1. The CaninesThe Canines
Howard Chi, D.M.D.Howard Chi, D.M.D.

2. Learning ObjectivesLearning Objectives
Generals of canines, including function andGenerals of canines, including function and
class traitsclass traits
Anatomy of maxillary caninesAnatomy of maxillary canines
Anatomy of mandibular caninesAnatomy of mandibular canines

3. Generals of CaninesGenerals of Canines

4. TheThe
CaninesCanines
There are four canines:There are four canines:
numbers 6, 11, 22, 27numbers 6, 11, 22, 27
They are the longest ofThey are the longest of
the permanent teeththe permanent teeth
6 11
2227

5. Called cornerstones of theCalled cornerstones of the
archesarches
Also known as cuspids,Also known as cuspids,
eyeteeth, or fangseyeteeth, or fangs
The CaninesThe Canines

6. The CaninesThe Canines
Frequently the last teeth toFrequently the last teeth to
be lost to dental diseasebe lost to dental disease
Term is greek in originTerm is greek in origin
Hippocrates stressed theHippocrates stressed the
intermediate nature of caninesintermediate nature of canines
(between incisors and molars)(between incisors and molars)

7. FunctionFunction
ofof
CaninesCanines
In dogs, cats, and other animals for catchingIn dogs, cats, and other animals for catching
and tearing food and defenseand tearing food and defense
Essential to their survivalEssential to their survival

8. FunctionFunction
ofof
CaninesCanines
In humans the canines function with incisors to:In humans the canines function with incisors to:
a) Support the lip and facial musclesa) Support the lip and facial muscles
b) Cut, pierce, or shear food morselsb) Cut, pierce, or shear food morsels
c) Guide occlusionc) Guide occlusion
d) Good anchors due to size and length ofd) Good anchors due to size and length of
rootsroots

9. Class TraitsClass Traits
ofof
CaninesCanines
Longest teeth inLongest teeth in
the mouththe mouth
Long thick roots that help anchor them inLong thick roots that help anchor them in
the alveolar processthe alveolar process

10. Class Traits of CaninesClass Traits of Canines
The incisal ridge is dividedThe incisal ridge is divided
into two inclines or slopesinto two inclines or slopes
The mesial cusp ridge isThe mesial cusp ridge is
shorter than the distalshorter than the distal
They do not have mamelonsThey do not have mamelons

11. Class TraitsClass Traits
of Caninesof Canines
The labial surface isThe labial surface is
prominently convex withprominently convex with
a vertical labial ridgea vertical labial ridge
They are the only teethThey are the only teeth
with a labial ridgewith a labial ridge
Distal #6

12. Class Traits of CaninesClass Traits of Canines
Greater labiolingually than mesiodistallyGreater labiolingually than mesiodistally
Root is oblongRoot is oblong
faciolingually infaciolingually in
cross sectioncross section
Distal contact area isDistal contact area is
more cervical thanmore cervical than
the mesialthe mesial

13. Class TraitsClass Traits
of Caninesof Canines
Canines are wedge shapedCanines are wedge shaped
proximallyproximally
Lingual height of contour is inLingual height of contour is in
the cervical thirdthe cervical third
Remaining outline is convexRemaining outline is convex
on the lingual in the incisal thirdon the lingual in the incisal third
Distal #6

14. Arch TraitsArch Traits
Maxillary From MandibularMaxillary From Mandibular
Maxillary canine cuspMaxillary canine cusp
tip is labial to the longtip is labial to the long
axis of the rootaxis of the root
This is best way toThis is best way to
distinguish maxillarydistinguish maxillary
from mandibularfrom mandibular

15. Occasionally moreOccasionally more
than one rootthan one root
may appearmay appear
Class Traits of CaninesClass Traits of Canines
Actual Extracted Teeth #6 and #22 Demonstrating Multiple Roots

16. Maxillary CanineMaxillary Canine

17. Maxillary CanineMaxillary Canine
Labial AspectLabial Aspect
Facial is made of three lobesFacial is made of three lobes
Cingulum is a fourthCingulum is a fourth

18. Mesial outline is broadly convexMesial outline is broadly convex
and flat in the cervical thirdand flat in the cervical third
Mesial contact is at theMesial contact is at the
junction of the incisaljunction of the incisal
and middle thirdsand middle thirds
Maxillary CanineMaxillary Canine
Labial AspectLabial Aspect

