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Mandibular left lateral incisor
Slightly larger than the mandibular central incisor, with a crown that is slightly twisted distally on the arch curve.
- FDI
- 32
- Universal
- 23
- Palmer
- LL2
- Roots
- One
- Root canals
- Usually one, sometimes two
- Eruption
- About 7–8 years
Form and anatomy
The crown is a little wider and longer than that of the central incisor and no longer symmetrical: the distoincisal angle is more rounded than the mesioincisal angle. Seen from the incisal side, the incisal edge is slightly twisted distolingually, following the curve of the dental arch, and the cingulum lies a little distal to the centre of the root. These features help separate lateral from central incisors and right from left. The lingual fossa and marginal ridges are slightly more developed than on the central incisor. The root resembles the central incisor's, flattened mesiodistally and broad labiolingually with proximal depressions, but is usually somewhat longer. Two canals, labial and lingual, occur in a notable share of teeth and are easy to miss in root canal treatment.
Function
Cutting food.
Clinical relevance
Like the central incisor, may contain two canals.
Canal counts in a study
| Canals | Observed frequency |
|---|---|
| 1 | 86.4% |
| 2 | 13.6% |
Teeth examined: 199. Adults from a radiology practice in Toulouse, France; left and right teeth combined. CBCT, 200 µm voxels Canal count observed on CBCT; small canals may go undetected.
These are sample frequencies, not universal probabilities. Population, sampling and method affect the results. Root count and canal configuration are different measurements. The 3D model shows one configuration; it does not change with these percentages.
Monsarrat et al. (2016), Table 2
Neighbouring teeth
- Mesial neighbour
- Mandibular left central incisor
- Distal neighbour
- Mandibular left canine
- Same tooth, other side
- Mandibular right lateral incisor
- Opposing tooth
- Maxillary left lateral incisor
This text is a draft and has not yet been reviewed by a dental professional. Educational reference only, not for diagnosis or treatment.