1. Premolars

2. Introduction Eight premolars: 4 maxillary and 4 mandibular
Each quadrant has two: first and second premolars

3. Premolars: Arch position: 4th and 5th from midline
Commonly called “bicuspids”

4. Form and function: Positioned between canines and molars
Sharp facial cusps aid in tearing, piercing
Supplement grinding function of molars

5. Form and function… Presence of occlusal table Boundaries of table:
Cusp tips
Cusp ridges (M & D)
Marginal ridges (horizontal)

6. Occlusal anatomy... Grooves (developmental and supplemental) Pits
Fossae
Triangular ridges

7. Occlusal anatomy...
Triangular ridges
Transverse ridge
Oblique ridge

8. Occlusal anatomy...
Incline planes (4/cusp)

9. Cusp Ridges & Triangular Ridges in Nature

10. General Characteristics of Premolars
Typically, four developmental lobes:
3 buccal, 1 lingual
Typically, two cusps: facial and lingual
Presence of an occlusal table
Succeed primary molars (only succedaneous teeth not with same name as primary)

11. General characteristics of maxillary premolars:
First and second are more similar than mandibular premolars
First slightly larger than second
Crowns wider F-L than M-D

12. Maxillary premolars... Two cusps closer to same size
Crowns centered over root trunk
Lingual HOC at middle third

13. General characteristics of mandibular premolars:
First and second have more dissimilarities than maxillary
First is smaller than second

14. Mandibular premolars... 4 - 5 developmental lobes
F-L and M-D crown dimensions more equal
Buccal cusps larger than linguals
Crowns have lingual inclination
Lingual HOC slightly more occlusal

15. Tooth ID Test

17. 27

19. Questions???