This document discusses the permanent molars. It notes that there are 12 permanent molars total, with 6 on each side of the mouth. It describes the features of the permanent maxillary molars, noting they have three roots and are the largest and strongest maxillary teeth. It then provides details on the permanent maxillary second and third molars, including their identifying features, root morphology, and occlusal anatomy.

1. Dental Anatomy
Lecture 12
Permanent Molars
Permanent Molars are
12 in number,
6 on the right side and 6 on the left side.
PERMANENT MOLARS 1

2. Characteristic features of Posterior teeth :
1. Greater relative facio-lingual measurement as
compared with the mesio-distal measurement.
2. Broader contact areas.
3. Contact areas nearly at the same level.
PERMANENT MOLARS 2

3. 4. Less curvature of the cervical line
mesially and distally.
5. Shorter crown cervico-occlusally
when compared with anterior
teeth.
PERMANENT MOLARS 3

4. Permanent Maxillary Molars
Permanent maxillary molars are the largest and strongest maxillary
teeth.
They have three roots: two buccal and one lingual (palatal).
They are not succedaneous teeth as they erupt behind the deciduous
molars.
Their main function is grinding the food and supporting the muscles of
mastication and vertical dimension.
PERMANENT MOLARS 4

5. Permanent Maxillary Second Molar
PERMANENT MOLARS 5

6. Principal Identifying features
1. No
fi
fth cusp “cusp of
Carabelli” is evident.
2. Roots are less divergent and
may be coalescent (joined
together).
PERMANENT MOLARS 6

7. 3. Both distal cusps (distobuccal
and distolingual cusps) are less
developed.
4. The crown is smaller in overall
dimensions than the maxillary
fi
rst molar.
PERMANENT MOLARS 7

8. Buccal Aspect
1. The crown is a little shorter
cervico- occlusally (about
0.5mm) and narrower mesio-
distally than the maxillary
fi
rst
molar.
2. The distobuccal cusp is
smaller and allows part of the
distal marginal ridge and part of
the distolingual cusp to be
seen.
3. The buccal roots are about
the same length. They are more
nearly parallel and are inclined
distally more than those of
maxillary
fi
rst molar. So, the end
of the distobuccal root is slightly
distal to the distal extremity of the crown and the apex of mesiobuccal
root is on a line with the buccal groove of the crown instead of the tip of
the mesiobuccal cusp as in the maxillary
fi
rst molar.
4. The palatal root is the longest root (1mm longer than the buccal
roots).
PERMANENT MOLARS 8
Mesial
Distal

9. Lingual Aspect
1. The lingual cusps only can be
seen, with the mesio-lingual
cusp is the largest cusp and
accounts for 3/5 of the mesio-
distal width of the crown, while
the disto-lingual cusp accounts
for 2/5 of the mesio-distal
dimension.
The distolingual cusp is smaller
than that in the maxillary
fi
rst
molar.
2. Part of the distobuccal cusp
may be seen mesial to the
distolingual cusp (through the
sulcus between the mesiolingual
and distolingual cusps).
3. No
fi
fth cusp is evident.
4. The apex of the lingual root (palatal root) is
in line with the distolingual cusp tip instead of the lingual groove as was
found in the maxillary
fi
rst molar.
PERMANENT MOLARS 9
Mesial Distal

10. Mesial Aspect
1. The buccolingul dimension
is the same as that of the
maxillary
fi
rst molar, but the
crown length is less.
2. The roots are less divergent
buccolingually than those of
the maxillary
fi
rst molar, being
within the con
fi
nes of the
crown.
PERMANENT MOLARS 10
Lingual
Buccal

11. Distal Aspect
Because the distobuccal cusp is
smaller than in the maxillary
fi
rst
molar (i.e. more smaller in
comparison to the mesiobuccal
cusp), more of the mesiobuccal
cusp may be seen from this
aspect.
PERMANENT MOLARS 11
Lingual Buccal

12. Occlusal Aspect
1. The rhomboidal shape of
the occlusal aspect is
more visible. In
comparison with the
maxillary
fi
rst molar, the
acute angles of the
rhomboid are less and the
obtuse angles are more.
2. The buccolingual diameter
is the same as in maxillary
fi
rst molar, but the
mesiodistal diameter is
approximately 1mm less.
3. The distal cusps (distobuccal and distolingual cusps) are smaller and
less developed than those in the maxillary
fi
rst molar.
4. No
fi
fth cusp.
5. It is not uncommon to
fi
nd more supplemental grooves as well as
pits on the occlusal surface than are usually found on the maxillary
fi
rst
molar.
PERMANENT MOLARS 12
Buccal
Lingual
Mesial
Distal

13. Permanent Maxillary Third Molar
PERMANENT MOLARS 13

14. Principal Identifying features
1. It is the smallest maxillary molar
tooth.
2. Triangular occlusal outline, the
distolingual cusp is very small and
poorly developed and it may be
absent.
PERMANENT MOLARS 14

15. 3. The roots are shorter, convergent,
often fused, and usually are three in
number.
4. The mesiolingual cusp is the largest
cusp.
PERMANENT MOLARS 15

16. 5. It may have many variations:
A.Heart shaped type with three cusps (most common type).
B. Rhomboidal shaped type with four cusps.
C. One cusp type occlusally (peg shaped).
D. Congenitally missing..
PERMANENT MOLARS 16
END