1. Permanent Molars
An Overview

2. General Descriptions Largest, most posterior teeth Non-succedaneous
Eruption pattern: 1st and last permanent teeth to erupt

3. Arch Positions 6th, 7th, and 8th in each arch
First molars: “6-year” molars
Second molars: “12-year” molars
Third molars: “wisdom teeth”

4. Function Mainly grinding 1st molars are “cornerstones of occlusion”
Maintenance of “vertical dimension of occlusion”

5. General Characteristics
Crowns generally largest and most complex of all teeth
At least 3 cusps, typically 4 or 5
At least 2 buccal cusps
Normally multirooted

6. Permanent Maxillary Molars

7. Introduction
Larger M-D and F-L to other maxillary teeth except: shorter O-C
O-C dimension is less than M-D and F-L (FL>MD>OC)
Largest to smallest: st, 2nd, 3rd molars

8. General Characteristics of Maxillary Molars:
Crowns wider F-L than M-D*
Usually 4 cusps: ML, MB, DB, DL (largest to smallest) 2 3 1 4

9. Maxillary molars…
Buccal cusps closer to same size; lingual cusps differ in size
Presence of oblique ridge and distolingual groove*

10. Maxillary molars… Crowns are rhomboidal or heart-shape (occlusal view)
One buccal pit and one lingual pit
Three occlusal pits: mesial, central, distal

11. Maxillary molars…
Crowns are trapezoidal from facial, lingual, proximal views
Facial HOC at cervical third
Lingual HOC at middle third
Usually 3 root branches: L, MB, DB (largest to smallest)

12. How To Tell Right From Left:
Distolingual groove/oblique ridge
MB root broader than DB root
Buccal ridge prominence towards mesial

13. Permanent Mandibular Molars

14. Introduction General size diminishes from 1st to 3rd molars
Shorter O-C than premolars and anteriors

15. General Characteristics of Mandibular Molars
Crowns wider M-D than F-L
Crowns rectangular (occlusal view)
Crowns rhomboidal from proximal view
Crowns trapezoidal from facial or lingual views

16. Mandibular molars…
Usually cusps; both lingual cusps nearly same size
MB, ML, DL, DB, D (largest to smallest cusps) - mandibular 1st molar
Three occlusal pits: mesial, central, distal
Two buccal pits - 1st molar
One buccal pit - 2nd molar
No lingual pit 4 1 5 3 2

17. Mandibular molars…
Presence of two root branches (M & D), but usually three pulp canals: MB, ML, D
Facial HOC at cervical third
Lingual HOC at middle third

18. Incline planes:

19. How To Tell Right From Left:
Mesial root broader than distal root
Distal cusp of 1st molar
MB “bulge” of crown with 2nd and 3rd molars

20. Questions???