PERMANENT MAXILLARY

FIRST MOLAR

INTRODUCTION TO MAXILLARY
MOLARS
Morphology.
Function
Largest and strongest
Four well developed cusps, and three roots.
Shorter than premolars.
Erupt at the age of 6years.
No predecessor..
Corner stones of the dental arches.

Maxillary 1st molar

Wider buccolingually than mesiodistally.

Largest tooth in maxillary arch.

4 well developed cusps and a supplemental cusp(cusp/tubercle of
carabelli).
Supplemental cusp is found lingual to the mesiolingual cusp which
is largest of the other cusps. This fifth cusp serves as an identity of
the first maxillary molar.
Three roots mesiobuccal, distobuccal, and a lingual root.
These roots are well developed and well separated giving the tooth
maximum anchorage against the forces.

BUCCAL ASPECT

Trapezoidal .
When looking at the buccal aspect, the distal side of the crown is visible,
which is due to obtuse character of the distobuccal line angle.
Mesiobuccal cusp is broader than distobuccal cusp, and its mesial slope
meets its distal slope at an obtuse angle.
The mesial slope of the distobuccal cusp meets its distal slope at
appxox, right angle.
Distobuccal cusp is sharper and longer than mesiobuccal cusp.
The buccal developmental groove that divides the two buccal cusps
approx, equidistant b/n mesiobuccal and distolingual line angles. It
terminates at a point half the distance from its origin occlusoapically.
The cervical line does not have much curvature, irregular and convexity
towards the roots.

BUCCAL ASPECT
The mesial outline follows a nearly straight path curving occlusally as it
reaches the crest of contour, which is the contact area.
The crest is approxly 2/3rd the distance from cervical line.
The distal outline is convex, the distal surface is spheroidal.
The crest of curvature is located at approxly half the distance from cervical
line to tip of cusp. The contact area is in the middle of the middle third.
Often from this aspect a flattened or concave area is seen on distal side
located above the distobuccal cusp at cervical third of the crown.
All the 3 roots are visible from this aspect.
The point of bifurcation is located approx 4mm above the cervical line.
There is a deep developmental groove buccally on the root trunk, starting
at bifurcation and progresses downward becoming more shallow.
Sometimes this depression extends into the enamel at cervix.

BUCCAL ASPECT

The roots of the molars originate as a single root on the base of the
crown. They are then divided into 3 roots .
The commonest root base is called root trunk.
Usually the lingual root is longer, and the two buccal roots are approx
equal in length.
The measurement of the roots at their greatest extremities mesiodistally
is less than the diameter of the crown mesiodistally.
On average, the length of the roots are twice that of length of the crown.

LINGUAL ASPECT

From the lingual aspect the gross outline of the crown is reverse that of
the buccal aspect.
The distolingual cusp shows a smooth curvature of the distal outline of
the crown becoming confluent with curvature of the cusp creates an arc
that is almost a semicircle.
The lingual developmental groove is confluent with the outline of the
distolingual cusp, and ending at a point at the center of the lingual
surface of the crown.
A shallow depression extends from the terminus of lingual groove
continuing in apical direction on lingual root fading out on middle third of
the root.
Only lingual cusps are visible from this aspect.
The mesiolingual cusp is much larger and before occlusal wear is the
longest cusp.
The mesiodistal diameter of mesiolingual cusp is 3/5th of the crown
diameter and remaining 2/5th is formed by distolingual cusp.

LINGUAL ASPECT
The angle formed by the mesial outline of the crown and mesial slope of the
mesiolingual cusp is almost 90 degrees. The junction of mesial and distal
slopes is obtuse.
The distolingual cusp is smooth and spheroidal.
The lingual developmental groove starts in the center, curves to the distal
b/n the cusps and continues on to occlusal surface.
The fifth cusp appears attached to the mesiolingual cusp. It is outlined by a
irregular developmental groove.
If the fifth cusp is well developed, its cusp angle will be sharper and less
obtuse than mesiolingual cusp.
The cusp ridge of the fifth cusp is located approx 2mm cervical to the cusp
ridge of the mesiolingual cusp.
All the three roots are visible from this aspect , the larger lingual root making
up most of the portion.

LINGUAL ASPECT
The lingual portion of the root trunk is continuous with the
entire cervical portion of the crown lingually.
The lingual root is conical terminating in a blunt round
conical apex.
All the mesial outline of the mesiobuccal root is visible and a
part of its apex is also seen.
The distal outline of the distobuccal root is seen above its
middle third including its apex.

MESIAL ASPECT
From this aspect the increased buccolingual dimensions
may be observed, as well as cervical curvatures of crown
outlines at cervical third buccally and lingually.
The buccal outline makes a short arc of circle up to crest,
later it becomes slightly concave below the crest and
circumscribes the mesiobuccal cusp.
If the tooth is posed at right angles to this aspect only
mesiobuccal, mesiolingual and fifth cusps are in sight.
The lingual outline of the crown curves outwards. The
crest of curvature is at middle third of the crown.
If the fifth cusp is well developed the lingual outline dips
inward to illustrate it. If not well developed then the outline
curves smoothly up to the tip.

 The mesial marginal ridge confluent with mesiobuccal cusp and

mesiolingual cusp is irregular , the outline curving cervically about
1/5th of the crown length.
The cervical line is irregular curving occlusally.
The mesial contact area is above the marginal ridge closer to it than
to cervical line, approx at junction of middle and occlusal third of the
crown. It is some what buccal to center of the crown.
The mesiobuccal root is broad and flattened on its mesial surface.
The width of the root is approx 2/3rd of the crown measurement.
The lingual root is longer than mesiobuccal root but is narrower from
this aspect.

DISTAL ASPECT
The gross outline is similar to mesial aspect.
Because of the tendency of the crown to taper distally, most of the
buccal surface is seen. This is because the buccolingual
measurement of the crown mesially is greater than distally.
The distal marginal ridge curves sharply in cervical direction
exposing the triangular ridges.
The distal surface of the crown is generally convex with a smoothly
rounded surface except for a small area near distobuccal root at
cervical third.
The outline of distobuccal root is concave starting from cervical line,
then curves lingually terminating at its apex.

OCCLUSAL ASPECT

The crown appears rhomboidal shape.

The four cusps appear well developed.
The mesiolingual cusp appears the largest.
The triangular arrangement of the cusps is called the `maxillary molar
primary cusp triangle`.
The occlusal surface is confined within the cusp ridges.
There are 2 major and 2 minor fossae. i.e central and triangular fossae.
It has a well developed oblique ridge.
The mesial and distal marginal ridges are irregular ridges.
The central groove has supplemental grooves arising from the central
groove.

Yamaha FJR- 1000