1. The document describes the morphological features and distinguishing traits of maxillary central and lateral incisors. It includes descriptions of traits seen from the buccal, palatal, proximal, and incisal views. 2. The maxillary central incisor is larger with a wider crown and different contact points compared to the lateral incisor. On the lingual side, the central incisor has a larger shallow fossa and differently positioned cingulum. 3. The document also compares traits of the maxillary right and left central incisors and discusses differences between maxillary and mandibular incisors. Images are provided to illustrate different traits.

1. DEPARTMENT OF ORAL AND MAXILLOFACIAL
PATHOLOGY AND MICROBIOLOGY
BDS I YEAR
12/12/23
Dr. Shefali
MDS SENIOR LECTURER
ORAL PATHOLOGY

2. Learning Objectives
1. To describe functions of incisors
2. To list class traits common to all maxillary incisors
3. To differentiate Maxillary central incisors from
Maxillary lateral incisors

3. CONTENTS
• Introduction
• Functions of incisors
• Buccal view
• Palatal View
• Proximal View
• Incisal View
• Summary
• Link To Video
• FAQs
• MCQs
• References And Suggested Reading

4. INTRODUCTION

5. FUNCTIONS OF INCISORS
1. Cutting of food
2. Speech
3. Support lips and esthetics

6. LOBES OR PRIMARY ANATOMIC
DIVISIONS ON TEETH
Facial, mesial, and incisal views of a maxillary
central incisor that, like all anterior teeth, forms
from four lobes

7. LEFT AND RIGHT MAXILLARY
CENTRAL INCISORS, LINGUAL VIEWS
Both teeth are “shovel shaped” due to their deep lingual fossae along
with pronounced lingual marginal ridges and cingula. Both teeth have
three rounded protuberances on their incisal edge called mamelons
(arrows).

8. CENTRAL INCISOR LATERAL INCISOR
1. Larger crown, wider
cervically
2. Mesial incisal angle is a
right angle
3. Distal contact closer to
incisal ridge
4. Less likely root tip bend to
distal
5. Incisal edge closer to
horizontal
1. Smaller crown, narrower
cervically
2. Mesial incisal angle is
rounder
3. Distal contact is near
middle third
4. Root tip often bends to
distal
5. Incisal edge slopes
cervically to distal
TRAITS TO DISTINGUISH MAXILLARY
CENTRAL FROM LATERAL INCISOR: LABIAL
VIEW

9. TRAITS TO DIFFERENT MAXILLARY RIGHT
FROM LEFT INCISOR: LABIAL VIEW
 Mesial crown outline flatter, distal more rounded
 Distoincisal angle more rounded than mesioincisal
angle
 Distal contact more cervical than mesial contact
 Incisal edge slopes shorter toward the distal
CENTRAL INCISOR AND LATERAL
INCISOR

12. CENTRAL INCISOR LATERAL INCISOR
1. Larger shallow lingual
fossa
2. Cingulum distally
positioned
3. Less frequent lingual pit
1. Deep but small fossa
2. Cingulum centered
3. More common lingual pit
TRAITS TO DISTINGUISH MAXILLARY CENTRAL
FROM LATERAL INCISOR: LINGUAL VIEW

14. CENTRAL INCISOR LATERAL INCISOR
1. Cingulum toward distal
2. Distal marginal ridge more
curved than mesial
3. Both have longer
mesiolingual marginal
ridge
Longer and straighter mesial
marginal ridge
TRAITS TO DIFFERENTIATE MAXILLARY RIGHT
FROM LEFT INCISOR: LINGUAL VIEW

15. CENTRAL INCISOR LATERAL INCISOR
1. Deeper lingual crown
concavity
2. Root outline more curved
on lingual than facia
1. Slightly shallower lingual
crown concavity
2. More even root taper
facially and lingually
TRAITS TO DISTINGUISH MAXILLARY
CENTRAL FROM LATERAL INCISOR: PROXIMAL
VIEWS

16. TRAITS TO DIFFERENTIATE MAXILLARY RIGHT
FROM LEFT INCISOR: COMPARING PROXIMAL
VIEWS
 Larger cervical line curvature on mesial than distal
 Flatter mesial root surface contour than distal
contour
CENTRAL INCISOR AND LATERAL
INCISOR

