2. DESCRIPTIVE ANTOMY
OF PERMANENT
CANINES

3. GENERAL CHARACTERESTICS
• The canines are distal to
the lateral incisors and are
the third teeth from the
13 12 11
midline.
• They are often referred to
as cuspids.
• The four canines are
justifiably termed
cornerstones of the arches
as they are located at the
corners of the mouth or
dental arches.

4. GENERAL CHARACTERESTICS
• They are longest of the
permanent teeth and have longer
and stronger roots than those of
the other teeth.
• The incisal edge of a canine is
surmounted by a large pointed
cusp instead of being nearly
straight as in incisors.
• This cusp has a mesial and distal
cusp ridges.
D M

6. • The maxillary canine is the third
tooth from the midline.
13 23
• It is the longest tooth in the mouth
• Its root is usually the longest of
any root (the possible exception of that
of the lower canine, which may be as long
sometimes).
• The maxillary canines are often the
last teeth to erupt (at about 11-12
years), except for the third molar.

7. • Initial calcification : 4 – 5 months after
• Completion of crown : 6 – 7 years
• Eruption : 11 – 12 years
• Completion of root : 13 – 15 years

8. THE CROWN
• The geometric outline of the crown is
pentagonal.
• Mesial outline: usually convex from the
cervical line to the mesial contact area.
• Distal outline: usually concave between
the cervical line and the distal contact
area.
• Incisal outline: distinct pointed tip called
a cusp. This cusp has a mesial and distal
slopes. The mesial slope is shorter than
the distal slope. Both slopes show a
tendency toward concavity
• Cervical line: convex toward the root
M D

9. THE CROWN
Contact area:
• Mesial: Nearly at the junction of the middle and incisal thirds
of the crown, closer to the cusp tip than is the distal contact
point.
• Distal: In the middle third. Usually it is in the middle of the
middle third. It is more cervically located than the mesial
contact area.

10. THE CROWN
Labial surface:
• The labial surface is convex both
mesiodistally and inciso-cervically.
• ELEVATIONS:
 Cusp: usually on a line with the center of
the root
 Labial ridge: vertical promenent ridge
runs from the tip of the cusp toward the
cervical margin
• DEPRESSIONS:
 Two developmental grooves: shallow
longitudinal developmental depressions
“grooves” lie mesial and distal to the
labial ridge

11. THE ROOT
• The single root is long, slender, and
conical with a pointed apex.
• Its labial surface is smooth and
convex at all points.
• The apical third is curved in a
mesial or distal direction, in most
cases distally.
M D

12. THE CROWN
• The crown is narrower lingually
than labially.
• ELEVATIONS:
 Cingulum
 Lingual ridge
 Marginal ridges
• DEPRESSIONS:
 Two lingual fossae
D M

13. THE CROWN
Cingulum
• The cingulum is large, and
sometimes is pointed like a cusp in
the center.
Lingual ridge
• It is a prominent vertical ridge runs
from the cusp tip to the cingulum.
• Canines are the only teeth that have
a prominent lingual ridge.
D M

14. THE CROWN
Marginal ridges:
• Mesial and distal marginal ridges
• The mesial marginal ridge is longer
than the distal marginal ridge because
of the
 shorter mesial cusp slope
 the location of the mesial contact area.
Lingual fossae:
• On each side of the lingual ridge a
mesial and distal lingual fossae are
present. These fossae are usually
shallow D M

15. THE ROOT
• The lingual surface of the root is
smooth and convex.
• The root is narrower lingually than
labially. Therefore, much of its
proximal sides are visible lingually
with one or both of the developmental
depressions of the root.
D M

16. THE CROWN
• The geometric outline of the crown
is wedge (triangular)-shaped.
• The cervical line: curves toward the
cusp. Convexity of the canine is
less marked than that on the
incisors.
• The cusp tip: is located slightly
labially to the root axis.

17. THE CROWN
• The labial outline:
The entire labial outline is convex from
the cervical line to the cusp tip. The crest
of curvature is at the cervical third.
• The lingual outline:
Is convex in the cervical third. The crest
of curvature is on the cingulum. In the
middle third, at the lingual ridge, the
lingual outline is slightly concave, then,
becomes convex again in the incisal third
representing the cusp tip.

