DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

THOSE CHARACTERISTICS THAT PERMIT AN INDIVIDUAL TOOTH TO BE IDENTIFIED WHEN THERE ARE NO OTHER TEETH AVAILABLE FOR COMPARISON

Maxillary Incisors
1. When a maxillary incisor has a rounded crown outline form (as viewed facially or lingually), it is more likely to be a lateral incisor. When a maxillary incisor has a somewhat square crown outline form, it is more likely to be a central incisor. When the outline form of the proximal surfaces (as viewed facially or lingually) is relatively convex as opposed to being somewhat straight, the tooth is more likely to be a lateral incisor. For both central and lateral incisors, the proximal surface with the most rounded outline form is the distal surface. When the incisal edge (as viewed facially or lingually) is curved as opposed to being relatively straight, it is more likely to be a lateral incisor. When the proximoincisal angles (as viewed facially or lingually) are rounded as opposed to being somewhat square, it is more likely to be a lateral incisor. For both central and lateral incisors, the proximoincisal angle with the most rounding is located distally. 2. When both proximal contacts (areas of greatest convexity on the proximal surfaces) of a maxillary incisor are located about one-third to one-half of the distance between the incisal edge and cervical line (as viewed facially or lingually), it is more likely to be a lateral incisor. For both central and lateral incisors, the proximal contact that is located farther cervically in on the distal surface. 3. When the cingulum of a maxillary incisor is large and exhibits a rounded form, it is more likely to be a maxillary central incisor. 4. When the lingual fossa of a maxillary incisor is relatively small in area and deep, it is more likely to be a lateral incisor. When developmental grooves associated with the lingual fossa are relatively deep or a groove crosses the cingulum, it is more likely to be a lateral incisor. 5. When a maxillary incisor has nearly identical mesiodistal and faciolingual crown dimensions (as viewed incisally), it is more likely to be a lateral incisor. When the mesiodistal dimension is greater than the faciolingual dimension (when viewed incisally), the incisor is more likely to be a central incisor. For both central and lateral incisors (as viewed incisally), the proximal surface that is more rounded is the distal surface. 6. When a maxillary incisor has a root apex that is straight and relatively blunt, it is more likely to be a central incisor. When the root apex is somewhat sharp and/or curved, it is more likely to be a lateral incisor. When a maxillary incisor root curves, it usually curves toward the distal.

Mandibular Incisors
1. When a mandibular incisor has a bilaterally symmetric crown form, it is more likely to be a central incisor. When there is a lack of bilateral symmetry, the tooth is more likely to be a lateral incisor.

2. When a mandibular incisor has an incisal edge (as viewed incisally) that is perpendicular to a line that bisects the crown faciolingually, it is more likely to be a central incisor. When the crown of a mandibular incisor appears twisted on the root (as viewed incisally) so that one side of the incisal edge (the distal side) is located lingual to the other side of the incisal edge, it is more likely to be a lateral incisor. 3. When the incisal edge of a mandibular incisor (as viewed facially) is mesiodistally straight and perpendicular to the long axis, it is more likely to be a central incisor. When the incisal edge is curved, it is more likely to be a lateral incisor. When the incisal edge is curved, the curvature occurs toward the distal surface. 4. When both proximoincisal angles of a mandibular incisor (as viewed facially) are equally sharp, it is more likely to be a central incisor. When one corner (the distoincisal corner) is slightly more rounded than the other corner, it is more likely to be a lateral incisor. 5. When both proximal contacts of a mandibular incisor (as viewed facially) are located close to the incisal edge, it is more likely to be a central incisor. When one proximal contact (the distal contact) is located farther cervically than the other contact, it is more likely to be a lateral incisor. 6. When both proximal surfaces of a mandibular incisor (as viewed facially) exhibit comparable convexity, it is more likely to be a central incisor. When one proximal surface (the distal surface) exhibits greater convexity than the other surface, it is more likely to be a lateral incisor.