19. Maxillary CanineMaxillary Canine
Labial AspectLabial Aspect
Distal aspect makes a shallow "s"Distal aspect makes a shallow "s"
and convex in the middle thirdand convex in the middle third
Slightly concave in theSlightly concave in the
cervical thirdcervical third
Distal contact is in theDistal contact is in the
middle thirdmiddle third
Distal cusp ridge is usuallyDistal cusp ridge is usually
longer than the mesiallonger than the mesial

20. Maxillary Canine - Labial AspectMaxillary Canine - Labial Aspect
The crown is as long asThe crown is as long as
a maxillary central incisora maxillary central incisor
The root is approximatelyThe root is approximately
3.5 mm longer than a central3.5 mm longer than a central

21. The root bendsThe root bends
distally in thedistally in the
apical thirdapical third
Maxillary CanineMaxillary Canine
Labial AspectLabial Aspect

22. Maxillary Canine - Lingual AspectMaxillary Canine - Lingual Aspect
Crown and root narrower linguallyCrown and root narrower lingually
than labiallythan labially
Lingual ridge from incisal toLingual ridge from incisal to
cingulum presentcingulum present
Has two shallow fossae on eitherHas two shallow fossae on either
sideside

23. Maxillary Canine - Lingual AspectMaxillary Canine - Lingual Aspect
Cingulum and tip of the cusp areCingulum and tip of the cusp are
usually centered mesiodistallyusually centered mesiodistally
Lingual ridge more prominent than theLingual ridge more prominent than the
mesial and distal marginal ridgesmesial and distal marginal ridges
Distal marginal ridge more prominentDistal marginal ridge more prominent
that the mesialthat the mesial

24. Maxillary Canine - Lingual AspectMaxillary Canine - Lingual Aspect
Mesial marginal ridgeMesial marginal ridge
longer than the distallonger than the distal
The root is narrower onThe root is narrower on
the lingual than the facialthe lingual than the facial

25. Maxillary Canine - Proximal AspectMaxillary Canine - Proximal Aspect
Labial height of contourLabial height of contour
is in the cervical thirdis in the cervical third
Labial surface moreLabial surface more
convex than incisorsconvex than incisors
Cervical line dips incisallyCervical line dips incisally
2.0mm on the mesial2.0mm on the mesial

26. Maxillary Canine - Proximal ViewMaxillary Canine - Proximal View
Facial and lingual outlineFacial and lingual outline
of the root is convexof the root is convex
Quite broad faciolinguallyQuite broad faciolingually

27. Mesial and distal rootMesial and distal root
depressions are presentdepressions are present
Distal is more distinctDistal is more distinct
Maxillary Canine - Proximal ViewMaxillary Canine - Proximal View
Mesial View Distal View

28. Maxillary Canine - Incisal AspectMaxillary Canine - Incisal Aspect
Striking feature - asymmetry of crownStriking feature - asymmetry of crown
Line drawn from cusp tipLine drawn from cusp tip
through cingulum will yieldthrough cingulum will yield
a greater distal half with aa greater distal half with a
marked concavity labiallymarked concavity labially
D M

29. Facial aspect quite convexFacial aspect quite convex
Mesial half roundedMesial half rounded
Distal half flat or concaveDistal half flat or concave
Three distinct lobes - middle is most prominentThree distinct lobes - middle is most prominent
Maxillary Canine - Incisal AspectMaxillary Canine - Incisal Aspect

30. Mandibular CanineMandibular Canine

31. Mandibular Canine - Labial AspectMandibular Canine - Labial Aspect
Smooth and convexSmooth and convex
with labial ridgewith labial ridge
Labial ridge not asLabial ridge not as
pronounced as maxillarypronounced as maxillary

32. Crown surface in incisalCrown surface in incisal
third slightly flat mesial tothird slightly flat mesial to
labial ridgelabial ridge
More flattened distal toMore flattened distal to
labial ridgelabial ridge
Mandibular Canine - Labial AspectMandibular Canine - Labial Aspect

33. Mandibular Canine - Labial AspectMandibular Canine - Labial Aspect
The mesial side of crown isThe mesial side of crown is
slightly convex to flatslightly convex to flat
Distal is slightly concaveDistal is slightly concave
in the cervical thirdin the cervical third