19. CENTRAL INCISOR LATERAL INCISOR
1. Crown noticeably wider
mesiodistally than
faciolingually
2. Crown outline roughly
triangular
3. Cingulum off center to
distal
4. Incisal edge curves
mesiodistally
1. Crown minimally wider
mesiodistally than
faciolingually
2. Crown outline more round or
oval
3. Cingulum centered
4. Incisal edge straighter
mesiodistally
TRAITS TO DISTINGUISH MAXILLARY CENTRAL FROM
LATERAL INCISOR: INCISAL VIEW

21. The outline of the maxillary lateral incisor (on the left) is
almost round or slightly oval (slightly wider mesiodistally
than faciolingually), whereas the outline of the maxillary
central incisor is more triangular in shape

22. Differences between
Mandibular central &
lateral Incisor

24. Mandibular
Central incisor
Mandibular
Lateral incisor
Narrow mesiodistally wider
Bilaterally symmetrical asymmetrical

25. Mandibular
Central incisor
Mandibular
Lateral incisor
Mesial & distal
Mamelons equally
prominent.
Distal mamelons are
not prominent
Mesioincisal &
distoincisal angles are
sharp at 90 degrees.
Distoincisal angle is
rounded
Incisal edge is at rt
angle to the labiolingual
bisecting line.
Incisal edge is twisted
on the crown.
Distoincisal angle is
projected lingually.

26. Differences between
maxillary and
mandibular incisors

27. Maxillary incisors Mandibular incisors
Widest of the incisor
class.
narrowest
Central is wider &
larger than lateral.
Lateral is wider than
central.
Marginal ridges &
cingulli are more
prominent.
Less prominent.

28. Maxillary incisors Mandibular incisors
Lingual fossa is deeper. Shallow.
Facial surfaces more
convex.
Less convex.
Crowns are wider
mesiodistally than
labiolingually.
Crowns are wider
labiolingually than
mesiodistally.

29. Maxillary incisors Mandibular incisors
Roots are rounder or
triangular in cross
section. No depressions
are seen on mesial or
distal surface.
Roots are oval, wider
labiolingually in cross
section. Depressions are
seen on mesial & distal
surfaces of root.
Incisal surfaces are
inclined lingually.
Incisal surfaces are
perpendicular tooth
axis.

30. Maxillary incisors Mandibular incisors
Variations are
numerous.
Few .
They erupt after lower
incisors.
First permanent teeth
to erupt.

31. SUMMARY
A. Proximal view of the
normal relationship of
incisors when
posterior teeth are
biting tightly together.
B. The arrow indicates
the direction of
movement of
mandibular incisors
when the mandible
moves forward
(protrudes) with the
incisors touching until
they align edge to
edge.

32. Link to video
https://youtu.be/Rd2wsVqxpD4

33. MCQs
What are mamelons formed from?
a. Developmental lobes
b. Grooves
c. Imbrication lines
d. DEJ

34. Shape of lingual fossa in maxillary central
incisors is?
a. W shaped
b. V shaped
c. U shaped
d. None

35. The mandibular lateral incisors are:
• A. Larger than the maxillary lateral incisors.
• B. Larger than the mandibular central incisors.
• C. Larger than the mandibular canines.
• D. Smaller than the mandibular central incisors.

36. The difference(s) between the maxillary and
mandibular central incisors is(are):
• A. Maxillary central incisors are larger than the
mandibular central incisors in all dimensions.
• B. Labial surfaces of the maxillary central
incisors are more rounded from the incisal
aspect than those of the mandibular central
incisors.
• C. Cingulum in less prominent on the maxillary
central incisors than the cingulum on the
mandibular central incisors.
• D. Both a and b.

37. FAQs
LONG NOTES
• Write in detail about the morphological aspects of
Permanent maxillary central incisor
• Distinguish between the permanent maxillary central and
lateral incisors based on their morphological features.
SHORT NOTES
• Trait characteristics of incisors
• Arch traits of incisors

38. REFERENCES
Wheeler's Dental Anatomy, Physiology and
Occlusion, 11th ed.
SUGGESTED READING
Woelfel`s Dental Anatomy- Its Relevance to
Dentistry 8th ed.