MORPHOLOGY
OF
PERMANENT CANINES
Introduction
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The canines are placed at the corners of the mouth –
‘cornerstones’
They are the longest teeth in the mouth – longest root
The middle labial lobe of the canines is highly developed to form
a cusp
The location and shape of canine resembles that of carnivores,
hence known as canine
Other name is ‘cuspid’
The maxillary canines are the most stable tooth in the dental
arch, very efficient anchorage.
Contribute in occlusion by canine guidance
The bony elevation over the labial portion of roots is known as
canine eminence – this has cosmetic value and helps in
maintaining facial expression.
The maxillary canine
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Labial aspect –
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the canine shows a prominent cusp from the labial aspect
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The mesial outline of the cusp is convex from the cervix to the mesial contact
area.
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The mesial contact area is at the junction of mesial and incisal third
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The distal outline of the crown shows concavity from the cervix to the contact
area.
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The distal contact area is in the middle of the middle third
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The mesial contact area is sharp and the distal contact area is more rounded
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The cusp has mesial and distal cusp slope, the mesial slope is shorter
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The cusp tip is on line with the center of the root.
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The middle labial lobe is well developed and produces a ridge on the labial
surface known as labial ridge.
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The root appears narrow and shows distal curvature in the apical third.
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Lingual Aspect –
The crown and root are narrower lingually than labially
The cingulum is large and rounded, sometimes it may resemble a
cusp.
A well developed lingual ridge is seen in the lingual fossa, this divides
the lingual fossa into mesial and distal fossa.
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Mesial Aspect –
The mesial outline of canine resembles that of an incisor, however it
shows a greater bulk and greater labiolingual measurement.
The labial and lingual height of contour is in the cervical third.
Lingual outline starts cervically convex then slightly concave then
convex again.
The cusp tip is slightly labial to the line bisecting the root.
The mesial surface of the root appears broad, with a shallow
developmental depression along the root length.
Distal Aspect – the distal aspect is similar to
the mesial aspect but appears slightly bulkier.
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Incisal Aspect –
The labiolingual dimension is greater than the mesiodistal
The cusp tip is labial to the center of the crown labiolingually and
mesial to the center mesiodistally
The labial ridge is also seen prominently from the incisal aspect.
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Pulp – the pulp is double convex in shape, widest near the cervix
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Maxillary Canine
The Mandibular Canine
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The mandibular canine is narrower mesiodistally than that of the
maxillary canine
A variation seen commonly in mandibular canine is bifurcated
roots (two roots)
Labial Aspect – the crown of the mandibular canine appears to be
longer
The mesial outline is straight and the mesial contact area is near the
mesioincisal angle
The distal outline is more rounded and distal contact area is at the
junction of incisal and middle third
The cusp tip is more mesial than the maxillary canine
The Mandibular canine
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The lingual surface of the crown is more flatter than the
maxillary canine.
The cingulum is poorly developed and marginal ridges are less
distinct.
The mandibular canine
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Mesial Aspect –
The mandibular canine from the mesial side has less
curvature and the cusp tip appears to be more pointed.
The tip of the cusp is on the midline of the root or in some
cases slightly lingual to the midline.
Distal aspect
◦ Similar to mesial
Incisal aspect
◦ Lingual outline is less round, Less bulky appearance of the
incisal edge.
Pulp
◦ Similar to maxillary canine