Morphology of Premolars

Dental Anatomy & Occlusion Dent 202

Introduction
Posterior (cheek) teeth Premolars

Eruption 10 12 years
Although some have more than 2 cusps At least 2 cusps Single buccal cusp with one or more lingual cusps Molars must have at least 2 buccal cusps

Premolars/bicuspids

Class traits

Landmarks related to posterior teeth

Cusp ridge Triangular ridge Transverse ridge Oblique ridge Pit Developmental groove Supplemental groove Triangular fossa Central fossa

Maxillary premolars
Arch traits

1st & 2nd are much more a like while they are different in mandibular Have 2 major cusps approximately equal in size & prominence Wider BL than MD while in mandibular BL = MD

Maxillary premolars
Arch traits (contd)

Slight lingual inclination of the crown while mandibular have strongly lingually inclined crowns In maxillary, lingual Height Of Contour (HOC) is in the middle 1/3, while it is in the occlusal 1/3 in mandibular

Maxillary 1st premolar

Buccal aspect

Similar to that of max. canine

slightly smaller

Similar to that of 2nd premolar

slightly larger

Tip of buccal cusp is distal to the MD midline Sloping cusp ridges

M is long & straight D is short & convex

Maxillary

st 1

premolar

Buccal aspect
Proximal outlines and HOCs
M is slightly concave with HOC just occlusal to the halfway point D is straight, HOC is more occlusally located than in M

Overhanging MO & DO angles (type traits) A small part of the M margin of the L cusp can occasionally be seen

Maxillary

st 1

premolar

Buccal aspect
3 lobes MB & DB depressions and labial ridge CL has a slight convexity toward root apex Root is conical similar to that of canine but smaller

Maxillary

st 1

premolar

Lingual aspect
Entire buccal outline is visible (type trait) L cusp tip is mesial to the midline of the crown No protuberances, ridges or depressions Root
2 apices are visible Interradicular groove is visible

Maxillary

st 1

premolar

Mesial aspect
Buccal cusp is higher than lingual Triangular ridges incline at 45 degrees Mesial Marginal ridge
Prominent Mesial marginal groove just lingual to the midportion

Buccal HOC within cervical 1/3 from which a slight lingual inclination toward cusp apex Lingual outline is convex with HOC within middle 1/3 Cervical line CL is convex toward occlusal

Maxillary
Mesial aspect

st 1

premolar

Mesial interradicular groove

From the cervical 1/3 down to root bifurcation In line with mesial marginal groove

Occlusal table is centered over root trunk (arch trait) Root(s)

Commonly 2 roots bifurcate at the junction between middle & apical 1/3s

Maxillary

st 1

premolar

Distal aspect

Similar to mesial aspect except

More of the occlusal surface may be seen No marginal groove No concavity in the cervical 1/3 Distal interradicular is shallower

Maxillary
Occlusal aspect

st 1

premolar

Hexagonal (type trait) Buccal profile is inverted V Sharp MB & DB (type trait) Slightly convergent M & D profile (type trait) L profile is strongly convex Buccal ridge & depressions are visible Occlusal table formed by cusp & marginal ridges Apex of lingual cusp is mesial to the midline

Maxillary 1st premolar

Occlusal aspect

Triangular ridges
B & L are separated by the central groove Buccal flanked by supplemental grooves on either sides

Central groove terminates M & D in Triangular fossae

Bounded by MR & B/L Triangular ridges M is larger & deeper Each fossa contains
A pit B & L grooves (MB, ML, DB & DL)

Mesial MR is shorter & interrupterd by marginal groove

Maxillary
Pulp

st 1

premolar

In X-section at cervix
Kidney shaped Wide BL & narrow MD

In BL section
2 pulp horns Buccal is larger

In MD section
Similar to that of canine

Maxillary

nd 2

premolar

15

14

Buccal aspect
Similar to maxillary 1st premolar Type traits
Smaller in breadth & height MO & DO angles are less prominent Buccal ridge & depressions are seldom seen

15

14

Lingual aspect

Buccal profile is seldom seen because B & L cusps are identical in dimensions

Maxillary 2nd premolar

Mesial aspect

15

14

B & L cusps are equal in height No mesial marginal groove No concavity in the crown portion of the mesial surface A single root B & L cusps are equal in height A singe root

