TOOTH IDENTIFICATION

Dental Anatomy
Dent 201
Summer semester
2005/2006
Sequence of identification
Set
 Deciduous
 Permanent

Class
 Incisor
 Canine
 Premolar
 Molar
 Sequence of Identification
Arch
 Maxillary
 Mandibular
Type
 Posterior teeth: 1st, 2nd or 3rd
 Incisors: central or lateral
Side
 Right
 Left
Set Traits
Size
Dimensions
Colour
Cervical ridges
Cervical constriction
Buccal Cervical Ridges on D.
molars
Root morphology
 Slender, flared & bowed with
little root trunk in deciduous
molars
Class Traits-incisors
Incisal 2/3 flattened MD
& compressed LL
Long horizontal
MD biting edge
2 or more mamelons
Marginal ridges
parallel to long axis
Class Traits-canines
Longest & thickest roots LL
Single conical pointed cusp
Only cusped teeth without
occlusal surface
Class Traits-Premolars

At least 2 cusps
Single buccal cusp 
with one or more lingual 
cusps
Molars must have at least 
2 buccal cusps
Class Traits-Molars

3 or more cusps
At least 2 buccal cusps
One or more lingual cusps
In general 2 or 3 roots
Arch Traits-Incisors

Crown
 Wider MD
 height vs. width
 MD vs. LL dimensions
Root
 MD vs. LL dimensions
 Root shape in x-section
Arch Traits-Canine

Crown
 Size
 Amount of flaring of proximal outlines
 Height vs. width of the crown
 LL incisal edge location
Root
 Length
 LL dimension vs. MD
Arch Traits-premolars
Amount of similarity 
between 1st & 2nd 
Amount of similarity 
in size and height 
between cusps
BL vs. MD dimension

Lingual inclination of 
the crown
Lingual HOC location
Arch Traits­molars
Number of roots
Crown
 BL vs. MD dimension
 Occlusal aspect
 Shape
 Angles
 Cusp arrangement & variance in size
 Oblique ridge
Type traits-maxillary incisors
Size
Crown
 Height vs. MD width
 Roundedness of angles
 MD vs. LL dimension
 Prominence of cingulum
 Depth of L. fossa
 Developmental pit/groove
Root
 Shape of x-section
 MD vs. LL dimension
Type traits-mandibular incisors
Equality in size (arch trait)
Incisal edge inclination
Symmetry
Roundedness of angles
Type traits-maxillary premolars
Proximal aspects
 Height of the cusps
 Mesial marginal groove
 Canine (inter-radicular) fossa
 Number of roots?
Buccal aspect
 Bulging proximal outlines
Occlusal aspect
 Occlusal table area
 Sharpness of angles
 Convergence of proximal outlines
 Lingual cusp twisting
 Developmental/supplemental
grooves
Type traits-mandibular premolars
Proximal aspects
 Amount of lingual tilting of
Occlusal plane
 Cusp height/size difference
 ML groove
Lingual aspect
 Amount of B profile visible
Occlusal aspect
 Diamond vs. square
 Proximal profile convergence
lingually
 M MR vs. D MR height and
length
 D. groove pattern/ central pit
Type traits-maxillary molars
Crown
 Size
 Degree Morphological variation
 DL cusp size
 Cusp of Carabelli?
 Mesial MR tubercles
 Rhomboid outline & angles
 Supplementary grooves
Root
 Distal inclination
 Flaring
 Fusion
 length
Type traits-mandibular molars
Crown
 Size
 MD width
 Number of cusp
 Pit/groove pattern
 Supplementary grooves
 Occlusal view shape
 Lingual convergence of
proximal surfaces
Roots
 Distal inclination
 Flaring
 Fusion
 Length
Right or Left?
The 5 surfaces should have been identified
Usually facial & lingual surfaces are easily
identifiable
M & D are a bit more difficult to identify
Detailed knowledge of anatomy of each tooth
is required
Right or Left?

Maxillary incisors
 MI & DI angles
 M & D outlines & contact area 
Mandibular incisors
 MI & DI angles
 Incisal edge inclination in lateral
Right or Left?

Canines
 M & D sloping cusp ridges 
 M & D outlines & contact area
 Right or Left?

Maxillary premolars
 M & D sloping cusp ridges
 M & D outlines & contact area
 Height & length of MRs
 In max. 1st premolar
 Canine fossa
 M MR groove
 Mesial twist of lingual cusp
 Right or Left?

Mandibular premolars
 M & D sloping cusp ridges
 M & D outlines & contact 
area
 Height & length of MRs
 In mand. 1st premolar
 ML groove
 In mand 2nd premolar
 Size difference of lingual 
cusps (when 2 lingual cusps)
Right or Left?
Maxillary molars
 Size difference of cusps
 Oblique ridge
 Acute vs. obtuse angles
 M & D outlines & contact 
area
 Height & length of MRs
 Root
 Inclination
 MB vs. DB root morphology
 In max. 1st molar
 Cusp of Carabelli
 Right or Left?

Mandibular molars
 M & D outlines & contact area
 Height & length of MRs
 Root
 Inclination
 M vs. D root morphology
 In mand. 1st molar
 The distal cusp
 2 B grooves
 M marginal groove
Sequence of identification­example

Identify 21
 Set: Permanent
 Class: Incisor
 Arch: Maxillary
 Type: Central
 Side: Left