Permanent molars

Question 1

Which molars have the larger, more pronounced cusps?

Answer 1

The Maxillary molars

Question 2

How are the crowns of molars different to premolars?

Answer 2

Molars have larger but shorter dimensions than premolars.

Question 3

How is the occlusal surface of molars shaped?

Answer 3

Maxillary molars are usually wider bucco-lingually than mesio-distally and are more rhombic in shape, Second and third molars can be heart shaped.

Mandibular molars are usually more long, rectangular, or square with the widest measurement mesiodistally.

Question 4

What is the maxillary molar cusp triangle?

Answer 4

Maxillary molars have a small distopalatal cusp that becomes smaller as you gor from 6 to 7 to 8.

Question 5

What is another name for the disto-palatal cusp? What does this cusp do?

Answer 5

The maxillary plunging cusps.

They articulate with the opposing fossae of the mandibular molars.

Question 6

When do first molars erupt?

Answer 6

6 - 7 years

Question 7

When do second molars erupt?

Answer 7

Maxillary: 12 - 13 years

Mandibular: 11 - 13 years

Question 8

When do third molars erupt?

Answer 8

17 - 21 years

Question 9

What is the shape of the occlusal surface of the maxillary first molar?

Answer 9

Irregular rhombus with four cusps: Mesio-palatal, mesio-buccal, disto-buccal, and disto-palatal.

The crown is wider buccopalatally than mesiodistally.

Question 10

What are the major fossae of the maxillary first molar?

Answer 10

Central and the distal fossae

Question 11

What are the minor fossae of the maxillary first molar?

Answer 11

Mesial and distal triangular

Question 12

What are the pits of the maxillary first molar?

Answer 12

The mesial and distal pits

Question 13

Which 2 cusps does the oblique ridge connect?

Answer 13

The tip of the mesiolingual cusp diagonally across the tooth to the tip of the disto-buccal cusp.

The oblique ridge is produced by the meeting of the triangular ridge of the disto-buccal cusp and the distal cuspal ridge of the mesiolingual cusp.

Question 14

How high is the low point of the oblique ridge?

Answer 14

It is at the same level as the mesial and distal marginal ridges

Question 15

Where are the major fossae located?

Answer 15

The central fossa and distal fossa are located on either side of the oblique ridge.

Question 16

Which cusps of the maxillary first molar are longer?

Answer 16

The buccal cusps

Question 17

Which cusp is the cusp of cerebelli connected to?

Answer 17

The mesio-palatal cusp

Question 18

What can be seen on the palatal root extending to cervical of the tooth?

Answer 18

A slight mid-third depression

Question 19

What does the cervical line of the distal aspect of the maxillary first molar look like?

Answer 19

The cervical line is straight from buccal to palatal.

Question 20

How are traits that make it easier to differentiate between maxillary 1st and 2nd molars?

Answer 20

1. Roots are more widely spread in 1st
2. Roots with less distal bend in 1st
3. Buccal groove is longer with a possible pit in 1st
4. Buccal cusps are almost the same size in 1st whereas mesio-buccal cusp is larger than disto-buccal cusp in 2nd.
5. Cusp of cerebelli in 1st

Question 21

Where do the 1st and 2nd mandibular molars form transverse ridges?

Answer 21

On both the first and second mandibular molars, the triangular ridges of the mesio-buccal and mesio-lingual cusps meet to form
a transverse ridge. The triangular ridges of the disto-buccal and disto-lingual form a second transverse ridge.

Question 22

What are the developmental grooves of the mandibular first molar?

Answer 22

The Occlusal surface has four developmental grooves: Central, Mesiobuccal, Disto-buccal & and lingual.

Question 23

What are the 3 fossae of the mandibular first molar?

Answer 23

There are three fossae Mesial, Central and

Distal

Question 24

What is the shape of the central developmental groove of the first mandibular molar? What does the lingual groove look like relative to it?

Answer 24

The central development groove forms a “zigzag” Mesio-distally and the lingual
groove forms a “y” as it
connects to the central groove

Question 25

What are the buccal cusps of the mandibular first molar? Which is the largest?

Answer 25

MB, DB, D (the mesio-buccal is the largest). The crown has two buccal grooves buccal and disto-buccal.

Question 26

What does the cervical junction of the mandibular first molar look like?

Answer 26

The cervical junction is parallel to the occlusal surface. At times enamel can dip into the furcation depression (Buccal).

Question 27

What other ridges and grooves run on the buccal surface?

Answer 27

There is a distinct buccal ridge and groove that runs

horizontally mesio-distally.

Question 28

Which mandibular molar root is longer?

Answer 28

The mesial root is longer and the distal root is straighter

Question 29

What separates the ML and DL cusps of the first mandibular molar?

Answer 29

Has Two Cusps - ML & DL which are separated

by the lingual groove.

Question 30

What is the cervical margin like on the lingual side of the first mandibular molar?

Answer 30

It is straight

Question 31

Which is higher the MB or the ML cusp?

Answer 31

The lingual cusp is higher. The two mesial cusps are larger than the distal cusps.

Question 32

What is wider the mesial or the distal side?

Answer 32

The bucco-lingual width is greater mesial than distal.

Question 33

How does the cervical margin curve in the mandibular molar on the mesial side?

Answer 33

Occlusally

Question 34

Features of the Distal surface:

Answer 34

The disto lingual cusp is the largest.
The distal contact point is more buccally
located and is centered over the long axis
of the distal root. This reflects the
reduction of mesio-distal width as the
Tooth tapers towards the distal.
The distal root is shorter allowing the
mesial root to be viewed from this
Perspective

Question 35

What are the features of mandibular 1st molars?

Answer 35

1. Five cusps: three buccal, two lingual. Mesiobuccal cusp
   largest.
2. Bulbous, lingually inclined buccal surface with two grooves.
3. Largest mandibular tooth.
4. Buccal aspect: all five cusps visible. Lingual aspect:
   three cusps visible.
5. Crown longer mesiodistally than bucco-lingually; buccal
   surface longer than lingual.
6. Occlusal outline approximately oblong.
   7.. Neonatal line, classically on the mesiobuccal cusp.
7. Two roots: mesial root longer, flattened mesiodistally,
   grooved longitudinally and curved distally; distal root more
   rounded and less distally curved.

Question 36

What are the features of mandibular 2nd molars?

Answer 36

1. Square occlusal outline – rounded corners.
2. Four cusps: two lingual, two buccal, separated
   by a pronounced central cruciform fissure
   pattern on occlusal surface.
3. Not as wide mesiodistally as lower first molar.
4. Buccal surface bulbous and lingually inclined
   with one groove.
5. Lingual cusps higher than buccal cusps.
6. Two roots similar to lower first molar but less
   broad, closer together and occasionally fused.
   Axes or both roots approximately parallel and
   curved distally.

Question 37

Traits that distinguish first mandibular

molars from second mandibular molars:

Answer 37

Mandibular first
1.Usually has five cusps.
2. Less prominent buccal ridge.
3. More crown taper from buccal
to lingual.
4.Fewer Secondary grooves.
5. Central groove zigzags
mesially to distally.
6. Mesiobuccal & distobuccal
grooves do NOT align with lingual
groove.

Mandibular second
1. Usually has four cusps.
2. Buccal ridge more prominent.
3. Less crown taper from buccal
to lingual.
4. More secondary grooves.
5. Central groove straighter.
6. Buccal and lingual grooves
align to intersect with central
groove like a shape “+”