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Mandibular left canine
The mandibular cornerstone tooth: a long single-cusped tooth with a long root, narrower than its maxillary counterpart.
- FDI
- 33
- Universal
- 22
- Palmer
- LL3
- Roots
- One, occasionally bifurcated
- Root canals
- Usually one
- Eruption
- About 9–10 years
Form and anatomy
The crown is long and narrower mesiodistally than the maxillary canine's. Its mesial outline runs almost in a straight line with the mesial surface of the root, and the cusp tip sits close to the centre or slightly mesial, with a short mesial and a longer distal cusp ridge. The cusp is less sharp than the maxillary canine's and often worn flat. The lingual surface is smoother, with a lower, smaller cingulum and less pronounced ridges. The root is long, wide labiolingually and grooved on its proximal sides; in a small proportion of teeth it divides into labial and lingual roots near the apex, each with its own canal. The mandibular canine's long root and strong bone support explain why it is often among the last teeth retained in older adults.
Function
Grasping and tearing food; lateral guidance.
Clinical relevance
Occasionally has a bifurcated root.
Canal counts in a study
| Canals | Observed frequency |
|---|---|
| 1 | 94.6% |
| 2 | 5.4% |
Teeth examined: 202. 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 lateral incisor
- Distal neighbour
- Mandibular left first premolar
- Same tooth, other side
- Mandibular right canine
- Opposing tooth
- Maxillary left canine
This text is a draft and has not yet been reviewed by a dental professional. Educational reference only, not for diagnosis or treatment.