Maxillary canine

• Maxillary and mandibular canines are very similar. They are the longest teeth in the mouth. The crown is usually as long as the maxillary central incisors and the roots are longer than any other.
• The middle labial lobes are highly developed incisally into robust, well formed cusps
• Crowns and roots are convex on most surfaces
• The position and shape of the canine contribute to the guidance of teeth into their intercuspal position by Canine Guidence
• The canines have a single pointed cusp and extra anchorage with their long strong root. This resembles the canines of a carnivore
• Perhaps the most stable teeth due to the thickness labiolingually of the root and crown and also the anchorage in the alveolar process in the jaw
• There is a bone ridge or prominence on the lingual surface of the canine called the canine eminence. This has cosmetic value with allowing for facial expressions at the corner of the mouth.
• Roles: Important for efficacy of chewing, gives structure and stability and finally maintaining facial expressions. They support the incisors and premolars
• Max canine: The cusp has a mesial incisal ridge and a distal incisal ridge.
• Max canine: mesial aspect contacts the lateral incisor the distal contacts the first premolar
• Max canine: The incisal portion is thicker labiolingually than the incisors by about 1mm. The mesiodistal distance is about 1mm less
• Max canine: the cingulum is more developed than the incisors
• Max canine: root is usually longest of all roots, with the possible exception of the mandibular canine root being just as long or longer
• Max canine: the root is thick labiolingually with developmental depressions mesially and distally that help with secure anchorage
• Labial aspect: The crown and root are narrower mesiodistally than the maxillary central incisor, with a difference of about 1mm in most people
• Labial aspect: The cervical line is convex towards the root
• Labial aspect: mesially the outline of the crown is convex from the cervix to the centre of the mesial contact area. In some cases the crown is slightly concave before the contact area. The centre of the contact area mesially is at the junction of the middle and incisal thirds
• Labial aspect: distally the outline of the crown is slightly concave between the cervical line and the distal contact area. The distal contact area is generally at the centre of the middle third, a bit higher than the mesial contact area
• Labial aspect: the root can curve mesially or distally
• Labial aspect: The cusp tip is aligned with the centre of the root. The cusp has a mesial and a distal slope, with the mesial being shorter. Both of these slopes are concave before they are worn down, leading to cusp becoming flat, with less concavity
• Labial aspect: the labial surface of the crown is smooth with no developmental lines except shallow depressions mesially and distally dividing the three labial lobes. The middle labial lobe shows greater development than the other two. This produces a ridge on the labial surface of the crown.
• labial aspect: A line drawn from the cervical line to the cusp tip is curved, inclined towards the mesial side at it's centre. All areas mesial to the crest of this ridge are convex except for any developmental lines in the enamel. Distally to the labial ridge there is a possibility of concavity at the cervical third although the rest is convex when approaching the labial ridge.
• Labial aspect: The root appears slender from the labial aspect when compared to the bulk of the crown, it is conically shaped and has a bluntly pointed apex
• Labial aspect: Its not uncommon for this root to have a sharp curve at the apical third. This curvature can be distal or mesial but usually it is in the distal direction
• Labial aspect: The labial surface of the root is smooth and convex at all points
• Lingual aspect: The crown and root are narrower lingually. The cervical line is more even, unlike labially where it is very convex towards the root. The line can even appear straight in certain cases.
• Lingual aspect: In some instances the cingulum is large and pointed like a cusp
• Lingual aspect: Occasionally, from the cingulum, a well developed lingual ridge that is confluent with the cusp tip is seen. This ridge gives rise to two shallow concavities called mesial and distal lingual fossae
• Lingual aspect: Sometimes the lingual surface is very smooth but there is a tendancy to have very prominent marginal ridges, lingual ridge, mesial and distal fossae and a well developed cingulum.
• Lingual aspect: If the cingulum, marginal ridges and lingual incisal ridges are smooth, this is often confluent with having little evidence of developmental grooves.
• Lingual aspect: the lingual portion of the root is narrower than the labial portion, so most surfaces are visible lingually. Distal and mesial developmental depressions can be seen on most roots, extending for most of the length.
• Lingual aspect: The lingual ridge of the root is smooth and is continuously convex at all points from the cervical line to the apical end
• Mesial aspect: Generally shows more bulk and labiolingual measurement than the other anterior teeth.
• Mesial aspect: The crown's outline is wedge shaped with the thickest part being at the cervical third and the narrowest part being the cusp tip
• Mesial aspect: The labial face is usually slightly convex from the crest of curvature at the cervical third to the cusp tip, usually becoming straighter the closer to the cusp it gets
• Mesial aspect: There is a larger convexity at the labial face than the maxillary central incisor
• Mesial aspect: The crown's lingual face is represented by a convex line marking the cingulum, a straightening out at the middle third and another convexity at the incisal third
• Mesial aspect: The cervical line curves towards the cusp by about 2.5 mm.
• Mesial aspect: the root outline is conical with a tapered and blunt apex. The root may curve labially to apical third. The apex is usually positioned lingually in comparison to the cusp (The line bisecting the cusp is labial to the line bisecting the apex)
• Mesial aspect: The root surface appears broad with a shallow developmental depression for a portion of the length. These developmental grooves help anchor the teeth in the alveoli and help prevent rotation and displacement