18. THE ROOT
• The root is conical with a tapered or
bluntly pointed apex.
• Its apical third may curve labially.
• Usually the labial outline of the root is
slightly convex and the lingual outline
is more convex.
• The mesial surface of the root is broad
with a shallow longitudinal depression
in most cases.

19. THE CROWN
• The shape of the crown distally is
similar to the crown shape from
the mesial aspect, except the
following:
 The cervical line has less
curvature toward the cusp tip.
 The distal surface of the
crown is usually concaved
cervical to the contact area.

20. THE ROOT
• The depression on the distal
surface of the root is more
pronounced than that on the
mesial surface.

21. • The labiolingual dimension is
greater than the mesiodistal.
• The tip of the cusp is labial and
mesial to the centers of the
crown.
• The labial surface is convex, more
than either incisors.

24. • Initial calcification : 4 – 5 months after
• Completion of crown : 6 – 7 years
• Eruption : 9 – 10 years
• Completion of root : 12 – 14 years

25. • The maxillary canine is the
third tooth from the midline.
43 33
• It closely resembles the upper
canine.
• Its features are less well
developed than those of
upper canine.
• Its crown appears long and
narrow compared with that of
upper canine.

26. THE CROWN
The mesial outline:
• is nearly straight from the cervical line
to the mesial contact area, then
continues to the cusp slope.
• It is nearly in line with the mesial side
of the root and does not project or
bulge beyond the root outline.
The distal outline:
• Is slightly concave in the cervical third,
then, it becomes convex incisally.
• The distal outline is shorter than the
mesial outline.
M D

27. THE CROWN
The incisal outline:
• Cusp slopes form a more obtuse angle
than those of upper canine.
• The cusp is less pointed than that of
upper canine.
• The mesial slope of the cusp is shorter
than the distal slope, more so than on
maxillary canine.
• The distal cusp slope slopes more
severely in an apical direction compared
to mesial
• Cervical line: convex toward the root
M D

28. THE CROWN
Contact area:
• Mesial: In the incisal third just below the mesioincisal angle.
• Distal: At the junction of the middle and incisal thirds, more
cervically located than the mesial contact area

29. THE CROWN
Labial surface:
• The labial surface is smooth and convex
• ELEVATIONS:
 Cusp: usually on a line with the center of
the root
 Labial ridge: not as prominent as on the
upper canine.
• DEPRESSIONS:
 Two developmental grooves: not
prominent as on the upper canine.
• The incisal third of the crown is slightly
flattened mesial and distal to the labial ridge.

30. THE ROOT
• The root is shorter than that
of the upper canine.
• Its apical end is more sharply
pointed.
• The root is convex on the
labial surface.
M D

31. THE CROWN
• The crown is narrower
lingually than labially.
• The lingual surface of the
crown resembles those of the
lower incisors in being
smooth but faint lingual ridge
is running from the cusp tip to
the cingulum.
D M

32. THE CROWN
• The cingulum is poorly
developed
• The marginal ridges are not
prominent.
• The mesial marginal ridge is
longer and straighter than the
shorter and curved distal
marginal ridge D M

33. THE CROWN
• The geometric outline is similar
to maxillary canine but it is
longer and narrower
• The cervical line: Curves more
incisally than does the cervical
line on upper canine.
• The cusp tip: is located slightly
labially to the root axis and more
pointed than upper canine.

34. THE CROWN
• The labial outline: has less curvature
than that of upper canine with very
little crest of curvature directly above
the cervical line.
• The lingual outline: is similar to that of
the upper canine, but differs in degree.
The cingulum is not prominent.

35. THE ROOT
• The root surface is similar to
that of the upper canine from
the mesial aspect except:
 The root tip is more
pointed than that of upper
canine.
 The developmental
depression mesially is
more pronounced than that
on upper canine.

36. THE CROWN
• The shape of the crown distally is
similar to the crown shape from
the mesial aspect, except that
cervical line has less curvature
toward the cusp tip.
THE ROOT
• developmental depression on the
distal side of the root is often
deeper than the depression on the
mesial side Mesial Distal

37. • The outline of lower canine from the
incisal aspect is often similar to that of
upper canine except:
 The cusp tip is more likely to be
inclined lingually.
 The mesiolabial outline is more
convex while the distolabial
outline is flat or concave
 The distal cusp slope is directed
slightly lingually from the cusp tip
which gives the incisal part of the
crown a distolingual twist like
lower lateral incisor.

38. Thank you
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