Maxillary And Mandibular Canines

1. When the crown and root of a canine (as viewed facially) lie on an almost straight line on one proximal surface (the mesial surface), it is more likely to be a mandibular canine. When both proximal crown surfaces extend lateral to the root, the tooth is more likely to be a maxillary canine. When one crown surface (the distal surface) noticeably bulges lateral to the root, it is more likely to be a maxillary canine. 2. When the facial surfaces of the crown and root (as viewed proximally) form a Cshaped curve, it is more likely to be a mandibular canine. When a canine has cervical tooth structure that prominently extends facial to the root (as viewed proximally), it is more likely to be a maxillary canine. 3. When the cusp tip of a canine is located lingual to the long axis of the tooth (as viewed proximally), it is more likely to be a mandibular canine. When the cusp tip of a canine is located facial to the long axis of the tooth (as viewed proximally), it is more likely to be a maxillary canine. When the cusp tip is thick faciolingually, the tooth is more likely to be a maxillary canine. 4. When a canine has a prominent pointed cusp (as viewed facially or lingually), the tooth is more likely to be a maxillary canine. When the angle between the mesial and distal cusp ridges is obviously obtuse (about 120 degrees or more), the tooth is more likely to be a mandibular canine. When the mesial cusp ridge is positioned such that it nearly parallels the horizontal plane, the tooth is more likely to be a mandibular canine.

5. When both proximal contacts of a canine are located one-third to one-half of the distance between the cusp tip and cervical line (as viewed facially), it is more likely to be a maxillary canine. When both proximal contacts are located in the incisal one-third of the crown (as viewed facially), it is more likely to be a mandibular canine. For both maxillary and mandibular canines, one proximal contact (the distal contact) is located farther cervically. The mesial proximal contact of the maxillary canine is located one-third of the distance between the cusp tip and facial cervical line whereas the distal proximal contact is located onehalf of the distance between the cusp tip and facial cervical line. The mesial proximal contact of the mandibular canine is located close to the incisal edge whereas the distal proximal contact is located one-third of the distance between the cusp tip and the facial cervical line. 6. When a canine is viewed incisally and the mesial and distal halves exhibit reasonable symmetry, the tooth is more likely to be mandibular canine. When the faciolingual and mesiodistal dimensions approximate each other from an incisal view, it is more likely to be a maxillary canine whereas mandibular canines have a faciolingual dimension that is visibly larger than their mesiodistal dimension. 7. When a canine has a prominent, well-developed cingulum, it is more likely to be a maxillary canine. When a canine has poorly developed marginal ridges and the lingual surface prominences are not distinctly displayed, it is more likely to be a mandibular canine. 8. When a canine has a wear facet located on the lingual surface, the tooth is more likely to be a maxillary canine. When a wear facet is located on the facial surface, the tooth is more likely to be a mandibular canine. 9. When a canine has a sharp root apex, it is more likely to be a maxillary canine. When a canine has a blunt root apex, it is more likely to be a mandibular canine. When a canine has a mesiodistally narrow root, it is more likely to be a mandibular canine. When a canine has a root apex than angles mesially, it is more likely to be a mandibular canine. When a canine has a bifurcated root, it is more likely to be a mandibular canine.

Maxillary Premolars
1. When a maxillary premolar crown is nearly symmetric (as viewed occlusally), it is more likely to be a second premolar. When a maxillary premolar has prominent, angular facioproximal corners (as viewed occlusally), it is more likely to be a first premolar. When a maxillary premolar has rounded facioproximal corners (as viewed occlusally), it is more likely to be a second premolar. 2. When there is one marginal ridge groove (the mesial groove) of a maxillary premolar that is much more prominent than the other, it is more likely to be a first premolar. When there is one marginal ridge groove (the mesial groove) that significantly disrupts the form of the marginal ridge and produces a concave crown surface (as viewed occlusally), it is more likely to be a first premolar. When the marginal ridge groove of a maxillary premolar joins a cervical crown depression, it is more likely to be a first premolar and the surface is more likely to be the mesial surface. When a marginal ridge groove of a maxillary premolar creates greater cervical displacement of one marginal ridge (the mesial ridge), it is

