1. Deciduous Dental Anatomy
Comparative Descriptions
To Permanent Dentition

2. Maxillary Primary Teeth

3. Maxillary Central Incisor
No mamelons evident
M-D crown width greater than I-C crown height (only anterior tooth with this characteristic)*
M and D outlines exhibit more convexity than permanent

4. Maxillary central… Cingulum more prominent Lingual ridge a possibility
Lingual fossa deeper
M & D lingual fossae possible
Marginal ridges more prominent
Root is longer relative to crown height - triangular cross section

5. Maxillary central… Facial developmental depressions rare
Incisal view: M-D width noticeably wider than F-L dimension (MD>IC>FL)
shape
Root deflected facially
Concavity on mesial root surface
CE line located more apically on lingual surface
Incisal edge is slightly facial to mid-root axis

6. Maxillary Lateral Incisor
Similar to primary central except:
Crown is narrower M-D than I-C
More incisal angle rounding
More prominent marginal ridges - deeper fossa
CE line more apically located on lingual
M-D width greater than F-L (IC>MD>FL) (circular outline)

7. Maxillary Canine M-D, F-L and I-C crown dimensions nearly same*
Outline diamond shape
M and D heights of contour at same level with mesial possibly more cervical*
Lingual CE line more apical than facial CE line
Longest primary root*
No facial developmental depressions (?)

8. Maxillary canine…
M cusp ridge longer & flatter than D cusp ridge* (Cusp tip offset distally)
Cingulum and lingual ridges prominent - ML and DL fossae
Root deflected facially - triangular cross section
Cusp tip is facial to mid-root axis

9. Maxillary First Molar
Crown is unique - does not resemble any other molar*
Crown morphology more similar to premolar’s
Crown wider F-L than M-D
Occlusal outline is 5-sided
Prominent MF cervical bulge (ridge)
An oblique ridge connects the ML and DB cusps

10. More first molar…
Facial CE line has depth of curvature towards mesial*
Two prominent cusps: MB and ML (largest)
Facial groove more distally located
Mesial marginal ridge prominent
Transverse ridge connects the MB and ML cusps
DL cusp greatly diminished
Three fossae/pits: mesial>central>distal

11. Still more first molar…
ML cusp longer/sharper than MB cusp
Roots are slender and flared
No root trunk (or very short)
Three roots (largest to smallest): L, MB, DB

12. Maxillary Second Molar
Larger in all dimensions than maxillary primary first molar
Root divergence is greatest of all primary molars*
Closely resembles permanent maxillary first molar*
Cusp of Carabelli present

13. Mandibular Primary Teeth

14. Mandibular Central Incisor
Crown is symmetrical: M and D outlines evenly convex
Straight incisal edge, sharp incisal corners
No mamelons
Cingulum more prominent
Marginal ridges and lingual fossa less prominent

15. Mandibular central...
Incisal edge in line with root center* (proximal view)
Root apex curves facially
M-D > F-L dimension
Lingual CE line located more apically

16. Mandibular Lateral Incisor
Similar to primary central except:
Not as symmetrical
Incisal edge slopes distally
DI corner more rounded, slight twist to lingual
Cingulum bulges towards distal

17. Mandibular lateral...
Marginal ridges more prominent, deeper fossa than central
Incisal edge also in line with root center (proximal view)
Root apex has a distal as well as a facial inclination
CE line more apical on lingual

18. Mandibular Canine Longest mandibular primary root*
Similar to maxillary canine except:
Much narrower F-L
M-D narrower than I-C width
Sharper cusp tip
M cusp ridge shorter than D cusp ridge
Lingual anatomy less prominent

19. Mandibular First Molar
Crown is unlike any other primary or permanent tooth*
Wider M-D than F-L
O-C dimension greater on mesial than distal
Two roots, M and D (mesial much longer and wider)
F and L root surfaces almost parallel

20. More first molar… Prominent mesial marginal ridge
Facial CE line off-set to mesial
Prominent facial cervical ridge with MB bulge
Four cusps: MB, ML, DB, DL (largest to smallest)
Mesial crown outline straight*
Mesial HOC more cervical than distal*

21. Still more first molar…
Prominent mesial transverse ridge*
Three fossae: mesial, central, distal (?)
Two pits: mesial and central
No distal pit*
Distal of occlusal table wider than mesial*
Occlusal table is narrowest of all molars
Prominent MB bulge

22. Mandibular Second Molar
Closely resembles permanent mandibular first molar except:
All three facial cusps more similar in size*
Occlusal table narrower F-L
M root much longer and wider than D root
Very little root trunk
F and L surfaces of M root nearly parallel

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