This document describes the internal anatomy of anterior teeth, including the shapes of root canals and variations. It discusses the average length, number of roots, root curvatures, and most common canal configurations of maxillary central incisors, lateral incisors, canines, mandibular central incisors, lateral incisors, and canines. For each tooth, it details the pulp chamber, root canal shape, common variations, and prevalence of lateral canals. The document emphasizes that root canal anatomy is complex and can feature branches, divisions, and accessory canals. A thorough understanding of pulp cavity morphology is important for endodontic treatment success.

1. INTERNAL ANATOMY OF ANTERIOR
TOOTH
• Presented by:
Jigyasha Timsina
Roll no-481
Batch-2011

2. Goal for the day
• Describe the common shapes of roots in
cross section and common canal
configurations and variations
• List the average length, number of roots,
and most common root curvatures.

3. Getting started …..
Pulp cavity is the central cavity within the
tooth and is entirely enclosed by dentin
except at the apical foramen.
The internal anatomy of the tooth does not
usually reproduce the simplicity of external
anatomy
May be divided into a coronal portion and
radicular portion.

4.  A pulp horn is an accentuation of the roof of the
pulp chamber directly under a cusp or
developmental lobe.
 A root canal may be divided into three sections
namely coronal, middle & apical third.
 Accessory canal or lateral canal is a lateral branch
of main root canal, generally occuring in the apical
third or furcation area of a root.
4

5. In anterior teeth the pulp chamber
gradually merges into root canal.
In multi-rooted teeth, the pulp cavity
consists of a single pulp chamber and
usually three root canals.

6. 6

7. Root canal classification
The root canal system is highly complex and
canals may branch, divide and rejoin.
Vertucci et al identified and classified eight
pulp space configuration which are as
following:-
7

9. Weine’s Classifiction
• Type 1: single canal from pulp chamber to apex
• Type 2: Two canals leaving the chamber and
merging to form a single canal short of apex
• Type 3: Two separate and distinct canals from
chamber to apex
• Type 4: One canal leaving chamber and dividing
into two separate and distinct canals

11. Alteration in Internal anatomy
• Age
• Irritants
• Calcifications
• Internal Resorption

12. Maxillary central incisor
• Average tooth length:22.8 mm
Pulp chamber
It is located in the center of crown equidistant
from the dentinal wall.
It is broad mesio-distally, with its broadest part
incisally.
It has three pulp horns that corresponds to the
mamelons in a young tooth.
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13. Root and root canal
It has one root with one root canal.
Root canal is broad labio-palatally, conical
in shape, and centrally located.
In cross-section, canal is ovoid
mesiodistally in cervical third, rounded in
middle third and round in the apical third.

15. • 17% cases show labial or palatal curvature
of the root
• Lateral canals present in about 24% cases
And when present usually in apical third.

16. Maxillary lateral incisor
• Average tooth length: 22.5mm
Pulp chamber
The shape of the pulp chamber is similar to
the maxillary central incisor.
It has only two pulp horns, corresponding to
the developmental mamelons.
16

17. Root and root canal
Configuration of the root canal is conical
but it has a finer diameter than maxillary
central incisor.
In cross-section, the canal is ovoid labio-
palatally in the cervical third and ovoid in
the middle third & round in the apical third.

19. • Lateral canals are more frequent (26%)
than in maxillary central incisors
• Majority shows distal curve(53%) whereas
others are straight.

20. Maxillary canine
• Average tooth length: 26mm
Pulp chamber
 It has the largest pulp chamber than any single rooted tooth.
 Labio-palatally triangular in shape, apex is towards the single cusp
and base towards the cervical third of crown.
 Mesio-distally it is narrower and may resemble like flame.
 In cross-section it is ovoid in shape, with greater diameter labio-
palatally.
 Only one pulp horn is present.
20

21. Root and root canal
 Single root canal of maxillary cuspid is larger
than that of maxillary incisor.
 It is wider labio-palatally than its mesio-distal
diameter, and on reaching middle third, it taper
gradually to an apical constriction.
 In cross-section, root canal is ovoid in the
cervical and middle third and generally round in
the apical third.
21

23. • One report stated presence of straight root
in 39% cases whereas a distal curve in
32%
• Lateral canals are present in 30% cases

24. Mandibular central incisor
• Average tooth length: 20.8mm
Pulp chamber
It is small and flat mesiodistally.
Three distinct pulp horns present.
Pulp chamber is wide and ovoid labio-
lingually and it tapers incisally.
.
24

25. Root and root canals
It has one root which is flat and narrow
mesio-distally but wide labio-lingually.
It may have a distal labial curvature.
Canal is broad in the cervical & middle
thirds of root in labio-lingual aspect which
tapers towards apex

27. • Canal configuration varies as :
one canal exiting in one apical
foramen:70%
one canal bifurcating into two canals
,coming together and exiting into one
apical foramen :22%
• A second canal, when present, is lingual to
primary canal.

28. Mandibular lateral incisor
• Average tooth length: 22.6mm
Pulp chambers
Same as mandibular central incisor but it
has larger dimension.
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29. Root and root canal
Larger than mandibular central incisor.
Majority of root are straight.
It may also have distally , labially curved
root as central incisor but the distal curve
is sharper.

31. Mandibular canine
• Average tooth length: 25mm
Pulp chamber
It is small and flat mesio-distally.
One pulp horn is present.
It is wide and ovoid mesiodistally and
tapering incisally.
.
31

32. Root and root canal
It is usually single rooted.
 It usually has a single canal exiting in one
apical foramen.
Root canal is broad in middle third and
taper to constriction in the apical third in
labio-lingual view

34. • Most of these tooth have single root(68%)
but some have a distal curvature(20%)

35. Concluding
• Of all phases of anatomic study in human
system one of the most complex is pulp
cavity morphology
• A profound background knowledge of pulp
anatomy is a must in success of any
endodontic treatment

36. References
• Grossman’s endodontic practice
• Cohen’s pathways of pulp
• Harty’s text book of endodontic practice

37. THANK YOU