LEFT vs RIGHT (applicable to all)

Buccal view: root curves to distal - the tooth position is opposite of the direction where the root curves (i.e. the root curves towards right, tooth position is left) Lingual view: root curves to distal - the tooth position is similar to the direction where the root curves (i.e. the root curves towards left, tooth position is left)

INCISOR
General Maxillary Upper incisors are larger than lower. and are more distinctly shovel-shaped, with a broad and strongly convex labial surface, large tuberculum and strong marginal ridges Upper crowns are longer than broad; more markedly asymmetrical than lower, with a sharp mesioincisal corner and rounded, bulging distoincisal corner. Chiseled-shape, with flatter labial surface, narrow but prominent tuberculum and weak marginal ridges Lower crowns are broader than long. Central First incisors are larger than second. First incisor crowns are are longer. Lateral Second incisor crowns are more asymmetrical than first, with a more rounded distoincisal corner. Second incisors are more variable than first.

Mandibular

First incisor crowns are almost symmetrical.

Second incisor crowns are clearly asymmetrical. The incisal edge is rotated (occlusal view) in second incisors. Second incisor roots have a slightly greater distal curve than first.

CANINE
Maxillary In buccal outline, bulge to mesial and to distal much more markedly more concave lingually cusp angle: about 105o crown is more squatty (short & wide) extra mesial bulge of crown beyond root labial ridge more pronounced more pointed root tip and distal bend in apical one-third more pronounced lingual marginal ridges w/ 2 fossae cingulum centered lingual ridge most prominent (46%) wider mesial crown bulge location of cusp tip to root axis line: labial slope of wear on incisal ridges: toward lingual and upward asymmetrical crown outline location of cusp and cusp ridges: labial to center sometimes has tuberculum extensions Mandibular In buccal outline, the mesial crown is often so upright root is often more compressed in section cusp angle: about 120o much shorter length of cusp slopes both contact points nearer level of cusp tip continuous mesial crown to root outlines straighter shorter root and more blunt root tip smooth lingual surface cingulum off toward distal or centered and less prominent distal marginal ridge most elevated (63%) Distolingual crown twist location of cusp tip to root axis line: lingual slope of wear on incisal ridges: toward labial and downward more symmetrical and oblong faciolingually location of cusp and cusp ridges: lingual to or in center sometimes have an accessory root

PREMOLAR
General Maxillary 2 main cusps; buccal & lingual Buccal cusp is larger with smaller lingual cusp is skewed to the mesial Has deep root divisions / depression Mandibular 2-cusps (rounder/symmetrical occlusal outline), or 3 cusps (squarer/asymmetrical) One root 1st usually two-rooted / has divided root triangular occlusal outline in lingual view can see both cusps ; crown narrower on lingual in mesial view - has deep root depression shallower distal than mesial root depression usually 2-cusped nonsymmetrical occlusal outline crown narrower on lingual large difference in buccal & lingual cusp size root has division on apical third (tip of root) 2nd usually one-rooted squarer occlusal outline in lingual view same length of cusps; less taper toward lingual in mesial view - less deep root depression deeper distal than mesial root depression usually 3-cusped squarer occlusal outline crown wider on lingual less difference in buccal & lingual cusp size no root division

MOLAR
General Maxillary 3 roots (1 lingual, 2 buccal) lingual root is stouter than the buccal roots, and well separated from them 3-4 cusps (main triangle of cusps: 2 higher buccal cusps, 1 lower, broader lingual cusp) square or parallelogram shaped oblique ridge 4 fossae 2 roots (mesial, distal) mesial root is curvier; distal root is straighter" 4-5 cusps rectangular or pentagonal shaped no oblique ridges but have 2 transverse ridges 3 fossae buccal crown is more bulging, with a lower cervical margin, than the lingual mesial end of the occlusal outline is flat or concave; distal end bulging 1st trapezoidal occlusal outline most divergent roots largest in size 2nd squarer occlusal outline less divergent roots 2nd largest in size 3rd triangular but variable occlusal outline least divergent roots; usually, roots coalesced/fused least largest in size

Mandibular

usually, 5 cusps most divergent roots Y-fissures

usually, 4 cusps less divergent roots regular rectangle occlusal outline +-fissures

4 or 5 cusps least divergent roots; roots coalesced/fused variable and often irregular with triangular, rectangular or oval outline