Permanent Incisors

Structure and Function in

Dentistry 2019
Julie Owen
 Learning outcomes
• Become familiar with clinical terminology
– Eg: mesial, distal, buccal, lingual/palatal

• Identify permanent maxillary and

mandibular central and lateral
incisors.
 The vestibule

R L
 Palatal Aspect Clinical
Crown crown.

Enamel

Dentine

Root
Pulp

Apex

Lingual Aspect
Terminology and location

• Midline – vertical line

dividing the oral cavity

• Anterior: canine to
canine both maxillary and
mandibular arches
• Mesial – refers to the
• Facial/labial aspect: lateral/proximal side of
area of the tooth closest the tooth closest to the
to the lips, usually refers midline
to the anterior aspect
• Distal refers to
• Buccal refers to surface lateral/proximal side of
of posterior teeth closest the tooth furthest from the
to cheeks midline.
Gomphosis: teeth situated
in the bony socket of the
jaw bone and cushioned
by a tissue ‘membrane’ -
the periodontal ligament.

Heterodont:
differently shaped teeth
suited for different
functions.
Central Incisors
 Central Incisors
• Function: to cut/incise. Thin blade-like crowns
adapted to cutting/shearing of food .
• Each dentition: 4 centrals
• Mandibular central emerge ~ 6-7years
• Maxillary central emerges ~7-8 years
• Usually emerge in arch pairs
• Root development is approx 2/3 complete upon
clinical emergence.
• Root development is usually complete 2 years
post emergence.
Mandibular centrals-labial aspect
Roughly triangular with the base
at the incisal

• Mamelons??

• Symmetrical in shape, almost

straight cervico-incisally.

• Rounded CEJ

• Mesio-incisal angle is relatively

sharp/sharper than the distal

• The surface is convex but near

the incisal edge is flatter mesio-
distally.
Lingual Aspect • Lingual surface, smooth
and slightly concave from
incisal to cervix.

• Less concave from mesial

to distal.

• Lingual cingulum, mesial

and distal marginal ridges
are less defined than the
maxillary centrals’

• Root tip may have a slight

distal curve.
 Mesial and Distal Aspects
Cervical line • Incisal edge has a lingual
inclination.

• Triangular in outline.

• Cervical line (CEJ) inclined

incisally

• Mesial aspect of the CEJ

usually presents a greater
curvature.
Root structure
• Root-delicate and
flattened on mesial
distal aspects

• Longitudinal grooves
on mesial and distal

• Distal groove is often

deeper than mesial.

• Apex may have a distal

deflection.
Maxillary centrals-labial aspect
• Crown-4 line margins

• Cervical margin crests toward

the distal

• Convex from mesial-distal and

cervical to incisal.

• Mesial margin-longer &

straighter than the distal.

• Mesio incisal angle is relatively

sharp/sharper than the distal.

• Contact point: incisal 1/3.

 Palatal Aspect
▪ Crown is concave.

▪ Mesial & distal often present

distinct ridges..leads to a
shovel shaped appearance.

▪ Cingulum located near cervical

margin.
▪ Variations may present ..
▪ ridge of enamel may point towards
the incisal margin dividing this
surface into 2 shallow
fossa/depressions.
▪ Developmental pit
Mesial & Distal Aspects
The CEJ curve is
greater on the
mesial than the
distal aspect

Triangular/wedge
shaped-
base of which is at
the cervix and
apex at the incisal
aspect.
 Maxillary central incisor root structure.

• Root roughly conical

in shape.
• Rounded at the apex.
• Pulp chamber
decreases with age.
• Immature / newly
erupted teeth are
more sensitive to
thermal changes.
Mamelons on incisors
• Mamelon
– French~nipple
– Latin~Mamilla
little breast

Small tubercles
visible on the
incisal edge of
newly erupted
incisors.
Lateral Incisors
 Lateral incisors
• Resemble and complement the central
incisors.
• The mandibular lateral is slightly
smaller than maxillary lateral
• Mandibular laterals emerge ~ 7-8 years
• Maxillary laterals emerge ~ 8-9 years
 Mandibular Lateral

• Slightly larger & more

asymmetric in shape than
the mandibular central.

• Slightly wider mesio-

distally, longer inciso-
cervically.

• The incisal margin has

a distinct disto-lingual
inclination.
Mandibular Laterals
• Labial aspect is more
rounded mesially and
distally.

• Mamelons??

• Asymmetrical: distal
aspect is larger than
mesial aspect.
Mandibular lateral root

• Root is usually straight,

longer & thicker.

• Proximal grooves often

give the appearance of a
double root.

• Apex may have a

labial/distal inclination.
 Maxillary laterals
• The second tooth in the sequence often displays the
similar features of the first in the sequence…often
these features are condensed/exaggerated
• Most common tooth to be congenitally missing
• A large pointed tubercle may also present as part
of the cingulum

• Distorted crowns are also common

• May also present as a small, conical shape, peg
lateral.
Maxillary Lateral-labial aspect.
• Same line angles as the
central, mesial and distal line
angles are more curved.

• Labial surface is more convex

than the central.

• Narrower mesio-distally &

shorter cervico-incisally.

• Mamelons are present in newly

emerged teeth.

• Mesio incisal angle is sharper

than the distal.
Maxillary lateral-Palatal aspect.
• Mesial & distal margins are
more pronounced.

• Cingulum is usually
prominent.. palatal
concavity appears deeper.

• Deep pit may be present in

the cingulum.

• Be sure to examine this

area carefully using triplex
air syringe.
Maxillary lateral-Mesial and distal
aspects
• Wedge shaped.

• Mesial aspect of CEJ

displays greater curvature

• Distal surface quite

rounded-similar to mesial
aspect on canine.
Maxillary lateral – root structure
• Same length as the
central root-may be
longer.
• Apical 1/3 often distally
inclined and terminates
sharply.
• Narrow / flattened
mesiodistally.
. incisors

central

lateral
Supernumary / supplemental?
 References:

Berkowitz B., Holland G. Moxham B.: Oral Anatomy,

Histology and Embryology.

A. R. Ten Cate: Oral Histology: Development,

Structure and Function.

Wheeler’s Dental Anatomy, Physiology and Occlusion