Permanent Teeth

Question 1

How do you tell which side is mesial in a maxillary central incisor?

Answer 1

Sharp right angle looking from labial side

Question 2

How do you tell which side is distal in a maxillary central incisor?

Answer 2

Rounded edge/corner when looking from labial side

Question 3

Describe the labial surface of a maxillary central incisor

Answer 3

Large

Flattened

“Spade-like”

2 grooves

Convex cervical region

Mesial edge makes a sharp right angle

Question 4

Describe the palatal surface of a maxillary central incisor

Answer 4

Large concave area

“Shovel-shaped”

Marginal ridges

Large cingulum

Question 5

How is the maxillary lateral incisor different to the maxillary central incisor?

Answer 5

Smaller crown

Longer root in proportion

Pit in base of cingulum

Question 6

How can you tell which side is distal in a maxillary lateral incisor?

Answer 6

Root curves distally

Curved edge is distal (right angled side is mesial)

Question 7

How do mandibular incisors compare with maxillary incisors?

Answer 7

Similar mesial and distal edges

Smaller, narrower, longer

More flattened root

Poorly developed cingulum

Question 8

How can you tell which side is distal on a mandibular central incisor?

Answer 8

Groove on distal side on root

Straighter distal side (more acute mesially)

Question 9

How can you tell which side is mesial on a mandibular central incisor?

Answer 9

Groove on distal side of root

More acute mesially

Question 10

How is the labial surface of a mandibular central incisor often described as?

Answer 10

Chisel-shaped

Question 11

How is the labial surface of a mandibular lateral incisor often described as?

Answer 11

Fan-shaped

Question 12

How does a mandibular lateral incisor compare with a mandibular central incisor?

Answer 12

Wider towards incisal edge

Crown is twisted distally

Question 13

How can you tell which side is mesial on a mandibular lateral incisor?

Answer 13

Straighter mesial side (more acute distally)

Crown pulled/twisted back distally

Question 14

How can you tell which side is distal on a mandibular lateral incisor?

Answer 14

More acute distally

Crown pulled/twisted back distally

Question 15

How many cusps does a canine have?

Answer 15

One

Question 16

Describe the labial surface of a maxillary canine

Answer 16

More curved than incisors

Longer distal slope than mesial slope (large swelling on distal side)

Large cusp (1/2 to a 1/3 of crown)

Question 17

Describe the palatal surface of a maxillary canine

Answer 17

Marginal ridges

Large cingulum

Central ridge (and fossae)

Question 18

How does the mandibular canine differ from the maxillary canine?

Answer 18

Smaller cingulum

Crown tipped towards tongue

Question 19

How can you tell which side is mesial in a mandibular canine?

Answer 19

More angular joining of mesial and labial surfaces (than distal and labial)

Question 20

How can you tell the difference between upper and lower premolars?

Answer 20

Uppers have an egg/oval occlusal surface whereas lowers have a more circular shape

Uppers have more prominent cusps

Question 21

What are the differences between the maxillary premolars?

Answer 21

Roots are better developed in first premolar

Canine fossa in first premolar

Cusps are more equal in size in second premolar

More parallel sides in second premolar

Fissure is less extensive and doesn’t usually cross mesial ridge in second premolar

Question 22

Describe the occlusal surface of a maxillary first premolar

Answer 22

Egg-shaped, wider at buccal end

Fissure between two cusps which is continuous with a groove over the mesial marginal ridge

Larger/taller buccal cusp than palatal

Question 23

Describe the occlusal surface of a maxillary second premolar

Answer 23

Oval-shaped

Fissure/pit between cusps may extend over mesial ridge

Buccal cusp is larger than palatal but cusps are fairly equal in height

Question 24

How can you tell which side is mesial in a maxillary premolar?

Answer 24

Palatal cusp tipped mesially

Fissure may extend over mesial ridge

Question 25

Describe the occlusal surface of a mandibular first premolar

Answer 25

Circular Large buccal cusp and small lingual cusp, tipped towards tongue Prominent central ridge between cusps Larger distal fossa Mesial fossa runs on to mesial-lingual surface

Question 26

Describe the occlusal surface of a mandibular second premolar

Answer 26

Circular Large buccal cusp and better developed lingual cusp(s) than first premolar, tipped towards tongue Maybe have one or two lingual cusps

Question 27

How can you tell which side is mesial in a mandibular second premolar?

Answer 27

Larger lingual cusp is tipped/placed mesially

Question 28

How many roots do the maxillary molars usually have?

Answer 28

3

Question 29

How many roots do the mandibular molars usually have?

Answer 29

2

Question 30

Describe the occlusal surface of a maxillary first molar

Answer 30

Rhomboidal 4 cusps: 2 palatal and 2 buccal Largest cusp is mesial-palatal Oblique ridge from mesial-palatal to distal-buccal cusps Distal and mesial fossae

Question 31

Describe the occlusal surface of a maxillary second molar

Answer 31

Square 4 cusps: 2 palatal and 2 buccal Largest cusp is mesial-palatal Oblique ridge from mesial-palatal to distal-buccal cusps Distal and mesial fossae Diminishing distal-palatal cusp

Question 32

Describe the occlusal surface of a maxillary third molar

Answer 32

Triangular 3 cusps usually: 1 palatal and 2 buccal (distal-palatal small/removed) Largest cusp is mesial-palatal Oblique ridge from mesial-palatal to distal-buccal cusps

Question 33

What is the cusp of Carabelli?

Answer 33

Cusplet on side of mesial-palatal cusp of a maxillary first molar

Question 34

How could you tell the difference between a maxillary first and second molar?

Answer 34

First molar may have: Cusp of Carabelli Groove over palatal surface to a developmental groove Three separate roots (start fusing in second molar)

Question 35

Describe the occlusal surface of a mandibular first molar

Answer 35

Oblong 5 cusps: one at each corner and extra distal-buccal cusp Mesial cusps are slightly larger

Question 36

Describe the occlusal surface of a mandibular second molar

Answer 36

Oblong 4 cusps: one at each corner Cross-shaped fissure pattern Mesial cusps are slightly larger

Question 37

Describe the occlusal surface of a mandibular third molar

Answer 37

Very variable - 4 or 5 cusps Very complex fissure pattern

Question 38

What kind of fissure pattern does the mandibular first molar have?

Answer 38

Dryopithecus