Incisors, Canines, Premolars and Molars of Human: Comparison and differences
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Features
|
Incisors
|
Canines
|
Premolars
|
Molars
|
|
Number
|
8
|
4
|
8
|
12
|
|
Location
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Central incisors are
side by side at the midline. There is
a lateral incisor on each side of the central incisors
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Next to the lateral
incisors, establishes the cornering of the arches
|
First premolars are
next to the canines followed by the second premolars
|
First molars are next
to the second premolars, second molars next to the first molars and third
molars next to the second molars. The
third molars are the farthest teeth in the mouth
|
|
Shape and structure
|
Single
rooted, crowns are arched and angle toward one sharp incisal edge
|
Anchored
with the longest root, one pointed cusp
|
Maxillary
first premolars have a bifurcated root, all others have one root, one
prominent cusp with one or two lesser lingual cusps
|
Bifurcated
or trifurcated roots, broad chewing surfaces with four to five cusps
|
|
Function
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For cutting or incising
food
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For holding, grasping,
and tearing food.
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For holding and crushing
food
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Grinding food
|