Maxillary and Mandibular Canines

The CaninesThe Canines

Howard Chi, D.M.D. Howard Chi, D.M.D.

Learning ObjectivesLearning Objectives

Generals of canines, including function and Generals of canines, including function and class traitsclass traits

Anatomy of maxillary caninesAnatomy of maxillary canines

Anatomy of mandibular caninesAnatomy of mandibular canines

Generals of CaninesGenerals of Canines

The The CaninesCanines

There are four canines:There are four canines:

numbers 6, 11, 22, 27numbers 6, 11, 22, 27

They are the longest of They are the longest of

the permanent teeththe permanent teeth

6 11

2227

Called cornerstones of the Called cornerstones of the

archesarches

Also known as cuspids, Also known as cuspids,

eyeteeth, or fangseyeteeth, or fangs



Frequently the last teeth to Frequently the last teeth to

be lost to dental diseasebe lost to dental disease

Term is greek in originTerm is greek in origin

Hippocrates stressed the Hippocrates stressed the

intermediate nature of canines intermediate nature of canines

(between incisors and molars)(between incisors and molars)

Function Function of of

CaninesCanines

In dogs, cats, and other animals for catching In dogs, cats, and other animals for catching and tearing food and defenseand tearing food and defense

Essential to their survivalEssential to their survival

Function Function of of

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 musclesb) Cut, pierce, or shear food morselsb) Cut, pierce, or shear food morselsc) Guide occlusionc) Guide occlusiond) Good anchors due to size and length ofd) Good anchors due to size and length of rootsroots

Class Traits Class Traits of of

CaninesCanines

Longest teeth in Longest teeth in

the mouththe mouth

Long thick roots that help anchor them in Long thick roots that help anchor them in the alveolar processthe alveolar process

Class Traits of CaninesClass Traits of Canines

The incisal ridge is divided The incisal ridge is divided

into two inclines or slopesinto two inclines or slopes

The mesial cusp ridge is The mesial cusp ridge is

shorter than the distalshorter than the distal

They do not have mamelonsThey do not have mamelons

Class Traits Class Traits of Caninesof Canines

The labial surface is The labial surface is

prominently convex with prominently convex with

a vertical labial ridgea vertical labial ridge

They are the only teeth They are the only teeth

with a labial ridgewith a labial ridge

Distal #6


Greater labiolingually than mesiodistallyGreater labiolingually than mesiodistally

Root is oblong Root is oblong faciolingually in faciolingually in cross sectioncross section

Distal contact area is Distal contact area is more cervical than more cervical than the mesialthe mesial

Class Traits Class Traits of Caninesof Canines

Canines are wedge shaped Canines are wedge shaped

proximallyproximally

Lingual height of contour is in Lingual height of contour is in

the cervical thirdthe cervical third

Remaining outline is convex Remaining outline is convex

on the lingual in the incisal thirdon the lingual in the incisal third

Distal #6

Arch TraitsArch TraitsMaxillary From MandibularMaxillary From Mandibular

Maxillary canine cuspMaxillary canine cusp

tip is labial to the long tip is labial to the long

axis of the rootaxis of the root

This is best way to This is best way to

distinguish maxillarydistinguish maxillary

from mandibularfrom mandibular

Occasionally more Occasionally more

than one root than one root

may appearmay appear


Actual Extracted Teeth #6 and #22 Demonstrating Multiple Roots

Maxillary CanineMaxillary Canine

Maxillary Canine Maxillary Canine Labial AspectLabial Aspect

Facial is made of three lobes Facial is made of three lobes

Cingulum is a fourthCingulum is a fourth

Mesial outline is broadly convex Mesial outline is broadly convex

and flat in the cervical thirdand flat in the cervical third

Mesial contact is at the Mesial contact is at the

junction of the incisal junction of the incisal

and middle thirdsand middle thirds

Maxillary Canine Maxillary Canine Labial AspectLabial Aspect

Maxillary CanineMaxillary CanineLabial 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 the Slightly concave in the cervical thirdcervical third

Distal contact is in the Distal contact is in the middle thirdmiddle third

Distal cusp ridge is usually Distal cusp ridge is usually longer than the mesiallonger than the mesial

