Mandibular canine
Encyclopedia
The mandibular canine is the tooth
located distally (away from the midline of the face
) from both mandibular lateral incisor
s of the mouth
but mesially (toward the midline of the face) from both mandibular first premolar
s. Both the maxillary and mandibular canine
s are called the "cornerstone" of the mouth because they are all located three teeth away from the midline, and separate the premolars from the incisor
s. The location of the canines reflect their dual function as they complement both the premolars and incisors during mastication
, commonly known as chewing. Nonetheless, the most common action of the canines is tearing of food. The canine teeth are able to withstand the tremendous lateral pressures from chewing. There is a single cusp
on canines, and they resemble the prehensile teeth found in carnivorous animals. Though relatively the same, there are some minor differences between the deciduous
(baby) mandibular canine and that of the permanent
mandibular canine.
The mandibular canines begin to show calcification at age 4 months and the enamel of the crown is completely formed by age 7 years. The permanent mandibular canines erupt at around 9 to 10 years of age. The mandibular and maxillary canines are the longest teeth in the mouth. The root of the mandibular canine, which is fully formed by age 13, is the longest in the mandibular arch. The mandibular canines are slightly narrower than the maxillary canines but its crown is as long and sometimes is longer. The mandibular canines usually have only one root, but sometimes the root may be bifurcated, or have two roots. When it does, one root faces the tongue (lingual side) and one will face the lip (labial side).
In the universal system of notation
, the deciduous mandibular canines are designated by a letter written in uppercase. The right deciduous mandibular canine is known as "R", and the left one is known as "M". The international notation
has a different system of notation. Thus, the right deciduous mandibular canine is known as "83", and the left one is known as "73".
In the universal system of notation, the permanent mandibular canines are designated by a number. The right permanent mandibular canine known as "27", and the left one is known as "22". In the Palmer notation
, a number is used in conjunction with a symbol designating in which quadrant the tooth is found. For this tooth, the left and right canines would have the same number, "3", but the right one would have the symbol, "┐", over it, while the left one would have, "┌". The international notation has a different numbering system than the previous two, and the right permanent mandibular canine is known as "43", and the left one is known as "33".
Tooth
Teeth are small, calcified, whitish structures found in the jaws of many vertebrates that are used to break down food. Some animals, particularly carnivores, also use teeth for hunting or for defensive purposes. The roots of teeth are embedded in the Mandible bone or the Maxillary bone and are...
located distally (away from the midline of the face
Face
The face is a central sense organ complex, for those animals that have one, normally on the ventral surface of the head, and can, depending on the definition in the human case, include the hair, forehead, eyebrow, eyelashes, eyes, nose, ears, cheeks, mouth, lips, philtrum, temple, teeth, skin, and...
) from both mandibular lateral incisor
Mandibular lateral incisor
The mandibular lateral incisor is the tooth located distally from both mandibular central incisors of the mouth and mesially from both mandibular canines. As with all incisors, their function is for shearing or cutting food during mastication, commonly known as chewing. There are no cusps on...
s of the mouth
Mouth
The mouth is the first portion of the alimentary canal that receives food andsaliva. The oral mucosa is the mucous membrane epithelium lining the inside of the mouth....
but mesially (toward the midline of the face) from both mandibular first premolar
Mandibular first premolar
The mandibular first premolar is the tooth located laterally from both the mandibular canines of the mouth but mesial from both mandibular second premolars. The function of this premolar is similar to that of canines in regard to tearing being the principal action during mastication, commonly...
s. Both the maxillary and mandibular canine
Canine tooth
In mammalian oral anatomy, the canine teeth, also called cuspids, dogteeth, fangs, or eye teeth, are relatively long, pointed teeth...
s are called the "cornerstone" of the mouth because they are all located three teeth away from the midline, and separate the premolars from the incisor
Incisor
Incisors are the first kind of tooth in heterodont mammals. They are located in the premaxilla above and mandible below.-Function:...
s. The location of the canines reflect their dual function as they complement both the premolars and incisors during mastication
Mastication
Mastication or chewing is the process by which food is crushed and ground by teeth. It is the first step of digestion and it increases the surface area of foods to allow more efficient break down by enzymes. During the mastication process, the food is positioned between the teeth for grinding by...
, commonly known as chewing. Nonetheless, the most common action of the canines is tearing of food. The canine teeth are able to withstand the tremendous lateral pressures from chewing. There is a single cusp
Cusp (dentistry)
A cusp is an occlusal or incisal eminence on a tooth.Canine teeth, otherwise known as cuspids, each possess a single cusp, while premolars, otherwise known as bicuspids, possess two each. Molars normally possess either four or five cusps...
on canines, and they resemble the prehensile teeth found in carnivorous animals. Though relatively the same, there are some minor differences between the deciduous
Deciduous teeth
Deciduous teeth, otherwise known as reborner teeth, baby teeth, temporary teeth and primary teeth, are the first set of teeth in the growth development of humans and many other mammals. In some Asian countries they are referred to as fall teeth as they will eventually fall out, while in almost all...
(baby) mandibular canine and that of the permanent
Permanent teeth
Permanent teeth are the second set of teeth formed in humans. There are thirty-two permanent teeth, consisting of six maxillary and six mandibular molars, four maxillary and four mandibular premolars, two maxillary and two mandibular canines, four maxillary and four mandibular incisors.The first...
mandibular canine.
The mandibular canines begin to show calcification at age 4 months and the enamel of the crown is completely formed by age 7 years. The permanent mandibular canines erupt at around 9 to 10 years of age. The mandibular and maxillary canines are the longest teeth in the mouth. The root of the mandibular canine, which is fully formed by age 13, is the longest in the mandibular arch. The mandibular canines are slightly narrower than the maxillary canines but its crown is as long and sometimes is longer. The mandibular canines usually have only one root, but sometimes the root may be bifurcated, or have two roots. When it does, one root faces the tongue (lingual side) and one will face the lip (labial side).
In the universal system of notation
Universal numbering system (dental)
The Universal numbering system is a dental notation system for associating information to a specific tooth, and is commonly used in the United States.The designations "left" and "right" on the chart correspond to the patient's left and right, respectively....
, the deciduous mandibular canines are designated by a letter written in uppercase. The right deciduous mandibular canine is known as "R", and the left one is known as "M". The international notation
International notation
International notation may mean:*FDI World Dental Federation notation*Hermann-Mauguin notation - Crystallographic notation system*Decimal_mark#Influence_of_calculators_and_computers - the use of the decimal point as the decimal mark...
has a different system of notation. Thus, the right deciduous mandibular canine is known as "83", and the left one is known as "73".
In the universal system of notation, the permanent mandibular canines are designated by a number. The right permanent mandibular canine known as "27", and the left one is known as "22". In the Palmer notation
Palmer notation
Palmer notation is a system used by dentists to associate information to a specific tooth. Although supposedly superseded by the FDI World Dental Federation notation, it overwhelmingly continues to be the preferred method used by orthodontists, dental students and practitioners in the United...
, a number is used in conjunction with a symbol designating in which quadrant the tooth is found. For this tooth, the left and right canines would have the same number, "3", but the right one would have the symbol, "┐", over it, while the left one would have, "┌". The international notation has a different numbering system than the previous two, and the right permanent mandibular canine is known as "43", and the left one is known as "33".