Maxillary and Mandibular Molars

Question 1

How many cusps to maxillary first molars typically have?

Answer 1

FIVE, but that is only when the smaller Cusp of Carabelli is present

Question 2

How many cusps do the maxillary second molars have?

Answer 2

FOUR, but once in awhile you may see one with only three.

Question 3

How many fossae do the maxillary first molars typically have, and what are they called?

Answer 3

FOUR

Mesial Triangular Fossa

Central Fossa

Distal Fossa

Distal Triangular Fossa

Question 4

How many grooves do the maxillary first molars have and what are they called?

Answer 4

SIX

Central Groove

Buccal Groove

Transvers Groove of the Oblique Ridge

Distal Oblique Groove

Lingual Groove

Fifth Cusp Groove

Question 5

If the second maxillary molar only has three cusps, how many grooves will it typically have?

Answer 5

TWO

Central Groove

Buccal Groove

Question 6

Where are the canals typically found in both the 3 canal and 4 canal first maxillary molar?

Answer 6

From the occlusal view, they are found in the mesial half of the tooth

Question 7

What is the largest dimension of maxillary molar crowns from the occlusal view?

Answer 7

The buccolingual dimension

Question 8

Which direction do all molar crowns (maxillary and mandibular) taper from the occlusal view?

Answer 8

Distally

Question 9

What is the arch trait of the occlusal shape of the maxillary first molars?

Answer 9

Parallelograms (two obtuse and two acute angles)

Question 10

Do mandibular molars have oblique ridges?

Answer 10

NO, only maxillary molars have oblique ridges

Question 11

Where is the cusp of Carabelli on maxillary first molars?

Answer 11

On the lingual side of the mesial-lingual cusp

Question 12

In general, how long are maxillary roots compared to the crown height?

Answer 12

Nearly TWICE as long!

Question 13

Is the first or second maxillary molar larger?

Answer 13

The FIRST molar is larger, especially M-D

Question 14

Where are the proximal contacts (same for all molars)?

Answer 14

Mesial - at the junction of the occlusal and middle thirds

Distal - middle third

Question 15

Where is the trifurcation on maxillary molars?

Answer 15

Between the cervical and middle thirds of the roots

Question 16

Which molar has roots that look the most like the handles of a pair of pliers?

Answer 16

The first maxillary molars

Question 17

What is the order of root length (largest to smallest) for maxillary first molars?

Answer 17

Palatal (.75 mm longer than MB)

Mesialbuccal (.75 mm longer than DB)

Distalbuccal

Question 18

What is the largest cusp on the maxillary first molars?

Answer 18

Usually the ML cusp is the largest and highest

Question 19

If a patient only has three cusps on their second maxillary molars, which cusp is missing?

Answer 19

The DL cusp

Question 20

On both first and second maxillary molars, is the distal or mesial crown more narrow buccolingually?

Answer 20

DISTAL

Question 21

Is the marginal ridge groove more common on the mesial or distal part of the tooth?

Answer 21

MESIAL

Question 22

Where are tubercules usually found on maxillary molars if present?

Answer 22

The mesial marginal ridge of FIRST MOLARS

Question 23

Is the mesial or distal cervical line more curved?

Answer 23

MESIAL has more curvature

Question 24

Where is the mesial contact area on maxillary molars?

Answer 24

At the juncion of the occlusal and middle thirds of the crown

Question 25

Where is the distal proximal contact on maxillary molars?

Answer 25

The middle third of the crown

Question 26

What root is the longest and often banana-shaped in maxillary molars?

Answer 26

The lingual root

Question 27

Which direction from the occlusal view is longer on a mandibular molar?

Answer 27

MD

Question 28

Which tooth has the largest MD dimension of any tooth?

Answer 28

The first mandibular molar

Question 29

How many cusps do first mandibular molars have, and which is the largest?

Answer 29

FIVE The largest is the ML cusp

Question 30

What is the smallest cusp on the first mandibular molar?

Answer 30

Distal cusp

Question 31

Which cusps are the tallest CLINICALLY in the first mandibular molars?

Answer 31

The buccal cusps even though the lingual cusps are higher when the tooth is oriented vertically due to lingual tilt

Question 32

How many cusps are present on lower second molars?

Answer 32

FOUR

Question 33

What shape are the proximal contact for lower molars?

Answer 33

Ovoid (oval like)

Question 34

Do mandibular first molars always have a fifth cusp?

Answer 34

No, it is absent 1/5 of the time

Question 35

Which, if either, mandibular molar roots are longer?

Answer 35

Neither, they are approximately the same length

Question 36

What distinguishes roots of second lower molars from first lower molars?

Answer 36

More apically tapered More pointed

Question 37

Which direction do both lower first and second molars taper?

Answer 37

Lingually

Question 38

What is the buccal bulge?

Answer 38

It is a well-defined buccal cervical ridge found on molars

Question 39

What could be indicitive of two canals being present on the mesial root of mandibular molars (first and second)?

Answer 39

A deep mesial surface depression indicating likelihood of B and L root canals

Question 40

What is the widest portion of a lower molar?

Answer 40

Mesiodistal dimesion is wider than faciolingual (opposite for maxillary molars)

Question 41

What shape is the occlusal surface of the second mandibular molar most like?

Answer 41

Rectangle

Question 42

What shape is the occlusal surface of the first mandibular molar most like?

Answer 42

Pentagon

Question 43

How many fossae do mandibular molars possess?

Answer 43

THREE Mesial fossa Central fossa Distal fossa

Question 44

What shape do the grooves in the lower second molar resemble?

Answer 44

CROSS