This document describes the key features of the mandibular molars. It notes that the mandibular molars are the largest teeth in the lower jaw and there are three on each side - the first, second, and third molars. The first molar is the largest and has 5 cusps and 2 roots. The second molar is smaller, has 4 cusps, and 2 roots that are closer together. The third molar can vary in shape and position and sometimes has more than 5 cusps. It provides detailed information on the occlusal, buccal, lingual, mesial, and distal aspects of each molar.

1. MANDIBULAR MOLARS
1st 2nd 3rd buccal distal lingual mesial

2. •LARGER THAN ANY OTHER MANDIBULAR TEETH
•THREE IN NUMBER ON EACH SIDE OF THE MANDIBLE: FIRST, SECOND
AND THIRD MOLAR
•RESEMBLE EACH OTHER IN FUNCTIONAL FORM.
•VARIATIONS: NUMBER OF CUSPS, SIZE, OCCLUSAL DESIGN, RELATIVE
LENGTHS AND POSITIONS OF ROOTS.
•ROOTS HAS ONE MESSIAL AND ONE DISTAL. M D
M D

3. M D
M D
•ALL MANDIBULAR MOLAR CROWNS HAVE CROWNS THAT ARE
ROUGHLY QUADRILATERAL, BEING SOMEWHAT LONGER
MESIODISTALLY THAN BUCCOLINGUALLY.
•THE MANDIBULAR MOLARS PERFORM THE MAJOR PORTION OF
THE WORK OF THE LOWER JAW IN MASTICATION AND IN THE
COMMINUTION OF FOOD.
•LARGEST AND STRONGEST BECAUSE OF THEIR BULK AND THEIR
ANCHORAGE.

4. MANDIBULAR FIRST MOLAR
LARGEST IN MANDIBLE ARCH

5. Largest tooth in the mandibular arch
Has 5 well developed cusp; 2 buccal, 2 lingual & 1 distal
Has 2 well developed roots
Roots are widely separated
Crown is 1mm wider mesiodistally than buccolingually
Deep dev’t groove is found in the root trunk
Buccal aspect
Occlusal aspect
M D
L
B

6. Buccal & Lingual aspect- Roughly Trapezoidal
Schematic Outlines;
Mesial & Distal aspect- Rhomboid
DistalMesialLingualBuccal

7. Contact Areas/ Proximal areas;
Distal; Mesial;
Middle Third Middle Third

8. The lingual cusp are usually higher than buccal & distal
cusp
Buccal Cusp are relatively Flat
Mesiobuccal Dev’t Groove & Distobuccal Dev’t Groove
can be seen in this aspect
Cervical line is regular dipping apically towards the root
bifurcation
Mesial side is relatively straight while distal is curved &
convex or bulky.
Lingual cusps
MBDG
DBDG
Buccal cusps
Buccal aspect

9. Three cusp can be seen; MLC, DLC & DC
MLC & DLC are pointed and have cusp ridges
MLC & DLC are high enough to hide MBC & DBC in this aspect
The Lingual Dev’t groove separates the Lingual cusps
Cervical line is irregular in this aspect
Lingual aspect LDG

10. Two cusp can be seen; MBC & MLC and one root: Mesial root
Mesial cusps are higher than distal cusps hence distal cusps
are not visible in this aspect
Mesial root is broad in this aspect. (Curved towards distal when
viewed buccally)
The mesial marginal ridge is confluent with the mesial ridges of
the MBC and MLC.
Cervical line is rather irregular and tends to curve occlusally
Mesial aspect

11. Gross outline is similar to mesial aspect
More cusps can be seen in this aspect because the distal
cusps are shorter than the mesial cusps
The buccal surface shows more convergence than lingual
aspect
The distal cusp is the foreground in this aspect
Cervical line is usually straight
Distal aspect

