Descriptive Anatomy of permanent canines

Question 1

What is another name used to describe canines?

Answer 1

Cuspids

Also known as cornerstones of the arches due to being at the corners of the dental arches.

Question 2

How is the canine shaped generally?

Answer 2

Incisal edge has a large pointed cusp unlike the incisors

Cusp has mesial and distal cusp ridges.

Question 3

What are the unique features of the maxillary canines?

Answer 3

It is the longest tooth in the mouth. Its root is usually the longest of any root. (sometimes same size as mandibular canine’s root)

The maxillary canines are usually the last teeth to erupt. Except for the third molars

Question 4

When does initial calcification of the canines take place?

Answer 4

4 - 5 months

Question 5

When is the crown of the maxillary canine completed?

Answer 5

At 6 - 7 years of age

Question 6

When do the maxillary canines erupt?

Answer 6

11 - 12 years

Question 7

When are the roots of the maxillary canines completed?

Answer 7

13 - 15 years

Question 8

What shape does the maxillary canine crown take?

Answer 8

Pentagonal shape.

Question 9

What shape does the mesial outline of the maxillary canine have?

Answer 9

Usually convex from the cervical line to the mesial contact area.

Question 10

What shape does the distal outline of the maxillary canine take?

Answer 10

Usually concave between cervical line and the distal contact area

Question 11

What shape does the incisal edge of the maxillary incisors have?

Answer 11

Distinct pointed tip called a cusp. This cusp has mesial and distal slopes.

Mesial slope is shorter than the distal slope.

Both slopes show tendency towards concavity.

Question 12

What is the shape of the cervical line of the maxillary canine like?

Answer 12

Convex towards the root.

Question 13

Where is the contact area between the canines and the first premolar and the lateral incisor?

Answer 13

Mesially mearly at the junction of the middle and incisal thirds of the crown closer to the cusp tip than is the distal contact point.

Distally in the middle third. Usually it is in the middle third. It is more cervically located than the mesial contact area.

Question 14

What elevations and depressions are present on the labial surface of the maxillary canine?

Answer 14

Elevations: Cusp is usually on a line with the center of the root. Labial ridge runs vertical from the tip of the cusp to the cervical margin.

Depressions: 2 developmental grooves that are shallow longitudinal developmental depressions lie mesial and distal to the labial ridge.

Question 15

How is the canine labial surface shaped?

Answer 15

It is convex both mesiodistally and cervicoincisally.

Question 16

What does the labial side of the root look like on the canine?

Answer 16

Long, slender, and conical with a pointed apex that curves in the mesial or distal direction but mostly distally.

Question 17

What are the features of the palatal aspects of the crown?

Answer 17

The crown is narrower palatally than labially.

Elevations include the cingulum, palatal ridge, and marginal ridges.

Depressions consist of 2 lingual fossae.

Question 18

What is the palatal ridge?

Answer 18

It is a prominent vertical ridge that runs from the cusp tip to the cingulum.

Canines are the only teeth to have a prominent palatal ridge.

Question 19

How is the cingulum shaped on the palatal aspect of the crown of the canine?

Answer 19

Cingulum is large and sometimes pointed like a cusp in the center

Question 20

Which of the marginal ridges is larger on the lingual aspect of the crown of the canine?

Answer 20

The mesial marginal ridge is longer than the distal marginal ridge. Due to the shorter mesial cusp slope, the location of the mesial contact area.

Question 21

How is the root shaped on the palatal aspect of the canine?

Answer 21

It is narrower than the labial side, smooth, and convex.

Question 22

What shape is the mesial aspect of the canine?

Answer 22

It is wedge-shaped (triangular)

Cervical line curves towards the cusp. Convexity of the canine is less marked than that on the incisors.

The cusp tip is located slightly labially to the root axis.

Question 23

How is the mesial aspect of the root of the canine shaped?

Answer 23

The root is conical with a tapered or bluntly pointed apex.

Apical third may curve labially.

Usually labial outline of the root is slightly convex and the palatal outline is more convex

The mesial surface of the root is broad with a shallow, longitudinal depression in most cases.