Type Traits

Maxillary Central Incisor

Type traits are the most specific type of traits that make a tooth unique.

The maxillary central incisor is the widest mesiodistally of all anterior teeth.

The mesiodistal dimension of the crown is closer to the cervicoincisal dimension when compared to any of the other incisors. In other words, the crown is more square in shape rather than being narrow and long as are the other incisors.

The vertical curvature of the cervical line on the mesial surface of the permanent maxillary central incisor is the greatest of all teeth in either dentition (3.5mm).

Maxillary Lateral Incisor

The permanent maxillary lateral incisor exhibits more variation in its anatomical form than does any other tooth except for the third molars.

Variations include

• peg lateral incisors (deficient mesial and distal lobes)

• caniniform (appears canine-like with a small cusp)

• congenitally missing

• toed lateral (prominent mesioincisal corner with cervical constriction)

• small central incisor (more square crown with less cervical constriction)

• radicular groove

The permanent maxillary lateral incisor has the least difference between its mesiodistal and labiolingual dimensions of any of the anterior teeth (0.5mm)

The maxillary lateral incisor has the highest incidence of radicular grooves of all of the incisors (approximately 3.0% - Source: Pecora JD, da Cruz Filho AM. Study of the Incidence of Radicular Grooves in Maxillary Incisors. Braz Dent J 1992;3(1):11-16.)

Lingual pits are more commonly on the maxillary lateral incisor than any of the other incisors.