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more likely to be a first premolar. When there are no marginal ridge grooves, the tooth is more likely to be a second premolar. When one crown surface (the mesial surface) of a maxillary premolar has a cervical depression and the other surface (the distal surface) has no cervical depression, the tooth is more likely to be a first premolar. When there are no cervical crown depressions, the tooth is more likely to be a second premolar. When there is a cervical crown depression (the mesial depression) of a maxillary premolar that is deep and joins a deep root depression, the tooth is more likely to be a first premolar. When one root depression (the mesial depression) of a maxillary premolar is deeper than the other root depression, the tooth is more likely to be a first premolar. When the distal root depression is deeper than the mesial root depression, the tooth is more likely to be a second premolar. When the lingual cusp tip of a maxillary premolar (as viewed lingually or occlusally) is displaced toward one proximal surface (the mesial surface), the tooth is more likely to be a first premolar. When the lingual cusp tip is nearly aligned with the mesiodistal location of the facial cusp, the tooth is more likely to be a second premolar. When there is a substantial difference between the heights of the facial and lingual cusps of a maxillary premolar, it is more likely to be a first premolar. When the cusp facial and lingual cusp heights are equal or nearly equal, it is more likely to be a second premolar. When a maxillary premolar has a long central developmental groove that is about one-third or more of the mesiodistal crown dimension, it is more likely to be a first premolar. When the central developmental groove is short (occupying about one-quarter of less of the mesiodistal crown width, the tooth is more likely to be a second premolar. When the central developmental groove of a maxillary premolar is located well below the marginal ridges, the tooth is more likely to be a first premolar. When the mesial and distal pits and fossae of a maxillary premolar are relatively close together (about one-quarter or less of the mesiodistal crown dimension) and the marginal ridges appear wide and blunt, the tooth is more likely to be a second premolar. When the fossae approximate the marginal ridges and the ridges are relatively sharp, the tooth is more likely to be a first premolar. When a maxillary premolar has a number of supplemental grooves, it is more likely to be a second premolar. When there are very few or no supplemental grooves, the tooth is more likely to be a first premolar. When a maxillary premolar has a sharp facial cusp that approximates a 90 degree angle between the cusp ridges (as viewed facially), the tooth is more likely to be a first premolar. When the angle formed between the facial surface and the triangular ridge of the facial cusp form an acute angle (as viewed proximally), the tooth is more likely to be a first premolar. When the mesial cusp ridge of the facial cusp is longer than the distal cusp ridge of a maxillary premolar, the tooth is more likely to be a first premolar. When the distal cusp ridge is longer than the mesial cusp ridge, it is more likely to be a second premolar. When there is a depression in the mesial cusp ridge of the facial cusp, the tooth is more likely to be a first premolar.

10. When a maxillary premolar has two roots, it is more likely to be a first premolar. When a maxillary premolar has a crooked root, it is more likely to be a second premolar.

Mandibular Premolars
1. When the crown of a mandibular premolar has a rounded diamond-shaped outline form (as viewed occlusally), it is more likely to be a first premolar. When the crown of a mandibular premolar has a somewhat square outline form (as viewed occlusally), it is more likely to be a second premolar. 2. When the crown of a mandibular premolar has a developmental groove that extends from one fossa (the mesial fossa) in a proximolingual direction and creates a depression in the outline form of the crown, it is more likely to be a first premolar. When a mandibular premolar crown possesses a developmental groove on the occlusal surface that traverses from the center of the tooth in a lingual direction and extends onto the lingual crown surface, it is more likely to be a second premolar. 3. When a mandibular premolar has one lingual cusp and two fossae, it is more likely to be a first premolar. When a mandibular premolar has two lingual cusps and three pits/fossae, it is more likely to be a second premolar. When there are two lingual cusps on a mandibular premolar and one cusp (the mesiolingual cusp) is wider and taller than the other cusp (the distolingual cusp), the tooth is more likely to be a second premolar. 4. When one of the marginal ridges (the mesial ridge) of a mandibular premolar slopes lingually at about a 45 angle (as viewed proximally), it is more likely to be a first premolar. When one of the marginal ridges (the mesial ridge) of a mandibular premolar is located farther cervically than the other ridge (as viewed lingually), it is more likely to be a first premolar. When both marginal ridges are located perpendicular to the long axis of the tooth (as viewed proximally), the tooth is more likely to be a second premolar. When the distance from the cusp tip to the marginal ridge is about one-half of the occlusocervical crown dimension, the tooth is more likely to be a first premolar. When the distance from the cusp tip to the marginal ridge is about one-third or less of the occlusocervical crown dimension, the tooth is more likely to be a second premolar. 5. When a mandibular premolar possesses a substantial difference in the heights of the facial and lingual cusps (average of 3.6 mm or about one-third of the occlusocervical crown dimension) with one cusp (the lingual cusp) being much shorter than the other cusp (the facial cusp), the tooth is more likely to be a first premolar. When the difference in facial and lingual cusp heights is less than twenty-five percent of the occlusocervical crown dimension (average of 1.8 mm shorter), the tooth is more likely to be a second premolar. 6. When a mandibular premolar has a sharp facial cusp (about a 100 degree angle between the mesial and distal cusp ridges) that is relatively tall, the tooth is more likely to be a first premolar. When a mandibular premolar has a relatively blunt cusp tip (about 130 degree angle between the mesial and distal cusp arms) that is relatively short, the tooth is more likely to be a second premolar. With both first and second premolars, the mesial cusp ridge is shorter than the distal cusp ridge.