34. Mandibular Canine - Labial AspectMandibular Canine - Labial Aspect
Distal is convex in theDistal is convex in the
incisal two thirdsincisal two thirds
More tooth structureMore tooth structure
on the distal halfon the distal half

35. Mandibular Canine - Labial AspectMandibular Canine - Labial Aspect
Mesial slope of cusp isMesial slope of cusp is
shorter than the distalshorter than the distal
Cusp tip is centered onCusp tip is centered on
the long axis of the rootthe long axis of the root

36. Mandibular Canine - Labial AspectMandibular Canine - Labial Aspect
Mesial contact is wellMesial contact is well
within the incisal thirdwithin the incisal third
Distal contact is at theDistal contact is at the
junction of the incisaljunction of the incisal
and middle thirdsand middle thirds

37. Mandibular Canine - Labial AspectMandibular Canine - Labial Aspect
Root is convex on theRoot is convex on the
facial surfacefacial surface
Tapers to a blunt apexTapers to a blunt apex

38. Root is shorter thanRoot is shorter than
the maxillarythe maxillary
canine and lackscanine and lacks
curvaturecurvature
Mandibular Canine - Labial AspectMandibular Canine - Labial Aspect

39. Mandibular Canine - Lingual AspectMandibular Canine - Lingual Aspect
Crown and root taper linguallyCrown and root taper lingually
making the lingual narrowermaking the lingual narrower
than the facialthan the facial
Lingual ridge and fossae not asLingual ridge and fossae not as
prominent as maxillaryprominent as maxillary
Cingulum is lower and lessCingulum is lower and less
prominent than maxillaryprominent than maxillary

40. Mandibular Canine - Lingual AspectMandibular Canine - Lingual Aspect
Pits and grooves rarely ever presentPits and grooves rarely ever present
Marginal ridges not prominentMarginal ridges not prominent
surface appears smoothsurface appears smooth
Distal marginal ridge moreDistal marginal ridge more
prominent than lingual andprominent than lingual and
mesial ridgesmesial ridges

41. Mandibular Canine - Lingual AspectMandibular Canine - Lingual Aspect
Facial outline of root isFacial outline of root is
visible from the lingualvisible from the lingual

42. Mandibular Canine - Proximal AspectMandibular Canine - Proximal Aspect
The crown is wedge shapedThe crown is wedge shaped
but thinner in the incisalbut thinner in the incisal
aspect than the maxillaryaspect than the maxillary
Incisal ridge is lingual or onIncisal ridge is lingual or on
the long axis of the rootthe long axis of the root

43. Mandibular Canine - Proximal AspectMandibular Canine - Proximal Aspect
Distal incisal angle is moreDistal incisal angle is more
lingual than the cusp tiplingual than the cusp tip

44. Mandibular Canine - Proximal AspectMandibular Canine - Proximal Aspect
The CEJ curves more incisallyThe CEJ curves more incisally
on the mandibular canineon the mandibular canine
than the maxillarythan the maxillary
Height of contour on facialHeight of contour on facial
more cervical than maxillarymore cervical than maxillary

45. The cingulum isThe cingulum is
low and flattenedlow and flattened
There are clear mesialThere are clear mesial
and distal rootand distal root
depressions (distaldepressions (distal
more prominent)more prominent)
Mandibular Canine - Proximal AspectMandibular Canine - Proximal Aspect
Mesial View Distal View

46. Mandibular Canine - Incisal AspectMandibular Canine - Incisal Aspect
Labiolingual measurement isLabiolingual measurement is
greater than the mesiodistalgreater than the mesiodistal
Outline is more symmetricalOutline is more symmetrical
than the maxillary caninethan the maxillary canine

47. Mandibular Canine - Incisal AspectMandibular Canine - Incisal Aspect
Similarity between caninesSimilarity between canines
more convex on mesialmore convex on mesial
half of crownhalf of crown
Flat or concave on theFlat or concave on the
distal halfdistal half

48. Mandibular Canine - Incisal AspectMandibular Canine - Incisal Aspect
The crown is twisted on theThe crown is twisted on the
incisal edge to the distalincisal edge to the distal
The cingulum is centeredThe cingulum is centered
or slightly distal to theor slightly distal to the
long axislong axis