 General characteristics:

 a. Arch position –
 In the permanent dentition, the mandibular second
premolar is the fifth tooth from the midline in
each lower quadrant.
 It has a mesial contact with the mandibular first
premolar, and a distal contact with the permanent
mandibular first molar.

 It is the succedaneous replacement for the
deciduous mahdibular second molar.
 b. Universal number:
 Mandibular right second premolar - # 29
 Mandibular left second premolar - # 20
 General form and function –
 The second premolar has a generally larger
crown.
 slightly larger and longer root than the first
premolar.
 The opposite arrangement is true for the crowns
of maxillary premolars, where the first premolar
is slightly larger.
 There are two general forms of the Mandibular
second premolar,
 the most common form exhibiting two lingual
cusps
 the other type displays one.
 The difference in the two types is primarily in
occlusal form.
 Regardless of the number of lingual cusps, the
occlusal table is most similar to that of a small
molar.
 Consequently, this tooth functions in a grinding
capacity with the molars, as contrasted to the first
premolar which functions much like the canine.
 Development table (Mandibular Second
Premolar)
 Initiation of calcification 2 1/4 to 2 1/2 years
 Completion of enamel 6 to 7 Years
 Eruption : 11 to 12 Years
 Completion of root 13 to 14 Years
 Buccal aspect:
 The mandibular second premolar resembles the
mandibular first premolar from the buccal, with
the following exceptions.
 i. The tooth is slightly larger,
 ii. The cusp tip is also centered mesiodistally,
making the two slopes approximately equal in
length.
 Despite these slight differences, it is difficult to
distinguish between the two mandibular
Premolars from this aspect.
 b. The location and morphology of the structures
of the facial surface, including height of contour
are also similar to these of the first premolar,
 Lingual aspect:
 a. General considerations –
 The lingual cusp or cusps, are better developed
and higher in comparison to the first premolar.
 The lingual surface is generally smooth and
convex
 b. The mesial, distal, and cervical outlines are similar
to those of the first premolar, although the lingual
surface is considerably wider mesiodistally, and
longer occlusocervially.
 Occlusaal outline –
 The lingual cusps are higher, and as a consequence,
much less of the occlusal surface can be seen from
premolar.
 The height of the lingual cusp(s) is still somewhat
shorter than the buccal cusp height.
 i. The three cusp type exhibits a mesiolinaual and
distolinaual cusp.
 Between the two lingual cusps a lingual groove
extends a short distance onto the lingual surface.
 The Mesiolingual cusp is wider and longer, while
the distolingual cusp is smaller, but often is the
sharper of the two.
 This arrangement leaves the lingual groove
offset to the distal in the occlusal outline.
 ii. The two cusp type displays a single lingual cusp.
 There is no lingual groove, but a depression is
often found toward the distal portion of the surface.
 The single cusp is of approximately the same
height as the Mesiolingual cusp of the three cups
type.
 d. The height of contour of the lingual surface is
found in the occlusal third of the crown
 Mesial aspect:
 From the mesial aspect, the two mandibular
premolars are similar, but much easier to
differentiate than from the facial aspect.
 Dimensionally, the second premolar is wider
buccolingually, but slightly shorter
occlusovervically, structurally,
 the two premolars differ in the follwings ways:
 a. the lingual inclination of the crown and of its
buccal surface is not quite as great as on the first
premolar. Consequently, the buccal cusp tip is not
centered over the root, but rather is slightly
buccal of center. The buccal cusp tip is also
shorter and less sharp.
 b. Lingual cusps are more prominent than the
first premolar, in the three cups type, the DL
Cusp is not visible from the mesial aspect.
 c. Occlusogingivally, the mesial surface is
convex in the occlusal portion, and concave in
the gingival portion
 d. The contact area is located toward the buccal,
at the junction of the occlusal and middle thirds.
 It is larger in size than the mesial contact of the
first premolar.
 It also roughly circular in outline.
 e. The marginal ridge is more nearly horizontal
and much less of the occlusal surface is visible.
 The landmark of the first premolar, the
Mesiolingual developmental groove, is absent on
the second premolar, but there is normally a
mesial marginal groove present.
 g. The height of contour of the lingual margin is
found in the occlusal third, a location which is
unique to the Mandibular second premolar.
 h. The cervical line shows less depth in its
occlusal curvature.
 Distal aspect
 The distal surface is similar to the mesial surface,
except in the following ways:
 a. The distal marginal ridge is more cervically
placed than on the mesial, resulting in more of
 the occlusal surface being visible from this
aspect, as well as shorter surface occluso-
cervically.
 b. In the three cusp type, the tips of both the
mesiolingual cups and the distolingual cusp are
visible.
 c. The contact area is similarly located, but
because it is shared with the first molar, it is
larger and somewhat ovoid, wider buccolingually
than occlusocervically.
 occlusal aspect:
 a. General considerations –
 The general shape of the crown from this aspect
is more nearly square, especially in the three cusp
type, when compared to the first premolar.
 b. General groove pattern –
 The occlusal groove pattern is responsible for
the names of the second premolar types.
 For example, the main groove pattern on the three cusp
type takes the form of a "Y", and it is thus named a Y
type.
 The main groove pattern on the two cusp type
resembles a "u" or "H", resulting in U and H type
second premolars.
 The Y type is the most common form of Mandibular
second premolar, and is present in the majority of cases.
 The two cusp types are less often seen, with H type
specimens more common than U type
 Three Cusp type - (y type):
 i. General occlusal form –
 The outline of the Y type from the occlusal aspect
is roughly squared lingual to the buccal line
angles, which are quite distinct.
 the Y pattern of the occlusal table is formed by a
combination of the central and lingual grooves.
 Cusps –
 The three cusps vary in height and size from
largest to smallest, as follows: buccal cusp,
Mesiolingual Cusp, and distolingual' Cusp.
 Each cusp exhibits four cusp ridges and four
inclined planes, and they are named like those of
other posterior teeth.
 The buccal cusp has four functional inclined
planes,
 while the lingual cusps possess two functional
inclined planes each. There is no transverse' ridge
on the y type premolar.
 iii. Fossae –
 there are two fossae, the mesial and distal
triangular fossae.
 Both are relatively shallow and irregular, but are
more linear in form than the triangular fossae of
the maxillary premolars.
 They are located just inside the marginal ridges
and are also bounded by two cusp ridges of each
appropriate cusp.
 For example, the mesial triangular fossa is
bounded by the mesial and lingual cusp ridges of
the Mesiolingual cusp, in addition to the mesial
marginal ridge.
 iv. Pits and grooves:
 there are three pits present on the occlusal table.
 Mesial Pit - The mesial pit is located in the
deepest portion of the mesial triangular fossa,
which is about midway from buccal to lingual
just inside the mesial marginal ridge. It is the
point of union of the following four primary
grooves:
 Central groove - It extends from the mesial pit to
the distal pit in a "V" form.
 Mesiolingual triangular groove
 Mesio buccal triangular groove
 Mesial marginal groove
 Distal pit - Its location in the depth of the distal
triangular fossa is similar to that of the mesial pit,
and it is also the point of union of four primary
grooves:
 Central groove
 Distolingual triangular groove
 Distobuccal triangular groove
 Distal marginal groove
 Central Pit –
 The central pit is the deepest of the three pits.
 It is located toward the lingual, since the ML cusp
is wider than the DL cusp.
 The central pit is located along the central groove,
where it joins the lingual groove, which itself exits
the occlusal surface between the two lingual cusps.
 The central pit is thus the junction of two primary
grooves
 Note: Some anatomists prefer to divide the
central groove into two grooves as follows:
 Mesial groove - The mesial groove extends disto
lingually from the mesial pit to the central pit.
 Distal groove - The distal groove extends mesio
lingually from the distal pit to the central pit.