7. When the facial cusp of a mandibular premolar is aligned with the long axis of the tooth (as viewed proximally), it is more likely to be a first premolar. When the facial cusp of a mandibular premolar is located facial to the long axis of the tooth (as viewed proximally), it is more likely to be a second premolar. 8. When the lingual aspect of a mandibular premolar crown is much smaller mesiodistally than the facial aspect of the crown, the tooth is more likely to be a first premolar. When the lingual aspect of a mandibular premolar crown has a greater mesiodistal dimension than the facial aspect of the crown, the tooth is more likely to be a second premolar. 9. When most of the occlusal surface of a mandibular premolar crown is visible (as viewed lingually) and the visible area comprises about one-half of the occlusocervical crown dimension, it is more likely to be a first premolar. When the visibility of the occlusal surface is limited and the visible area comprises onethird or less of the occlusocervical crown dimension (as viewed lingually), the tooth is more likely to be a second premolar. 10. When the occlusal developmental grooves of a mandibular premolar have a Y shaped form, it is more likely to be a second premolar. 11. When the distal proximal contact of a mandibular premolar is located at the same occlusocervical level as the mesial contact or occlusal to the mesial contact, it is more likely to be a first premolar. When the distal proximal contact is located cervical to the mesial proximal contact, the tooth is more likely to be a second premolar.

Maxillary Molars
1. When the mesiodistal and faciolingual crown dimensions of a maxillary molar are about the same and the tooth presents a degree of squareness (as viewed occlusally), it is more likely to be a first molar. When the faciolingual dimension is noticeably larger than the mesiodistal dimension (as viewed occlusally), the tooth is more likely to be a second or third molar. When a maxillary molar appears heart-shaped (as viewed occlusally), the tooth is more likely to be a third molar. When the angle between the mesial and facial surfaces of a maxillary molar is noticeably acute, the tooth is more likely to be a second or third molar. For all maxillary molars, the faciolingual dimension of the mesial half of the crown is greater than the faciolingual dimension of the distal half of the crown (as viewed occlusally) 2. When there is a cusp of Carabelli (5th cusp attached to the lingual surface on the mesiolingual cusp) present on a maxillary molar, it is more likely to be a first molar. When there is a distolingual cusp present but no cusp of Carabelli, the tooth is more likely to be a second molar. When there is no distolingual cusp and no cusp of Carabelli, the tooth is more likely to be a third molar. 3. When one lingual cusp (the distolingual cusp) of a maxillary molar is relatively wide and approaches the height of the other larger lingual cusp (the mesiolingual cusp), it is more likely to be a first molar. When one lingual cusp (the distolingual cusp) is considerably smaller in size and height than the other lingual cusp (the mesiolingual cusp), the tooth is more likely to be a second or third

