Molars

Question 1

Difference between upper and lower molars

Answer 1

Upper has three roots and lower has two roots

Question 2

What do the roots of the upper molars look like, describe the size and location

Answer 2

Upper molars have three roots, 2 Buccal roots and 1 lingual root
The two Buccal roots are smaller than the lingual root. The lingual/palatal root is very big

Question 3

What is furcation

Answer 3

Furcation is the area between the roots

Question 4

What do the roots of the lower molars looks like, describe size and location

Answer 4

Two roots in lower molars, one distal and one mesial. The mesial root is bigger

Question 5

What’s the difference between fossae and grooves?

Answer 5

Fossae are the small pits, so like the holes at certain points.
Grooves are the lines (fissure), usually stretching from one end to another

Even if the groove is deep, it is still called a deep groove

Question 6

What is the difference in shape of the maxillary first molar and second molar?

Answer 6

Upper first molar is diamond shape and the upper second molar is more of a triangular shape

Question 7

How many cusps are there on a maxillary first molar

Answer 7

4.

Question 8

Which is the biggest cusp in a maxillary first molar

Answer 8

Mesiolingual or mesiopalatal cusp

Question 9

How to identify a maxillary first molar

Answer 9

1. Look at the roots, 3 roots then upper.
2. 2 roots is the Buccal side
3. Look at the cusp size, the mesiopalatal cusp is bigger than the distopalatal cusp

Question 10

Which tooth has an oblique ridge and where is it located

Answer 10

Maxillary first and second molar, extends diagonally from mesiopalatal to distobuccal

Oblique ride is an arch trait on most maxillary molars

Question 11

What is the name of the bulge on the upper first molars

Answer 11

Cusp/ tubercle of carabelli. Remember that it is ONLY present in upper 6s

Question 12

Where is the cusp of carabelli located

Answer 12

It’s located on the biggest cusp of the upper 6s, ie the mesiopalatal cusp

Question 13

Does everyone have a cusp of carabelli

Answer 13

No. Only present in about 40% of people.

Question 14

What is the function of the cusp of carabelli

Answer 14

No function in mastication, usually prone to caries

Question 15

Which tooth is widest in the upper arch

Answer 15

6s

Question 16

Do all maxillary 7s have 4 cusps?

Answer 16

No. Some second molars have only three cusps .

Question 17

Match the tooth with the correct geometric shapes for its occlusal outline.

Rectangle, parallelogram ,triangle/heart shaped, pentagon

Answer 17

Rectangle mandibular 7
Parallelogram maxillary 6
Triangle/ heart shaped maxillary 7
Pentagon mandibular 6

Question 18

Which fossae is the largest in maxillary molars.

Answer 18

Central fossa and pit

Question 19

How many fossa are there in a maxillary molars

Answer 19

Majority have 4 (distal triangular fossa, central fossa, mesial fossa, distal fossa)

For upper 7s that do not have a distolingual cusp, the distal fossa is missing

Question 20

Do review questions in the notes on molars

Question 21

The tooth with the largest mesiodistal dimension of ANY tooth

Answer 21

Mandibular first molar

Question 22

Highest and longest cusp of the mandibular first molar

Answer 22

Mesiolingual

Question 23

How to know if it’s a mandibular second molar

Answer 23

1. Two roots so lower jaw
2. Shape of the tooth is rectangular
3. The lingual cusps are higher than the Buccal cusps
4. Mesiobuccal cusps are wider
   There is a Buccal cervical ridge on the mesiobuccal cusp

Question 24

Which cusp is the largest on a mandibular second molar

Answer 24

Mesiobuccal

Question 25

Which grooves radiate out from The Central fossa in a mandibular second molar?

Answer 25

Central, lingual, Buccal

Question 26

Which tooth has a transverse oblique ridge

Answer 26

Mandibular first molar

Question 27

Which tooth may have a Buccal pit

Answer 27

Lower first molar