Mandibular Molars

Howard Chi, D.M.D.

Learning Objective

Anatomy of the mandibular molars

 Buccal Aspect Of
Mandibular Molars

Crown Shape
The crowns of
mandibular molars are wider mesiodistally than
high cervico-occlusally (greatest extent on first
molars)
 3 2 1
Buccal Aspect Of
Mandibular Molars

First Molar Cusps

The mesiolingual cusp is the highest and widest
The first molar has the largest mesiodistal dimension
of any tooth
First molars usually possess three buccal cusps
 Buccal Aspect Of S M L

Mandibular Molars

DB Line angle
First Molar Cusps
The mesiobuccal is the largest, widest, and highest
cusp on the buccal side
The distobuccal cusp is slightly smaller, shorter, and
may be sharper than the mesiobuccal
Distal cusp is on the DB line angle and is the
smallest of the five cusps
 Buccal Aspect Of
Mandibular Molars

2nd highest
First Molar Cusps
The distolingual cusp is the second highest cusp when
the tooth is oriented vertically
Even though the lingual cusps are higher than the
buccal cusps, clinically the lingual cusp tips are at a
lower level than the buccal due to the lingual tilt of the
tooth
 Buccal Aspect Of
Mandibular Molars

MB groove
Buccal
Grooves Of The First Molars
Pit
The mesiobuccal groove separates the mesiobuccal
and distobuccal cusp
There may be a deep pit at the cervical end of this
groove
This pit can be a site of caries
 Buccal Aspect Of
Mandibular Molars

DB groove

Grooves Of The First Molar

The distobuccal groove separates the distobuccal
cusp from the distal cusp
It is shorter than the MB groove and not frequently
pitted
 D M
Buccal Aspect Of
Mandibular Molars

Second Molar Cusps

Four cusps are present on lower second molars
MB cusp is usually wider mesiodistally than the DB
cusp
The lingual cusp tips are usually visible from the
buccal aspect
D M

Buccal Aspect Of
Mandibular Molars

Buccal groove

Grooves Of The Second Molar

The buccal groove separates the MB cusps from the
DB cusp
May end in the middle of the buccal surface in a pit
 Buccal Aspect Of
Mandibular Molars

Proximal Contacts
Same as all molars
Mesial: Junction of the occlusal and middle thirds
Distal: Middle third of crown
 Buccal Aspect Of
Mandibular Molars

Enamel projection
Cervical Line
CEJ is nearly straight across the buccal surface on lower
first and second molars
Occasionally a point of enamel will dip down nearly into
the root bifurcation
Can also have this type of projection on the lingual, this
could lead to periodontal problems
#31 Buccal Aspect Of #30
Mandibular Molars

Taper To The Cervical And The Distal

There is proportionally more tapering of the crown
from contact areas to the cervical line on first
molars than second molars because of the bulge of
the distal cusp
Buccal Aspect Of
Mandibular Molars
Absent 1/5 of
the time

Variations In Mandibular Molar Crowns

The distal cusp is absent one fifth of the time
A four-cusp molar may not always be a
second molar - rely on tooth position to aid in
determination
 Roots Of
Mandibular Molars

Both mandibular first and second molars

have two roots (one mesial and one distal)
Both roots are nearly twice as long as the
crown
 Roots Of
Mandibular Molars
Short
Root depression root
The root bifurcation of a mandibular first trunk
molar is near the cervical line
A depression exists between the cervical line
and bifurcation
The root trunk relatively short (shorter than
lower second molars)
 Roots Of
Mandibular Molars

Note distal bend in root

Roots of first molars are widely separated
Second molars have more parallel roots
Roots may possess a distal curve in the
apical portion
 Roots Of
Mandibular Molars

From the buccal aspect can

see the distal surface of the mesial root because
it is twisted on the trunk
The distal root is straighter than the mesial
root and may possess a pointed apex
The apex of the mesial root may be in line with
the mesiobuccal groove
 #30
Lingual Aspect Of
Mandibular Molars

Crown Shape From The Lingual

Mandibular first and second molar crowns taper to
the lingual
This lingual taper is more evident in first molars
The lingual cusps are longer and more pointed than
the buccal cusps
 ML DL
#30
Lingual Aspect Of
Mandibular Molars

Crown Shape From The Lingual

The mesiolingual cusp is usually longer and
wider (slightly) than the distolingual cusp
 Lingual Aspect Of
Mandibular Molars

Grooves
The lingual groove separates the mesiolingual cusp
from the distolingual cusp
Terminates in the occlusal third with no pit
 Lingual Aspect Of
Mandibular Molars

