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TOOTH MORPHOLOGY
 Eruption Ages and Sequence is importance for mcqs and ospe.
 You should know how to number any given teeth in all numbering systems.

 An important point to note is that question can be asked in 2 ways:

1. Give differences between two teeth. In that case you draw a table and give
comparision.
2. If they ask you differentiating features between two teeth than it has to be in points
form like in tooth morpho book..

Therefore, in differences I will try kay I include the differentiating features so that u people
don’t have to learn double double

Differences between Mandibular Central and Mandibular Lateral

Incisors
Permanent Manidbular Permanent Mandibular
Central Incisor Lateral Incisor
Slightly smaller than the lateral incisors. Slightly larger than the central incisor.
Mesial and distal outlines are equal in length Shorter distal outline incisocervically than
and are more or less straight. mesial outline
Cervical line evenly curves towards the apex Cervical line offset distally on lingual aspect.
on the lingual aspect. Cingulum offset to the distal.
Distoincisal angle is less rounded than the Distoincisal angle is more rounded than in
central incisors. lateral
Mesial and Distal cervical lines are more Both mesial and distal cervical lines shows less
curved than distal. curvature than central
Incisal edge is mesiodistally straight. Incisal edge curves towards the lingual towards
it’s distal portion.
Root length is slightly smaller Root length slightly greater than central
incisor, thick and wider.
Incisal outline s straight and at right angle to Incisal outline may slope gingivally towards
the long axis. distal.

Differences between Maxillary Canine and Mandibular Canine

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Permanent Maxillary Canine Permanent Mandibular
Canine
Large in size Small in size
Marginal ridge well developed. Marginal ridge poorly developed.
Cingulum well developed. Cingulum not so well developed.
Crown is small incisocervically as compared to Crown is long, or longer incisocervially, when
mandibular canines. compared to maxillary canine.
Root thick and long Root short and thin
Lingual surfaces and its surfaces less Well developed.
developed.
Cusp well developed. Cusp not so well developed.
Cusp tip sharp mesiodistally. Not as sharp mesiodistally as the maxillary
canine.
Labial surface not convex especially in the Labial surface may be more convex
incisal two-thirds of the surface. mesiodistally in the cervical third.
Mesiodistal and Labiolingual diameter equal. Mesiodistal diameter is less than labiolingual
diameter
Imbrication lines present. Imbrication lines absent.
Longitudinal groove absent Longitudinal groove present

Differences between Maxillary 1st Premolar and Maxillary 2nd

Premolar
Permanent Maxillary 1st Permanent Maxillary 2nd
Premolar Premolar
Larger Smaller in all dimensions
Two roots, buccal and lingual Single root
Buccal cusp larger than the lingual cusp The buccal and lingual cusps are of nearly
equal heights
Mesial concavity and Mesial marginal groove Not present
present
3 root types present 1 root type

Differences between Maxillary and Mandibular Premolars

Permanent Maxillary Permanent Mandibular
Premolar Premolar
Occlusal surface is Hexagonal Occlusal surface is diamond shaped
Proximal surface are trapezoidal Proximal surfaces are Rhomboidal
Two roots, buccal and lingual Single root
Crowns normally wider buccolingually than Buccolingual and mesiodistal crown
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mesiodistally dimensions are approximately equal
Posseses two cusps of nearly equal size May have more than two cusps, and the lingual
cusp are less prominent than the facial cusp
No lingual inclination of crown when viewed Mandibular premolars are heavily inclined and
from either proximal surface. offset toward the lingual.

Differences between Maxillary and Mandibular Molars

Permanent Maxillary Molars Permanent Mandibular Molars
Crowns wider buccolingually than Mandibular molars are wider in the mesiodistal
mesiodistally dimension
4 cusps present, size of 2 lingual cusps differ Some display 4 cusps but the two lingual cusps
greatly. are nearly equal. In some a fifth small cusp
may be present.
Oblique ridge is present which joins the Oblique ridge absent.
mesiolingual cusp and distolingual cusp
Distolingual groove is present. It is not seen.
They have 3 roots in most cases. 2 buccal and They have two roots, one mesial and one
1 lingual roots distal.
Crown from occlusal aspect are rhomboidal or Crowns from occlusal aspect are rectangular or
heart shaped pentagonal.
Crowns from proximal surfaces are trapezoidal Rhomboidal in outline.
in outline.

