Dental Anatomy: Canines

Canines

• Also called cuspids, due to having one cusp.
• Each cusp has two slopes (or cusp ridges): mesial and distal.
• Maxillary and mandibular canines are called corner stones of the mouth.
• The maxillary canine has the longest root for good anchorage.
• The root forms the cusp and labial ridge.
• The bone ridge over the labial surface of the root is called canine eminence, which is important for facial expression.
• Upper canines (maxillary) have a specific contact point: mesially with the distal surface of the lateral incisors, and distally with the mesial surface of the first premolar.
• Canines have four surfaces and an incisal surface.
• The canine has one root.
• Labial aspect: geometrical outline of the crown - typically trapezoid shape. Mesial outline starts from the cervical line, which is convex till the junction of middle and incisal thirds (contact area), then becomes concave till the middle third (contact area), then convex to the cusp tip. The cervical line is convex root - The distal slope is longer than the mesial slope.
• Surface anatomy: The surface is convex both mesiodistally and inciso-cervically. Elevations include cervical ridge, labial ridge, cusp, and depressions.
• The root is long, slender, conical in shape, with distal curvature of the apical third
• Lingual aspect is similar to the labial aspect in geometry, but crown and root converge lingually. The cingulum, marginal ridges (mesial and distal), mesio and disto-incisal ridges, and two lingual fossae are present.
• Chronology:
  • Appearance of the dental organ (m.i.u): 6
  • First evidence of calcification (months): 4-5
  • Enamel completed (years): 6-7
  • Eruption (years): 11-12
  • Root completed (years): 15
• Type and function: Holding and tearing food, aesthetic purposes.
• Number of lobes: The image does not show lobe information.

Lower Canines (Mandibular Canines)`

• Similar to upper canines in wedge shape, but with a longer crown, shorter root, and less mesiodistal dimensions.
• Labial aspect: geometrical outline of the crown- trapezoid shape, with the short side, the long side, and an outline that is straight with the mesial outline of the root. The mesial contact area is at the incisal third, with the distal outline, which is more cervical.
• The distal slope is longer than the mesial slope.
• The surface anatomy is similar to that of the upper canine (cervical ridge, labial ridge, cusp, depressions).
• The root- shorter than upper canines. slender, conical in shape, with distal curvature of the apical Third & more pointed apex.
• Lingual aspect has a similar geometrical outline to the labial surface, and the mesial and distal sides of the crown and root converge lingually. Flatter, smoother, and regular. Elevation/depression details are listed below, similar to upper canines.
• Chronology:
  • Appearance of the dental organ (m.i.u): 6
  • First evidence of calcification (months): 4-5
  • Enamel completed (years): 6-7
  • Eruption (years): 10
  • Root completed (years): 13
• Type and function: Holding and tearing food, aesthetic purposes.
• Number of lobes: The image does not show lobe information.

Pulp Cavity

• Mesio-distal section: has a narrow pulp chamber.
• The root canal is long and tapers down to the apical foramen.
• Labio-lingual section: The pulp chamber is pointed incisally.
• The root canal starts cervically wide, then narrows toward the apical foramen.