Canines

1. CANINESCANINES
DR. SYED SADATULLAHDR. SYED SADATULLAH
IBNSINA NATIONAL COLLEGEIBNSINA NATIONAL COLLEGE
JEDDAHJEDDAH

2. Introduction
Canines are very long and stable teeth
There are four canines placed at the corner of the mouth and
hence called the ‘corner stones’ of the dentition
They have a single pointed cusp (also called cuspids)
Maxillary canine erupts between 10-12 years and mandibular
canine erupts between 9-10 years of age

3. Maxillary Canine
Labial aspect
The crown of maxillary canine is narrower mesiodistally than
that of maxillary central incisor.
•The incisal aspect has a large cusp with a pointed cusp tip
•It has two slopes (cusp ridges), the mesial slope being shorter
than the distal slope
•The labial surface is smooth and bulky in the middle because
of the labial ridge

4. Labial aspect
Labial ridge
Cusp tip
Distal cusp
ridge Mesial Cusp
Ridge

5. Lingual aspect
•The crown and root are narrower lingually
•The cingulum is well developed, large and sometimes pointed
like a cusp
•Occasionally a well developed lingual ridge is seen that
divides the lingual fossa into mesial and distal lingual fossae
•Heavy marginal ridges are associated with well formed
cingulum and fossae

6. Lingual aspect
Cingulum
Distal marginal ridge
Distal lingual fossa
Lingual ridge
Mesial marginal ridge
Mesial lingual fossa

7. Mesial aspect
•From the mesial aspect canine looks similar but bulkier than
maxillary central incisor
•Maxillary canine is the widest anterior tooth labiolingually
•The cervical line curvature is towards the cusp (incisally)
•The contact area is near the junction of the incisal and middle
third

8. Mesial aspect

9. Distal aspect
•Distal surface is very similar to the mesial surface
•The cervical line exhibits less curvature
•The contact are is near the middle third
Distal aspect

10. Incisal aspect
•The labiolingual dimension is greater than the mesiodistal
dimension
•The cusp tip is labial to the centre of the crown labiolingually
and mesial to the centre mesiodistally
•The labial ridge and the cingulum are very noticeable from
this aspect
Incisal aspect

11. Root – only one
The root is the longest and strongest of all the teeth in the
dentition
The mesial and distal surfaces of the root have developmental
depressions.
2.5 1.5 7.0 8.0 5.5

7.5 17.0 10.0
Curvature of Cervical
Line
M D
Labiolingual
Diameter at
Cervical Line
Labiolingual
Diameter at
Crest of Curvature
Mesiodistal
Diameter at
Cervical Line
Mesiodistal
Diameter at
Contact Area
Root
Length
Crown
Length
Average Dimensions in millimeters

12. Mandibular Canine
Labial aspect
Mandibular canines are similar to maxillary canines except
that they are slightly narrower mesiodistally
Mesial outline of the crown is straight and inline with the
mesial outline of the root
The mesial cusp ridge is smaller than the distal cusp ridge

13. Lingual aspect
The lingual surface of the crown is smooth and flat simulating
the surface of mandibular lateral incisor
Cingulum is less prominent and marginal ridges are less
distinct
Mesial and Distal aspects
These aspects are very similar and the cervical line curves
more on the mesial aspect
The contact area on mesial aspect is in the incisal third and a
little higher on the distal third

14. Incisal aspect
Like maxillary canine the labiolingual dimension is more than
the mesiodistal dimension
The cusp tip appears inclined in a lingual direction
Root
The root is shorter by 1 or 2 mm
The developmental depression is more pronounced on the
lower canine

15. Labial aspect Lingual aspect
Mesial aspect Distal aspect
Incisal aspect