Differences between Permanent and Deciduous Teeth

Deciduous Teeth Permanent teeth
Smaller in all dimensions. Deciduous molars Larger in all dimensions
are also smaller than permanent molars
butlarger than their successors i.e premolars
Deciduous teeth are more bulbous and have Less bulbous and the shape is less consistent
more consistent shape with fewer anomalies. with more anomalies.
White in colour due to more opaque enamel Yellowish white in colour or less white due to
resulting from less mineral content translucent enamel resulting from high mineral
content which reflects color of underlying
enamel.
Contact area smaller Relatively larger
Mamelons absent Mamelons present
Cervical margin less curved than that of More curved
permanent teeth.
Cusps more pointed when the teeth erupt, Cusps less sharp.
becomes more sharper due to attrition.
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Cingular is more prominent Relatively less prominent
Occlusal table narrow Occlusal table wide
Roots shorter and thinner Roots longer and larger
Roots of deciduous anterior teeth show a labial Do not show any labial inclination
inclination
Furcation of roots is closer to the cervix in Furcation is relatively apically placed
deciduous molars
Generally have a larger apical foramen Constricted apical foramen
Roots are relative to their crown length Root is not so longer relative to crown length.
Enamel cap thinner and is of more uniform Enamel cap thicker and of varying thickness
thickness
Dentinoemanel junction smooth May be scalloped
Pulp chamber larger in deciduous with Smaller with correspondingly more depth of
correspondingly less depth of dentin. dentin
Pulp horns more prominent and at higher level Less prominent and at lower level

**SHAPES are EXTREMELY IMPORTANT for mcqs**

Maxillary Incisors as well as Mandibular Incisors
Labial and lingual: Trapezoidal

Proximal Surfaces: Triangular

Maxillary and Mandibular Canines

Labial and lingual: Pentagonal

Proximal Surfaces: Triangular

Maxillary Premolars
Occlusal: Hexagonal

Buccal/Facial: Pentagonal

Proximal surfaces: Trapezoidal

Mandibular Premolars
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Occlusal: Diamond shaped

Buccal/Facial: Pentagonal

Proximal surfaces: Rhomboidal

Maxillary Molars
Occlusal: Rhomboidal or heartshaped

Buccal/Facial: Trapezoidal

Lingual: Trapezoidal

Proximal surfaces: Trapezoidal

Mandibular Molars
Occlusal: Pentagonal

Buccal/Facial: Trapezoidal

Lingual: Trapezoidal

Proximal surfaces: Rhomboidal

PULP CAVITIES
Deciduous:
No. of cusps corresponds to pulp horns or mamelons in primary teeth.

Permanent:
Tooth Roots Pulp Canals Pulp Horns
Maxillary Central 1 1 3
Incisor
Maxillary Lateral 1 1 2 or none
Incisor
Maxillary Canine 1 1 None
Maxillary 1st Premolar 2 2 2
Maxillary 2nd 1 1 2
Premolar
Maxillary 1st Molar 3 3 or 4. Mesiobuccal 4 (MB,DB, ML,DL)
root may have 2
canals in 60% of the
cases
Maxillary 2nd Molar 3 3 4 (MB, DB, ML, DL
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rd
Maxillary 3 Molar 3 3 3 (MB, DB, Lingual)

Tooth Roots Pulp Canals Pulp Horns

Mandibular Central 1 1 3
Incisor
Mandibular Lateral 1 1 2 or none
Incisor
Mandibular Canine 1 1 None
Mandibular 1st 1 1 2
Premolar
Mandibular 2nd 1 1 2
Premolar
Mandibular 1st Molar 2 3. Mesial root has 2 4 (MB,DB, ML,DL)
canals MB and DB
Mandibular 2nd Molar 2 3 4 (MB, DB, ML, DL)
Mandibular 3rd Molar 2 3 4 (MB, DB, ML, DL)

Boundaries of Fossaes
Maxillary Premolars
 Mesial triangular fossa
Bounded by the mesial marginal ridge, the transverse ridge, and the mesial cusp ridges of the buccal and lingual
cusps.

 Distal triangular fossa

Bounded by the distal marginal ridge, the transverse ridge, and the distal cusp ridges of the buccal and lingual
cusps.

Mandibular Premolars
 Mesial and Distal fossas
Same boundaries as above maxillary premolars. Just the name is different cuz of shape. Mesial fossa is irregular
and distal fossa is round whereas for maxillary premolars as the name explains the fossaes are triangular.

Maxillary Molars
 Central fossa
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Bounded by the mesial cusp ridge of the DB cusp, the distal cusp ridge of the MB cusp, the oblique ridge and
the transverse ridge.

 Distal fossa
It is continuous with the distal triangular fossa in its distobuccal portion, and otherwise bounded by the
oblique ridge on the mesial , and the mesial and distal cusp ridges of the DL cusp on the distal.

 Mesial triangular fossa

Bounded by the mesial marginal ridge, the transverse ridge, and the mesial cusp ridges of the MB and ML
cusps.

 Distal triangular fossa

It is continuous with the distal fossa in its mesial portion, and is bounded on the distal by the distal marginal
ridge.

Mandibular Molars
 Central Fossa
It is bounded by the triangular ridges of the MB, DB, ML and DL cusps, as well as the distal cusp ridges of
the MB and ML cusps and the mesial cusp ridges of the DB and DL cusps.

 Mesial triangular fossa

It is bounded by the mesial marginal ridge, the triangular ridges of the two mesial cusps, and the mesial cusp
ridges of the two mesial cusps.

 Distal triangular fossa

It is bounded by portions of the distal cusp and distal marginal ridge, as well as the triangular ridges of the
Distal and Dl cusps.

GOOD LUCK!!

Remember me in sincere prayers please

Prepared By:
Syedda Amina Rizvi
Coordinator from FMH @ MedCom bds point
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