Cervical Line
The CEJ is relatively flat mesiodistally
Can dip cervically between the roots over the
bifurcation (similar to buccal)
A depression can be seen between the cervical line
and the bifurcation
 Roots Of
Mandibular Molars
From The Lingual

On first molars, root trunk appears longer on the

lingual than the buccal
This is due to the fact that the cervical line is more
occlusal on the lingual surface
 Roots Of
Mandibular Molars
Mesial
From The Lingual

The roots are narrower on the lingual aspect

than the buccal
Can often see the mesial aspect of the mesial
root due to the twisting on the trunk
Can see the distal side of the distal root
because of taper to the lingual
 Proximal Aspect
Of Mandibular Molars

Crown Shape From The Proximal

Appear relatively short occlusocervically compared
to faciolingual dimension
The crowns are tilted lingually on the root base
The buccal outline is convex in the cervical third
 #30
Proximal Aspect
Of Mandibular Molars

Crest Of Curvature
The height of contour on the buccal surface is
within the cervical third
On molars this buccal bulge is called the buccal
cervical ridge
It is more prominent on second molar than first
molars
 #30
Proximal Aspect
Of Mandibular Molars

Cusp Height
The lingual cusps are more conical and pointed
than the buccal
They are the largest of the four to five cusps
#30 Distal Proximal Aspect #31 Distal
Of Mandibular
Molars

Distal Tilt
Due to the distal tilt of the crown and the sloping of
the occlusal surface, most of the occlusal surface and
all cusps can be seen from the distal
 #30 Distal #31 Distal
Proximal Aspect
Of Mandibular
Molars

Taper To The Distal

On both first and second molars the crown is more narrow
on the distal than the mesial
Can see some of the buccal and lingual surface from the
distal due to this taper
 Proximal Aspect
Of Mandibular
Molars

Cervical Line
The mesial CEJ of both first and second molars slopes
occlusally from buccal to lingual
The distal cervical line is nearly straight
 Proximal Aspect
Of Mandibular
Molars

Marginal Ridges
The mesial marginal ridge is concave buccolingually
Usually longer on first molars than second and
V-shaped on the second
Occlusal Aspect Of Mandibular Molars

Lingual Inclination
Due to lingual inclination a considerable portion of
the buccal aspect can be seen from this view
The molars are wider mesiodistally than
faciolingually
 Occlusal Aspect Of Mandibular Molars

D M M D

Shape: Rectangular Or Pentagon

The second molar is roughly rectangular
The first molar with the distal cusp is more like a
pentagon
The two mesial cusps are larger than the two distal
cusps
 Occlusal Aspect Of Mandibular Molars

D M M D

Taper To The Distal And Lingual

The crown is narrower buccolingually on the distal
than the mesial
The crown is narrower mesiodistally on the lingual
than the facial
Occlusal Aspect Of Mandibular Molars

D M M D

Taper To The Distal And Lingual

The widest portion of the crown of a second molar
buccolingually is opposite the mesial cusps
The widest portion of the crown of a first molar
buccolingually is opposite the distobuccal cusp
Occlusal Aspect Of Mandibular Molars

Ridges
On both first and second molars the MB and
ML cusps triangular ridges
form a transverse ridge
The same is true for the DB
and DL cusps
Since lingual cusps are taller, they possess
longer triangular ridges than the buccal
 Occlusal Aspect
Of Mandibular
Molars

Fossae
Mandibular molars possess three fossae, a large
central fossa, a smaller mesial, and the smallest
distal fossa
Each or all may possess a pit
 MB Groove
DB Groove

Occlusal Aspect
Of Mandibular
Molars

Grooves: First Molar

The central groove is more zigzag or crooked in its
mesiodistal course
There are two buccal grooves instead of one found
on lower second molars
 Occlusal Aspect
Of Mandibular
Molars

Grooves: Second Molar

Groove is simpler than first and resembles a cross
Central groove is straighter than that of the first
molar
Buccal and lingual grooves are usually continuous
 Mandibular
Third Molars

#32 Distal
#32 Buccal
Shape And Relative Size
Shortest of mandibular teeth
Crown may resemble a first or second molar
Generally have bulbous crowns
 Mandibular
Third Molars

Distal Tip
The crown tips distally and the distal half of the
crown is noticeably shorter
 Mandibular
Third Molars

Cusp Size
Lingual cusps are the longest and largest, with ML
being biggest
Grooves
Irregular groove pattern with multiple
supplemental grooves
 Mandibular
Third Molars

Roots #32 Lingual #32 Mesial

The two roots tend to be short and are often fused
If the roots are separate the root trunk will be long
Can possess one or more extra roots