The document provides details on the anatomy of permanent maxillary lateral incisors. It notes that laterals resemble centrals in function and form, but are generally smaller in all dimensions except root length. Key identifying features include an acute mesioincisal angle and rounded distoincisal angle, and a single, tapered and distally-pointed root. Variations can include peg-shaped laterals with thin roots and small crowns, missing laterals, or large tubercles on the cingulum.

1. BASIM ZWAIN LECTURES
DENTAL ANATOMY
PERMANENT MAXILLARY LATERAL INCISORS
Professor Dr. Basim Zwain
Faculty of Dentistry
University of Kufa
Basim.zwayen@uokufa.edu.iq

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MAXILLARY LATERAL INCISORS
It resembles the maxillary central
incisor in function, form, and
anatomy. It is generally smaller in
all dimensions except the length of
its root (recall my presentation of
maxillary central incisors)
Crown is more rounded, shorter
and narrower mesiodistally than
the max. central incisor.

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Principal identifying features
Mesioincisal angle is acute, and
distoincisal angle is more rounded.
Single root with tapered, curved and
distally pointed apex.
Lingual fossa is more concave than that
of max. central incisor.
MAXILLARY LATERAL INCISORS

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Labial aspect
The crown is shorter, and narrower than
the max. central incisor but the root is as
long or longer than it.
The labial surface of the crown is more
convex than the max. central incisor.
The mesial outline resembles the max.
central incisor with more rounded
mesioincisal angle, and crest of curvature
between middle and incisal thirds.
The distal outline is more rounded, and the
crest of curvature is at the center of the
middle third.
MAXILLARY LATERAL INCISORS
The root tapers evenly and curves distally at
the apex.

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Lingual aspect
The mesial and distal marginal
ridges, and the lingual portion of the
incisal ridge are well marked, with a
more concaved lingual fossa.
A prominent cingulum with a
tendency toward seeing a deep
developmental groove within the
lingual fossa.
MAXILLARY LATERAL INCISORS

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Mesial aspect
The crown labiolingually is
narrower than the max. central
incisor.
The curvature of the cervical line is
less than the max. central incisor.
The root appears as a tapered cone,
and a line bisecting the root bisects
the incisal ridge of the crown, which
is well developed.
MAXILLARY LATERAL INCISORS

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Distal aspect
The curvature of the cervical line
is less than mesially.
It is not uncommon to find a
developmental groove extending
to the root.
MAXILLARY LATERAL INCISORS

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Incisal aspect
The incisal aspect resembles that of the
max. central incisor but:
Cingulum and incisal ridge may be large.
Labialingual to mesiodistal measurement
is larger than in central incisor
(resembling a small canine).
MAXILLARY LATERAL INCISORS
D M

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Variations
Peg shaped lateral with a thin root
and small conical crown (pointed).
The max. lateral incisor may be
missing.
Large pointed tubercle as part of the
cingulum.
Deep developmental groove on
distal aspect extending to the root.
MAXILLARY LATERAL INCISORS

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Thank you