Anatomical features of a permanent maxillary canine/cuspid.

1. Dr. Ramil B. Simsuangco
Oral Anatomy Professor
College of Dentistry
Manila Central University

2. Permanent Canines
 Develops from 4 lobes, 3 labial and 1 lingual
 Middle labial lobe well developed into a cusp
 Cornerstone of the mouth
 Otherwise know as fangs, eye-tooth and
cuspids
 Longest tooth in the mouth
Canine eminence- bony ridge over the labial
surface of roots, has a cosmetic value helps
form a foundation that ensures normal facial
expression at the corners of the mouth.
Has cusp on its incisal ridge

3.  Crown is trapezoidal
 CEJ is convex towards the root
 Mesial Outline: convex from cervix
to the center of MCA or slightly
concavity above CA
 Distal Outline: usually concave
between CEJ and DCA
 Contact Areas:
 Mesial- junction of middle and insisal 3rd
 Distal- center of middle 3rd

4.  Cusp tip is in line with the center of the
root (RAL)
 Mesial cusp slope shorter than distal cusp
slope
 Cusp slopes shows tendency toward
concavity(notch) before wear has taken.
 Middle labial lobe shows greater
development and produces a ridge on the
labial surface (labial ridge)
 Root appears slender, conical in form with a
blunt apex, root may curve mesially or
distally

5.  Crown is trapezoidal
 Crown and root narrower lingually than labially
 CEJ shows a more even curvature, maybe
straight for a short interval
 Cingulum is large and sometimes pointed like a
small cusp
 Strongly developed marginal ridges,
occasionally a well-developed lingual rige at the
center with two shallow concavities namely;
Mesial and Distal lingual fossa
 Root narrower than labial, mesial and distal
surface of root is visible lingually
 Developmental depressions M and D may be
seen

6.  Crown is triangular
 Shows greater labiolingual
measurement(cervical 3rd) than any of the
anterior teeth
 Labial outline exhibits more convexity
 Root outline is conical, tapered or blunt pointed
apex, may curve labially
 Labial outline of root maybe almost
perpendicular with most of the taper on the
lingual side.
 A line bisecting the cusp is labial to a line
bisecting the root

7. CEJ curves approximately 2.5 mm
incisally
 Mesial surface of root appears broad
with shallow developmental
depression that help to anchor the
teeth in the alveoli and help prevent
rotation and displacement.

8. Same as mesial except the
following:
- Less curvature of CEJ (approx. 1
mm)
- Contact area is broader
- Distal marginal ridge is heavier
- More irregular in outline
- More concave surface
- More pronounced root
developmental depression

9.  Labiolingual dimension is greater than
mesiodistal diameter
 Tip of cusp is labial to center of crown
labiolingually and mesial to the center
mesiodistally
 When cut cross-sectionally, mesial
section, shows greater labiolingual bulk,
crown gives impression of having all the
distal portion stretched to contact first
premolar.
 Line bisecting cusp and cusps ridges in
the MD direction is almost always
straight
 Distal slope is longer than mesial slope