12. Occlusal aspect is somewhat hexagonal in shape
wider mesiodistally than buccolingually
buccolingual measurement in mesial portion is greater
than the distal portion, making tapering figure.
Major Fossa; Central Fossa
Minor Fossae; Mesial triangular fossa & Distal triangular
fossa.
Dev’t Grooves; CDG, MBDG, DBDG & LDG
Supplemental grooves, accdidental short groove and
supplemental pits may be found.
Occlusal aspect

13. Occlusal aspect
DBC
DC
DLCMLC
MBC

14. MANDIBULAR SECOND MOLAR

15. Smaller than the 1st molar
Has 4 well Developed Cusps; MBC, MLC, DBC & DLC
Distal Cusp is absent
Has 2 well developed roots. Closer compared to the 1st
molar
Roots are nearly parallel and may also be fused.
Roots are inclined distally
Buccal aspect
Occlusal aspect
M D
L
B

16. Buccal & Lingual aspect- Roughly Trapezoidal
Schematic Outlines;
Mesial & Distal aspect- Rhomboid
DistalMesialLingualBuccal

17. Contact Areas/ Proximal areas;
Distal;Mesial;
Middle Third Middle Third

18. Crown is shorter cervico-oclusally compared to 1st
molar
Two buccal cusp are seen; MBC & DBC
Both cusp are equal in size
Buccal Dev’t groove (BDG) separates the two cusps
Two Roots are seen; Mesial and Distal root
MBC
BDG
DBC
Buccal aspect
M D

19. Two Lingual Cusps are seen; MLC, DLC
Lingual Dev’t Grooves (LDG) separates the two lingual cusps
The crown and root converges lingually.
Cervical line is usually regular pointion oclusally.
Lingual aspect LDG
DLC
MLC

20. Mesiodistal measurement is a little smaller than the 1st molar
Cervical ridge on the buccal surface is less pronounce
Cervical line is less pronounced
Two cusp can be seen; MBC & MLC
Mesial cusps are higher than distal cusps
Mesial aspect

21. Distal Cusp is absent hence the absence of the DBG
Usually all cusp are seen because Distal cusps are lower than
Mesial cusps
Distal aspect

22. Differs considerably from the 1st molar
Distal cusp and DBG is absent
Buccal and lingual groove meet at the center at right
angles
Rough due to supplemental grooves.
Occlusal aspect

23. Occlusal aspect
DBC
DLC MLC
MBC
CP
MMR MMR

24. MANDIBULAR THIRD MOLAR

25. Supplements 2nd molar in function
Tooth Varies considerably in shape and position and
presents many anomalies
Occasionally has four cusps, but five and more than five
cusps are also not uncommon
Buccal aspect
Occlusal aspect
M D
L
B

26. Buccal & Lingual aspect- Roughly Trapezoidal
Schematic Outlines;
Mesial & Distal aspect- Rhomboid
DistalMesialLingualBuccal

27. Contact Areas/ Proximal areas;
Distal; Mesial;
Middle Third Middle Third

28. Varies considerably from 1st molar
4 cusp type has 2 buccal cusp
Buccal cusps are shorter and rounded
Both cusps are equal and rounded
Root are shorter than 2nd molar and usually fused
MBC
BDG
DBC
Buccal aspect
M D

29. A well developed 3rd molar Closely resemblesn a 2nd molar
except fro the size and root development
4 cusp type has Two cusps are seen in this aspect; MLC & DLC
Root are shorter than 2nd molar and usually fused
Lingual aspect LDG
DLC
MLC

30. Resembles 2nd molar except for its dimension measurements
Roots are shorter and more tapering
Mesial root is ussualy pointed
Mesial aspect

31. Resembles 2nd molar except for its dimension measurements
Distal root appears small with slight blunt root apex
Distal aspect

32. When fully developed the 3rd molar resemble teh 2nd
molar in this aspect
Occlusal aspect

33. Occlusal aspect
DBC
DLCMLC
MBC
CP

34. Reference; Wheeler’s Dental Anatmomy, Physiology and Occlusion
Tenth Edition
Stanley J. Nelson
Elsevier (Singapore) Pte. Ltd
Published by Elsevier Inc.

35. E N D