 Two CUSP (U and H types):
 i. General occlusal form - Two cusp type second
premolars exhibit a rounded outline, lingual to
the buccal line angles
 the buccal line angles are themselves more
rounded and less distinct than in the Y type.
 The mesial and distal surfaces may converge
somewhat more toward the lingual making the
lingual portion narrower than the buccal,
 but the taper is never to the degree of the first
premolar.
 The one lingual cusp is placed directly opposite
the buccal cusp and their respective triangular
ridges create a transverse ridge.
 These teeth do not have either a lingual groove
or a central pit.
 ii. Cusps –
 The buccal cusp is larger and somewhat higher
than the lingual cusp.
 The lingual cusp sometimes appears as an
irregular convexity, rather than a distinct cusp,
especially in the U type.
 The lingual cusp of the H type is larger and
sharper than in the U type, and it is offset to the
mesial.
 buccal and lingual cusps have four cusp ridges,
and four inclined planes, which are named like
the same structures on other premolars.
 The buccal cusp features four functional inclined
planes, while the lingual cusp has two.
 iii. Fossae - The two cusp type also has two
fossae.
 they are roughly circular in shape, and are termed
mesial and distal fossa.
 They are bounded by the transverse ridge, and
appropriate marginal ridges and cusp ridges.
 iv. Pits and grooves (U type) –
 The U pattern is formed by the central groove
and portions of the two buccal triangular grooves.
 The central groove extends from the mesial pit
to the distal pit; and in the process forms the
lower portion of the "U".

 It can thus be characterized as crescent shaped.
 The only two pits, the mesial and distal , are the
point of union of the same four primary grooves
previously described in the Y type
 v. Pits and grooves (H type) –
 The H pattern is formed by the central groove
and portions of the four triangular grooves.
 The central groove runs roughly in a straight line
between the two pits, in contrast to the crescent
shape of the U type.
 Pits, fossae, and grooves are named as in the U
type.
 Root:
 a. The root is normally single, and tapers evenly
to the apex which is relatively sharp.
 It often has a slight distal inclination.
 The root is slightly wider and longer than that of
the first premolar.
 The general shape of the root from all aspects, as
well as in mid root cross section, is similar to that
of the first premolar.
 Variations and anomalies:
 a. In three cusp type crowns, the comparative size
of the ML and DL cusps is quite variable.
 The DL cusp ranges from a tubercle to
approximately the same size as the ML cusp. .
 b. Anomalies are rare, although a root bifurcation
into buccal and lingual branches is sometimes
seen.
 c. The Mandibular second premolars are, on
occasion, congenitally missing. This
phenomenon may occur either unilaterally or
bilaterally.
 d. Supernumerary teeth are sometimes observed
in the Mandibular premolar area.