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Lec. 6 حكمت الغراوي.د
Maxillary lateral incisor
The maxillary lateral incisor, or second incisor, is the second tooth
from the median line. Since the maxillary lateral incisor supplements the
maxillary central incisor in function, this tooth resembles the central incisor in
functional form. It is smaller than the maxillary central incisor in all
dimensions except the root length; the root is usually just as long, but not so
thick.
Maxillary lateral incisor varies in form more than any other tooth in the
mouth except the third molar. If the variation is too great, it is considered a
developmental anomaly.
A not uncommon situation is to find
maxillary lateral incisor pointed (tapered)
form; such teeth are called peg-shaped
laterals. In some individuals, the lateral
incisors are missing entirely.
*One type of malformed maxillary
lateral incisor will have a large pointed
tubercle as part of the cingulum, *some will
have deep developmental grooves which
extend down on the root lingually with a deep
fold in the cingulum, &* some will show
twisted roots, distorted crowns, & so on.
(P-137)
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Labial aspect:
*The crown of this tooth is relatively narrow
mesiodistally, & shorter cervicoincisally than the
maxillary central incisor.
*The mesial outline of the crown resembles that
of maxillary central incisor, with a more rounded
mesioincisal angle. The crest of curvature mesially is
usually at the junction of the middle & incisal thirds.
*The distal outline of the crown is always more
rounded than that of maxillary central incisor, & the
crest of curvature is more cervical, usually at the
centre of the middle third.
*The labial surface of the crown is more convex
than that of maxillary central incisor except in some
square & flat-faced forms.
*The root is usually as long if not somewhat
longer than that of the maxillary central incisor.
As a rule, the root length is greater in proportion to its crown
length than that of the maxillary central incisor, because of the shorter
crown. That is why the root length appears longer than that of
maxillary central incisor; the root is often about 1½ times the length of
the crown.
*The root tapers evenly from the cervical line to a point
approximately two thirds of its length apically. In most cases it curves
sharply from this point in a distal direction & ends in a pointed apex.
*The root of maxillary lateral incisor is rather round on cross
section but slender lengthwise when compared with the central
incisor.
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Lingual aspect:
*Mesial & distal marginal ridges are marked.
*The cingulum is usually prominent with a
tendency toward deep developmental grooves within
the lingual fossa where it joins the cingulum.
*The linguoincisal ridge is well developed.
*The lingual fossa is more concave &
circumscribed than that found on the maxillary central
incisor.
*The tooth tapers toward the lingual resembling
a maxillary central incisor.
*It is not uncommon to find deep developmental
groove at the side of the cingulum, usually on the
distal side which may extend up on the root.
Mesial aspect:
*The mesial aspect of the maxillary lateral incisor is
similar to that of a small central incisor except that the
root appears longer.
*The labiolingual dimension of the crown & root is
less than that of the maxillary central incisor of the same
mouth.
*The curvature of the cervical line is marked toward
the incisal ridge, although the actual extent of curvature is
less than that found on the maxillary central incisor.
*The incisal portion appears somewhat thicker than
that of the maxillary central incisor, because of the heavy
development of the incisal ridge.
*The root appears as a tapered cone from this aspect,
with a bluntly rounded apical end.
*As in the maxillary central incisor, a line drown
through the center of the root tends to bisect the incisal
ridge of the crown.
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Distal aspect:
-Because of the placement of the crown on the root, the
width of the crown distally appears thicker than it does on the
mesial aspect.
-The curvature of the cervical line is usually less in
depth than on the mesial side.
-It is not uncommon to find a developmental groove
distally on the crown extending on the root for a part or all of
its length.
Incisal aspect:
*The incisal aspect of this tooth sometimes resembles
that of the central incisor, or it may resemble that of a small
canine.
*When it resembles maxillary central incisor the
difference will be in size only.
*The cingulum & the incisal ridge may be large, &
the labiolingual dimension may be greater than usual in
comparison with the mesiodistal dimension. In this case the
tooth resembles a small canine.
*All maxillary lateral incisors exhibit more convexity
labially & lingually from this aspect than maxillary central
incisor.
