By

Dr. Abhishek Solanki

Introduction Canines are very long and stable teeth

There are 4 canines (2 Maxillary & 2 Mandibular) placedat corner of mouth & hence called ‘corner stones’ of thedentition

Single pointed cusp present so also called cuspids

The canine's role in mastication is mainly tearing, whichis intermediate between incising of anterior teeth &grinding of the posterior teeth

Arch position - The permanent maxillary canine replaces

deciduous maxillary canine & is located 3rd from midline

in each maxillary quadrant

Mesial contact : Maxillary lateral incisor

Distal contact : Maxillary first premolar

Tooth Numbering Systems

UNIVERSAL SYSTEM - 6,11

ZSIGMONDY / PALMER - 3 3

FDI SYSTEM - 13, 23

Chronology

First evidence of calcification : 4-5 months

Enamel completed : 6-7 yr

Eruption : 11-12yrs

Root completed : 13-15yrs

Average Dimension (in mm)

Crown Length 10

Root Length 17

Mesiodistal Diameter at Contact Area 7.5

Mesiodistal Diameter at Cervical Lines 5.5

Labiolingual Diameter at Crest of Curvature 08

Labiolingual Diameter at Cervical Lines 07

Curvature of Cervical Line : Mesial 2.5

Curvature of Cervical Line : Distal 1.5

Labial Aspect• The crown of maxillary canine is narrower

mesiodistally than that of maxillary central incisor

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

Imbrication lines can often be found in cervical

3rd of the facial surface : “Lines of Pickerell”

Mesial outline : usually convex & rounded

mesioincisal angle

Height of contour (mesial margin) : at contact

area (junction of incisal & middle thirds)

Distal margin : Shorter than the mesial margin &

also has a more rounded incisal angle

Height of contour : at contact area (middle 3rd)

Incisal margin - divided into two components by tip

of cusp & are termed the mesioincisal and

distoincisal slopes (or mesial & distal cusp ridges)

Labial surface is convex in all directions, but curvature ismore pronounced mesiodistally

General outline of the surface is pentagonal

Incisal aspect has a large cusp with a pointed cusp tip

Labial aspect

Labial ridge

Cusp tip

Distal cusp ridge Mesial Cusp

Ridge

Lingual Aspect Crown and root are narrower lingually

Cingulum is well developed, large & sometimes

pointed like a cusp

Cervical line curves asymmetrically toward the

apex with a slight offset to the distal

A well developed lingual ridge is seen which divides

mesial & distal lingual fossae

Heavy marginal ridges are associated with well formed

cingulum and fossae

CL : Cervical line C : CingulumMMR : mesial marginal ridgeDMR : distal marginal ridgeLR : lingual ridgeDLF : distolingual 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 incisally

The contact area is near the junction of the incisal and

middle third

Distal Aspect

Distal surface is very similar to the mesial surface

The cervical line exhibits less curvature

The distal surface is generally smaller, with resultant

shorter labial and lingual margins.

Height of contour is located at a more cervical level.

The contact are is near the middle third

Incisal Aspect

The labiolingual dimension is greater than the mesiodistaldimension

Maxillary canine is generally convex in both its labial andlingual outlines

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

The labial ridge and the cingulum are very noticeablefrom this aspect

Incisal aspect

MLF, mesiolingual fossa;

MCR, mesial cusp ridge;

DCR, distal cusp ridge;

DLF, distolingual fossa;

C, cingulum

Root Only one

Longest and strongest of all the teeth in the mouth

Mesial & distal surfaces of root have developmentaldepressions

From all aspects, the root tapers gradually to a sharp, orslightly blunted apex

Wider labiolingually than mesiodistally

Lingual and labial surfaces are convex

Labial aspect Lingual aspect

Mesial aspect Distal aspect

Incisal aspect

Mandibular Canine

Tooth Numbering Systems

UNIVERSAL SYSTEM - 22,27

ZSIGMONDY / PALMER - 3 3

FDI SYSTEM - 33, 43

Chronology

First evidence of calcification : 4-5 months

Enamel completed : 6-7 yr

Eruption : 9-10yrs

Root completed : 12-14yrs

Average Dimensions in millimeters

2.5 1.07.07.55.57.016.011.0

Curvature of Cervical

Line

M D

Labiolingual

Diameter at

Cervical Line

Labiolingual

Diameter at

Crest of Curvature

Mesiodistal

Diameter at

Cervical Line

Mesiodistal

Diameter at

Contact Area

Root

Length

Crown Length

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

Mesial outline : straight & obtuse mesioincisal angle

Distal outline : convex & rounded distoincisal angle

Incisal aspect : not sharp as max canine

Lingual aspect

Mesial, distal, and incisal outlines - These margins mimic

those of the labial aspect

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 than max. canine

The developmental depression is more pronounced on

the lower canine

References CONCISE DENTAL ANATOMY & MORPHOLOGY :

JAMES L FULLER

DENTAL ANATOMY, PHYSIOLOGY & OCCLUSION:

WHEELER’S

TEXTBOOK OF DENTAL ANATOMY, PHYSIOLOGY &

OCCLUSION: RASHMI GS (PHULARI)

INTERNET