MORPHOLOGY OF

PARMANENT CANINE

Maxillary CanineLabial aspect The crown of maxillary canine is narrower

mesiodistally than that of maxillary central incisor.

The incisal aspect has a large cusp with a pointed cusp tip

It has two slopes (cusp ridges), the mesial slope being shorter than the distal slope

The labial surface is smooth and bulky in the middle because of the labial ridge

Labial aspect

Labial ridge

Cusp tip

Distal cusp ridge Mesial Cusp

Ridge

Lingual aspect

The crown and root are narrower lingually

The cingulum is well developed, large and sometimes pointed like a cusp

Occasionally a well developed lingual ridge is seen that divides the lingual fossa into mesial and distal lingual fossae

Heavy marginal ridges are associated with well formed cingulum and fossae

Lingual aspect

CingulumDistal marginal ridge

Distal lingual fossa

Lingual ridge

Mesial marginal ridge

Mesial lingual fossa

Mesial aspect

From the mesial aspect canine looks similar but bulkier than maxillary central incisor

Maxillary canine is the widest anterior tooth labiolingually

The cervical line curvature is towards the cusp (incisally)

The contact area is near the junction of the incisal and middle third

Mesial aspect

Distal aspect Distal surface is very similar to the mesial surface The cervical line exhibits less curvature The contact are is near the middle third

Distal aspect

Incisal aspect

The labiolingual dimension is greater than the mesiodistal dimension

The cusp tip is labial to the centre of the crown labiolingually and mesial to the centre mesiodistally

The labial ridge and the cingulum are very noticeable from this aspect

Incisal aspect

Root – only oneThe root is the longest and strongest of all the teeth in the dentition

The mesial and distal surfaces of the root have developmental depressions.

2.5 1.5 7.0 8.0 5.5 7.5 17.0 10.0

Curvature of Cervical Line M D

LabiolingualDiameter atCervical Line

LabiolingualDiameter atCrest of Curvature

MesiodistalDiameter atCervical Line

MesiodistalDiameter atContact Area

RootLength

Crown Length

Average Dimensions in millimeters

Mandibular Canine

Labial aspect

Mandibular canines are similar to maxillary canines except that they are slightly narrower mesiodistally

Mesial outline of the crown is straight and inline with the mesial outline of the root

The mesial cusp ridge is smaller than the distal cusp ridge

Lingual aspect The lingual surface of the crown is smooth and

flat simulating the surface of mandibular lateral incisor

Cingulum is less prominent and marginal ridges are less distinct

Mesial and Distal aspects These aspects are very similar and the cervical

line curves more on the mesial aspect

The contact area on mesial aspect is in the incisal third and a little higher on the distal third

Incisal aspect Like maxillary canine the labiolingual dimension

is more than the mesiodistal dimension

The cusp tip appears inclined in a lingual direction

Root The root is shorter by 1 or 2 mm

The developmental depression is more pronounced on the lower canine

Labial aspect Lingual aspect

Mesial aspect Distal aspect

Incisal aspect