Morphology of Premolars Flashcards
Universal Numbering of Maxillary Premolars
R 4, 5
L 12, 13
Universal Numbering of Mandibular Premolars
R 28, 29
L 20, 21
Functions of Premolars
- Mastication
- Maintaining vertical dimension of face
- Assist canines to shear or cut food
- Support cheeks and corners of the mouth
Class Traits of Premolars
• Most premolars have two cusps (one buccal and one
lingual) but sometimes there are three cusps (one
buccal and two lingual); therefore, the term
“premolar” is better than “bicuspid”
• Premolars develop from three facial lobes (like
anterior teeth) and from one or two lingual lobes
corresponding to one or two lingual cusps
Class Traits of Premolars Similar to Anterior
Teeth
Crowns taper to
cervical
Cementoenamel
junction (CEJ) similar in
shape (but less curve)
Roots: taper narrower
apically and lingually
Class Traits of Premolars That Differ From Anterior
Teeth
Two or three occlusal cusps versus incisal edge
Marginal ridges more horizontal (EXCEPT mesial
marginal ridge of mandibular first premolar)
Crowns are shorter
Height of contour: facial in cervical third (not to
close to CEJ, EXCEPT mandibular fist premolar) and
lingual in middle third
Proximal contact areas more cervical and
broader
All Premolars From Buccal View
Pentagon outline of
crown (like canine)
Contact areas are convex; distal contact is more cervical than mesial (EXCEPT mandibular first premolar)
Mesial cusp ridge
shorter than distal
(EXCEPT maxillary first
premolar)
All Premolars From Lingual View
Crown outline narrows toward lingual so some
proximal surfaces are visible (EXCEPT some
three-cusp-type mandibular second premolars with two
lingual cusps [seen best on occlusal view])
Buccal cusp longer than lingual cusp
• Lingual cusp off center to the mesial EXCEPT mandibular first premolar
Which premolar is the exception to the lingual cusp off center to the mesial?
mandibular first premolar
All Premolars From Proximal Views
Mesial marginal ridges are more occlusal than
distal (EXCEPT mandibular first premolar)
Mesial marginal ridges are more occlusal than
distal, except _________
mandibular first premolar)
All Premolars From Occlusal View
Wider faciolingually than mesiodistally
Occlusal table bound by marginal and cusp ridges
Proximal contacts are located buccal to the buccolingual midline; lingual embrasure spaces are larger
Triangular ridges join to form transverse ridges (EXCEPT threecusp-type mandibular second premolars).
A groove extends from mesial fossa to distal fossa (EXCEPT some mandibular first premolars)
Arch Traits That Differentiate Maxillary
From Mandibular Premolars
Mandibular premolars have more noticeable
lingual crown tilt than maxillary
Mandibular have less prominent buccal ridge
Less prominent buccal ridge (mandibular vs maxillary)
Mandibular
All premolars are larger buccolingually than
mesiodistally, true or false?
True
______ premolar is closer to square (buccolingual slightly greater than mesiodistal)
while ______ premolar is rectangular
mandibular = square
maxillary = rectangle
Relative Size of Maxillary Premolar Crowns From the Buccal View
Maxillary first premolar is larger than second
More convergence from proximal contact to cervical on first than second
Location of Contacts for Maxillary Premolars From the Buccal View
Mesial contact junction of occlusal and middle third, distal contact middle third (both types)
Location of Buccal Cusp Tip of Maxillary Premolars From the Buccal View
Maxillary second: mesial cusp ridge is shorter than distal (cusp tip mesial or centered)
Maxillary first premolar has mesial cusp ridge longer than the distal (UNIQUE) (cusp tip distal)
Shape of the Buccal Cusp of Maxillary Premolars From the Buccal View
Cusp is sharper on maxillary first premolar than second
Buccal Ridge and Depression of Maxillary Premolars From the Buccal View
Buccal ridge more prominent on maxillary first premolar than maxillary second
Root of Maxillary Premolars From the Buccal View
Maxillary first premolar is more likely to have two roots, whereas maxillary second premolar has one
When identifying the difference between maxillary premolars from the BUCCAL view, what 6 traits can help you distinguish between the first and second premolar?
- relative size of crown
- location of contacts
- buccal cusp tip location
- shape of buccal cusp
- buccal ridge and depression
- root #
Relative Cusp Size of Maxillary Premolars From the Lingual View
Lingual cusp shorter than buccal cusp; more so on maxillary first premolar than second
Cusp Ridges of Maxillary Premolars From the Lingual View
Lingual cusp is relatively sharper on maxillary second premolar than on first premolar
Lingual Cusp Position for Maxillary Premolars From the Lingual View
Both maxillary first and second premolars have
the lingual cusp tip positioned Mesial to the midroot axis
Marginal Ridges of Maxillary Premolars From the Lingual View
Distal marginal ridge is more cervical than
mesial for both maxillary first and second premolars (best seen by comparing mesial and distal views)
Roots of Maxillary Premolars From the Lingual View
Maxillary first premolar: lingual root is shorter than buccal root
Root crown ratio is 1.56 on first premolar and 1.82 on second premolar
Crown Shape and Morphology of Maxillary Premolars From the Proximal Views
Maxillary premolars have trapezoid outline
Maxillary first premolar is the only premolar to have a crown depression (always on
the mesial)
Relative Cusp Height of Maxillary Premolars From the Proximal Views
Lingual cusp shorter than buccal cusp, more so on maxillary first premolar than second premolar