Molars

Question 1

How many cusps does the maxillary first molars have?

Answer 1

4 cusps - 2 buccal and 2 palatal.

Can have a 5th cusps called cusp of carabelli, found on mesiopalatal cusp.

Question 2

Where would you find the cusp of carabelli?

Answer 2

On the mesiopalatal cusp of the maxillary first molar

Question 3

Approx what percentage of people have the cusp of carabelli?

Answer 3

70%

Question 4

Describe the buccal cusps on the maxillary first molars

Answer 4

Both of the cusps are equal in size. It has a developmental groove that separates the mesial and distal cusps from each other

Question 5

How many roots do the maxillary first molars have? Where are these found?

Answer 5

They have 3 roots. There are 2 buccal roots found directly below the buccal cusps. These bend towards the distal.
The palatal root is found under the mesiopalatal cusp.

Question 6

How do the roots for the mandibular first molars differ from the maxillary first molars?

Answer 6

Mandibular molars have 2 roots, maxillary molars have 3 roots

Question 7

Which root of the maxillary first molars is the longest?

Answer 7

The palatal root

Question 8

Describe the palatal cusps on the maxillary first molars

Answer 8

Palatal surface also has developmental groove.

Palatal cusps are more curved than the buccal cusps.

Question 9

Which cusp on a maxillary first molar is the largest?

Answer 9

Mesiopalatal cusp (around 2/3 larger)

Question 10

Describe the occlusal surface of a maxillary first molar

Answer 10

Rhombus shape

Cusps at each corner (4)

2 marginal ridges - one mesial, one distal.

Mesial and distal fossa either side of ridge

Oblique ridge - runs from MP to DB cusps

Question 11

What fissure pattern is present on the occlusal surface of the max first molar? What causes this pattern?

Answer 11

‘H’ shape fissure pattern - formed by ridge and fossa

Question 12

How many cusps do maxillary second molars have?

Answer 12

4 cusps- 2 buccal, 2 palatal

Question 13

How many roots do maxillary second molars have?

Answer 13

3 roots - 2 buccal, 1 palatal.

Similar to the max first molar but the second molar and its roots are smaller.

Question 14

Describe the buccal roots of the maxillary second molars

Answer 14

The 2 buccal roots are similar in length and tend to bend towards the distal

Question 15

Describe the characteristics of the palatal cusps of the maxillary second molar

Answer 15

palatal cusps are more curved than the buccal cusps.

Mesiopalatal cusp is taller and larger than the distopalatal cusp.

Question 16

How does the size of the distopalatal cusp in a max second molar compare to that in a max first molar?

Answer 16

The distopalatal cusp in the second max molar is smaller in size compared to the first molar. This pattern continues to the third molar, where there is only one palatal cusp.

Question 17

Describe the occlusal surface of the maxillary second molars

Answer 17

Rhomboid shape. 4 cusps in each corner.
Oblique ridge. 2 marginal ridges - mesial and distal.
Distopalatal cusp smaller compared to first molar (reduces in size).

Question 18

Which molars are the smallest of the maxillary molars?

Answer 18

The third molars

Question 19

Describe the roots of the third maxillary molars?

Answer 19

They have 3 short roots that are fused together

Question 20

What shape is the occlusal surface of the max third molars?

Answer 20

Triangular

Question 21

How many cusps does the mandibular first molar have?

Answer 21

5 cusps - 3 buccal, 2 lingual

Question 22

How many roots does the mandibular first molar have? where are these situated?

Answer 22

2 roots - one under the mesial cusps, and one under the distal cusps

Question 23

Which direction do the roots of the mandibular first molar tend to bend?

Answer 23

Distally

Question 24

Which root of the mandibular first molar is the longest?

Answer 24

mesial root

Question 25

Which cusp is the smallest on a mandibular first molar?

Answer 25

The distobuccal cusp (helps identify which part of the tooth is mesial/distal)

Question 26

How many buccal cusps are there and what do they look like?

Answer 26

3 - mesio, centro and disto.

They are more rounded and are lingually inclined. There are 2 buccal developmental grooves that separate the cusps.

Question 27

Describe the lingual cusps of the mandibular first molars

Answer 27

there are 2 - mesio and disto. They are more pointed than the buccal. They are upright. The mesiolingual is taller than the distolingual. the crown overhangs the root. One development groove on lingual surface.

Question 28

What does the occlusal surface look like on the mandibular first molar?

Answer 28

Rectangular.
Mesiodistal length is longer than bucco-lingual width.

Dryopithecus fissure pattern

Question 29

How many cusps does the mandibular second molar have?

Answer 29

4 cusps - 2 buccal, 2 lingual.

Developmental groove separates cusps from each other.

Question 30

How many roots does the mandibular second molar have?

Answer 30

2 roots - 1 mesial, 1 distal

Question 31

Describe the roots of a mandibular second molar

Answer 31

Roots are closer together than the first mand molar. the mesial root bends distally.

Question 32

Which cusps are taller on mandibular second molar?

Answer 32

The lingual cusps are taller than the buccal

Question 33

Describe the lingual cusps of a mandibular second molar

Answer 33

Lingual cusps are sharp. Mesiolignual cusps are taller and larger than the distolingual cusp. The lingual cusp overhangs the root to allow for the tongue.

Question 34

In which direction are the buccal cusps inclined? What shape are they?

Answer 34

Lingually

They are bulbous

Question 35

Describe the occlusal surface of a mandibular second molar

Answer 35

Rectangular with cusps in each corner.

mesial cusps are larger than the distal cusps- so tooth is wider mesially than distally.

Cruciate fissure pattern

Question 36

Describe the mandibular third molars

Answer 36

Similar to second mand molars, but are smaller. They have 4 cusps and 2 roots - 1 mesial, 1 distal that tend to curve distally.
Oblong occlusally. Different variations, some can have 5 cusps.