
MAXILLARY FIRST MOLAR

 Erupts around 13-19 months of age

in males and 14-18 in females.
 Resembles premolar

 Greatest dimensions of the crown

of the maxillary first molar is at the

mesiodistal contact areas.
 Occlusal surface consists of four

cusps
 Mesiolingual cusp is the longest

and sharpest cusp.

Crown length: 5.1 mm
 Furcation of the roots begin at Root length: 10.0 mm
the CEJ. Mesiodistial dia: 7.3 mm
  Labiolingual dia: 8.5 mm
 MAXLLLARY SECOND
MOLARS
 Erupts around 25-33 months of
age
 last primary teeth to erupt
 characteristics resembling those
of the permanent maxillary first
molar
 Fifth cusp or prominence called
as tubercle of carabelli on the
palatal surface of the
mesiopalatal cusp.
 Prominent transverse or oblique Crown length: 5.7 mm
Root length: 11.7 mm
ridge connects the mesiolingual Mesiodistial dia: 8.2 mm
cusp with the distobuccalcusp. Labiolingual dia: 10.0 mm
 
MANDIBULAR
CENTRAL INCISORS

 Erupts around 6 to 10
months of age.
 Root is almost twice the
length of crown.
 Root is long and
cylindrical.

Crown length: 5.0 mm

Root length: 9.0 mm
Mesiodistial dia: 4.2 mm
Labiolingual dia: 4.0 mm
MANDIBULAR
LATERAL INCISORS

 Erupts around 10-16

months of age.
 Distinguished by
rounded distoincisal
angle.
 Somewhat longer but
narrower than the
primary central incisor. Crown length: 5.2 mm
Root length: 10.0 mm
Mesiodistial dia: 4.1 mm
Labiolingual dia: 4.0 mm
MANDIBULAR CANINE

 Erupts around 17-23

months of age.
 Long narrow tooth.
 Distal cusp slope is longer
than mesial cusp slope.
 Root is longer and slender.

Crown length: 6.0 mm

Root length: 11.5 mm
Mesiodistial dia: 5.0 mm
Labiolingual dia: 4.8 mm
MANDIBULAR FIRST MOLARS
 Erupts around 14-18 months of

age.
 Anatomy does not resemble any

tooth.
 Mesiolingual cusp is the largest

and best developed of all the

cusps.
 Occlusal aspect is rhomboidal.

 Central developmental groove is

seen between the mesiobuccal and

mesiolingual cusp.
 Lingual developmental groove

separates the mesiolingual and Crown length: 6.0 mm

Root length: 9.8 mm
distolingual cusps. Mesiodistial dia: 7.7 mm
Labiolingual dia: 7.0 mm
MANDIBULAR SECOND
MOLARS

 Erupts around 23-31 months

of age in males and 24-30 in
females.
 Has characteristics resembling
those of the permanent
mandibular first molar
 Largest tooth in the primary
dentition.
 Occlusal aspect is somewhat
rectangular.
 Roots are narrow Crown length: 5.5 mm
mesiodistally but very broad Root length: 11.3 mm
buccolingually. Mesiodistial dia: 9.9 mm
Labiolingual dia: 8.7 mm
 
CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

 Spread of caries from enamel to

pulp is faster in primary teeth.
 Pulp horns are very highly
placed in primary teeth.
 Prominent cervical ridge on a
mandibular first primary molar
may provide some resistance for
placement of a stainless steel
crown.
 Oblique ridge in maxillary
second molar should be
preserved unless undermined by
caries.
 Conical roots of primary anterior
teeth facilitate easy removal.
IMPORTANCE OF
MORPHOLOGY

 Helps in identification of
teeth during initial
examination of the patient.

 Helps in extraction of teeth.

 Helps to understand the

variation in the progress
and susceptibility of caries
on various tooth surfaces.
 IMPORTANCE OF CHRONOLOGY
 To avoid treatment that can damage developing teeth.

 To assess dental age of the patient.

 To assess growth.

 To avoid malformations of the teeth.

 To assess whether dental age is in harmony with

chronological age.

 Knowledge regarding chronology helps to plan

orthodontic treatment at correct age.
 REFERENCES

 Wheeler’s text book of dental anatomy 10th edition

2015.

 Julian b. woelfel and Rickne c. scheid text book of

dental anatomy 5th edition 1999.

 Mc Donald and Avery's , dentistry for the child and

adolescent 9th edition 2015.

 S.G Damle , text book of pedodontics 3rd edition 2006.