15

14

Distal aspect

Maxillary 2nd premolar

Occlusal aspect

Ovoid rather than hexagonal Less convergence of M & D outlines Because B cusp very nearly = L in MD width More rounded MB & DB corners Apex of L cusp is in the midline Shorter occlusal groove More numerous supplemental groove No mesial marginal grooves

Maxillary
Pulp

nd 2

premolar

Cigar shaped X-section at cervix Pulp horns of almost equal height Usually a single pulp canal

Mandibular 1st premolar

Buccal aspect

Long pointed buccal cusp in the occlusal profile Mesial cusp ridge is shorter than distal Cusp tip is a little mesial to the tooth midline HOCs are at the same level just occlusal to the halfway of the crown M & D outlines are markedly converging CL is flat MD compared to that of canine Buccal ridge & depressions Root is conical with pointed apex

Mandibular 1st premolar

Lingual aspect

Entire buccal profile and occlusal surface are visible (type trait) Occlusal surface, buccal triangular ridge and marginal ridges tilt lingually & cervically in relation to the long axis of the tooth Buccal triangular ridge crosses midportion of the occlusal surface Lingual cusp is a minor elevation in height & pointed cone in shape
It may be centric or eccentric in relation with buccal cusp

Root is narrower from lingual aspect & has a blunt apex

Mandibular 1st premolar

Mesial aspect

Occlusal plane tilted lingually & cervically Transverse ridge that may or may not be separated by central groove ML groove: MR with ML cusp ridge (type trait) Buccal profile shows highly lingual inclination Lingual profile is straight & then convex up to the cusp tip

Mandibular 1st premolar

Mesial aspect

Tip of lingual cusp is in line with L outline of the root Lingual HOC within occlusal 1/3 M contact area is in line with apex of B cusp Root is broad BL D MR is more prominent & less L & C inclined No DL groove Contact area is more extensive

Distal aspect

Mandibular 1st premolar

Occlusal aspect

Diamond in shape Inverted V shaped B profile M & D profiles converge lingually D profile is more convex L profile is MD length of B profile 2/3 of buccal surface with ridge & depressions are visible

Mandibular 1st premolar

Occlusal aspect

Occlusal table is triangular Tip of B cusp is near the midline of the crown ML cusp ridge with MR is straight DL cusp ridge with MR is convex M MR is shorter & less prominent with ML groove M & D fossae, each contains
A pit A groove extending BL parallel to MR M contains ML groove running in a ML direction from M pit

Mandibular 1st premolar

Pulp

ML section
Similar to that of canine

BL section
A large B horn & a small L horn

X section
Ovoid

Mandibular 2nd premolar

Buccal aspect

45

44

Similar to Mandibular 1st premolar MD diameter = that from B aspect (type trait) Occlusal surface cannot be seen (type trait) Occlusal plane is perpendicular to tooth axis 2 lingual cusps (most commonly)
ML major, 2/3 MD diameter, same height as B DL minor

Lingual aspect

45

44

Lingual groove

Mandibular

nd 2

premolar

45

44

Mesial aspect

Triangular ridges of B & ML cusps dont form a continuous crest Both lingual cusps are seen

45

44

Distal aspect

Mandibular

nd 2

premolar

Occlusal aspect
Square profile (type trait) M & L profiles are parallel > B surface is visible B ridge is less prominent than that of mandibular 1st premolar (type trait) M & D MRs are equal in length

Mandibular

nd 2

premolar

Occlusal view
Grooves (Y-shape meet at the central pit)
M separates B & ML triangular ridges runs obliquely L separates lingual cusps D separates B & DL triangular ridges

M & D triangular fossae each contains

A pit MB & DB grooves

Mandibular
Pulp

nd 2

premolar

BL section
Pulp chamber is wider Pulp horns are of equal height

X section

Premolars size & eruption

Tooth Crown height MD crown BL crown diameter diameter Tooth length Age at eruption

14 24 15 25 34 44 35 45

8.5 mm 8.5 mm

7.0 mm 7.0 mm

9.0 mm 23.5 mm

9 yrs

9.0 mm 22.5 mm 10 yrs

8.5 mm
8.0 mm

7.0 mm
7.0 mm

7.5 mm 22.5 mm

9 yrs

8.0 mm 22.5 mm 10 yrs

Curves of occlusion
Curve of Spee Curve of Wilson Sphere of Monson

Molar Occlusal relationship Angles Class I Angles Class II Angles Class III

Arch Occlusal relationship