Maxillary Canine - Labial AspectMaxillary Canine - Labial Aspect

The crown is as long as The crown is as long as

a maxillary central incisora maxillary central incisor

The root is approximately The root is approximately

3.5 mm longer than a central3.5 mm longer than a central

The root bends The root bends

distally in the distally in the

apical thirdapical third

Maxillary CanineMaxillary CanineLabial AspectLabial Aspect

Maxillary Canine - Lingual AspectMaxillary Canine - Lingual Aspect

Crown and root narrower lingually Crown and root narrower lingually

than labiallythan labially

Lingual ridge from incisal to Lingual ridge from incisal to

cingulum presentcingulum present

Has two shallow fossae on either Has two shallow fossae on either

sideside


Cingulum and tip of the cusp are Cingulum and tip of the cusp are

usually centered mesiodistallyusually centered mesiodistally

Lingual ridge more prominent than the Lingual ridge more prominent than the

mesial and distal marginal ridgesmesial and distal marginal ridges

Distal marginal ridge more prominent Distal marginal ridge more prominent

that the mesialthat the mesial


Mesial marginal ridge Mesial marginal ridge

longer than the distallonger than the distal

The root is narrower on The root is narrower on

the lingual than the facialthe lingual than the facial

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 more Labial surface more

convex than incisorsconvex than incisors

Cervical line dips incisally Cervical line dips incisally

2.0mm on the mesial2.0mm on the mesial

Maxillary Canine - Proximal ViewMaxillary Canine - Proximal View

Facial and lingual outline Facial and lingual outline

of the root is convexof the root is convex

Quite broad faciolinguallyQuite broad faciolingually

Mesial and distal root Mesial 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

Maxillary Canine - Incisal AspectMaxillary Canine - Incisal Aspect

Striking feature - asymmetry of crownStriking feature - asymmetry of crown

Line drawn from cusp tip Line drawn from cusp tip

through cingulum will yield through cingulum will yield

a greater distal half with a a greater distal half with a

marked concavity labiallymarked concavity labially

D M

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

Mandibular CanineMandibular Canine

Mandibular Canine - Labial AspectMandibular Canine - Labial Aspect

Smooth and convexSmooth and convex

with labial ridgewith labial ridge

Labial ridge not as Labial ridge not as

pronounced as maxillarypronounced as maxillary

Crown surface in incisal Crown surface in incisal

third slightly flat mesial to third slightly flat mesial to

labial ridgelabial ridge

More flattened distal to More flattened distal to

labial ridgelabial ridge



The mesial side of crown is The mesial side of crown is

slightly convex to flatslightly convex to flat

Distal is slightly concave Distal is slightly concave

in the cervical thirdin the cervical third


Distal is convex in the Distal is convex in the

incisal two thirdsincisal two thirds

More tooth structure More tooth structure

on the distal halfon the distal half


Mesial slope of cusp is Mesial slope of cusp is

shorter than the distalshorter than the distal

Cusp tip is centered on Cusp tip is centered on

the long axis of the rootthe long axis of the root


Mesial contact is well Mesial contact is well

within the incisal thirdwithin the incisal third

Distal contact is at the Distal contact is at the

junction of the incisal junction of the incisal

and middle thirdsand middle thirds


Root is convex on the Root is convex on the

facial surfacefacial surface

Tapers to a blunt apexTapers to a blunt apex

Root is shorter than Root is shorter than

the maxillary the maxillary

canine and lacks canine and lacks

curvaturecurvature


Mandibular Canine - Lingual AspectMandibular Canine - Lingual Aspect

Crown and root taper lingually Crown and root taper lingually making the lingual narrowermaking the lingual narrowerthan the facialthan the facial

Lingual ridge and fossae not as Lingual ridge and fossae not as prominent as maxillaryprominent as maxillary

Cingulum is lower and less Cingulum is lower and less prominent than maxillary prominent than maxillary


Pits and grooves rarely ever presentPits and grooves rarely ever present

Marginal ridges not prominent Marginal ridges not prominent

surface appears smoothsurface appears smooth

Distal marginal ridge more Distal marginal ridge more

prominent than lingual and prominent than lingual and

mesial ridgesmesial ridges


Facial outline of root is Facial outline of root is

visible from the lingualvisible from the lingual

Mandibular Canine - Proximal AspectMandibular Canine - Proximal Aspect

The crown is wedge shaped The 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 on Incisal ridge is lingual or on

the long axis of the rootthe long axis of the root


Distal incisal angle is more Distal incisal angle is more

lingual than the cusp tiplingual than the cusp tip


The CEJ curves more incisally The CEJ curves more incisally

on the mandibular canine on the mandibular canine

than the maxillarythan the maxillary

Height of contour on facial Height of contour on facial

more cervical than maxillarymore cervical than maxillary

The cingulum isThe cingulum is

low and flattenedlow and flattened

There are clear mesial There are clear mesial

and distal rootand distal root

depressions (distaldepressions (distal

more prominent)more prominent)


Mesial View Distal View

Mandibular Canine - Incisal AspectMandibular Canine - Incisal Aspect

Labiolingual measurement is Labiolingual measurement is

greater than the mesiodistalgreater than the mesiodistal

Outline is more symmetricalOutline is more symmetrical

than the maxillary caninethan the maxillary canine


Similarity between canines Similarity between canines

more convex on mesial more convex on mesial

half of crownhalf of crown

Flat or concave on the Flat or concave on the

distal halfdistal half


The crown is twisted on the The crown is twisted on the

incisal edge to the distalincisal edge to the distal

The cingulum is centered The cingulum is centered

or slightly distal to theor slightly distal to the

long axislong axis

Health & Medicine

Maxillary and Mandibular Canines