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molar. When the distolingual cusp is missing and there is only one lingual cusp, the tooth is more likely to be a third molar. When the two facial cusps of a maxillary molar have about the same mesiodistal dimension and height, it is more likely to be a first molar. When one facial cusp (the distofacial cusp) is smaller and shorter than the other facial cusp (the mesiofacial cusp), the tooth is more likely to be a second molar. When the distofacial cusp is much smaller and shorter than the mesiofacial cusp, the tooth is more likely to be a third molar. When the facial developmental groove of a maxillary molar (as viewed facially) is located close to the mesiodistal center of the crown, extends a substantial distance cervical to the occlusal surface, and ends in a depression or pit, it is more likely to be a first molar. When the facial developmental groove is located toward one side of the crown (distal to the mesiodistal center of the crown) and has a relatively short occlusocervical dimension, the tooth is more likely to be a second molar. When the facial developmental groove is substantially displaced to the distal, the tooth is more likely to be a third molar. When the mesiodistal dimension of the lingual half of a maxillary molar crown is as large or larger than the facial half of the crown (as viewed occlusally), it is more likely to be a first molar. When the mesiodistal dimension of the lingual half of the crown is noticeably smaller than the mesiodistal dimension of the facial half of the crown, the tooth is more likely to be a second molar. When the crown has a significant lingual taper and the lingual surface resembles a C-shaped curve (as viewed occlusally), the tooth is more likely to be a third molar. When the oblique ridge of a maxillary molar is very prominent and large, the tooth is more likely to be a first molar. When the oblique ridge is extremely small or missing, the tooth is more likely to be a third molar. When a maxillary molar has only a limited number of supplemental grooves, the tooth is more likely to be a first molar. When a maxillary molar has a substantial number of supplemental grooves, it is more likely to be a second or third molar. When a maxillary molar has substantial separation of all three roots, it is more likely to be a first molar. When the separation of the two facial roots of a maxillary molar approaches the mesiodistal dimension of the crown, it is more likely to be a first molar. When the facial roots of a maxillary molar are shaped like the handles of a pair of pliers (as viewed facially), it is more likely to be a first molar. When the facial roots of a maxillary molar parallel each other, are contained within the mesiodistal dimension of the crown, and have a distal inclination, it is more likely to be a second molar. When the roots of a maxillary molar are fused and have a substantial distal inclination, it is more likely to be a third molar. With all maxillary molars, the mesiofacial root has a greater faciolingual dimension than the distofacial root and often hides the distofacial root from a mesial view. Conversely, the smaller distofacial root allows the mesiofacial root to be visible from a distal view.

Mandibular Molars
1. When a mandibular molar has three facial cusps and a trapezoidal crown outline form (as viewed facially), it is more likely to be a first molar. When a mandibular

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molar has two facial cusps and a trapezoidal crown outline form (as viewed facially), it is more likely to be a second molar. When the crown of a mandibular molar has a rounded, bulbous form (as viewed facially), it is more likely to be a third molar. When a mandibular molar has three facial cusps, one of the cusps (the distal cusp) is usually smaller than the other two cusps. When a mandibular molar has three facial cusps and a hexagonal/pentagonal crown outline form (as viewed occlusally), it is more likely to be a first molar. When a mandibular molar has a rectangular crown outline form (as viewed occlusally), it is more likely to be a second molar. When a mandibular molar has an ovoid or rounded outline form (as viewed occlusally), it is more likely to be a third molar. When a mandibular molar (as viewed occlusally) has a prominence (bulge) toward one corner of the outline form (the mesiofacial corner), it is more likely to be a second molar. When both proximal surfaces of a mandibular molar form relatively straight lines (as viewed occlusally), it is more likely to be a first molar. When one proximal surface (the mesial surface) of a mandibular molar forms a relatively straight line and the other proximal surface (the distal surface) has a curved C-shaped form (as viewed occlusally), it is more likely to be a second molar. When both proximal surfaces of a mandibular molar have curved, rounded forms, it is more likely to be a third molar. When the crown of a mandibular molar has a rounded, bulbous outline form (as viewed proximally), it is more likely to be a third molar. When a mandibular molar has a large occlusal table with a mesiodistal dimension that is greater facially than lingually (as viewed occlusally), it is more likely to be a first molar. When a mandibular molar has a large occlusal table that is rectangular (as viewed occlusally), it is more likely to be a second molar. When a mandibular molar has an occlusal table that is ovoid in form and relatively small in area, resulting in only modest separation of the facial and lingual cusp tips (as viewed occlusally or proximally), it is more likely to be a third molar. When a mandibular molar has a central developmental groove with a zigzag mesiodistal form, it is more likely to be a first molar. When a mandibular molar has a central developmental groove that is straight and there is a perpendicular relationship between the facial and lingual developmental grooves that creates a shape resembling a plus sign, it is more likely to be a second molar. When a mandibular molar has an irregular pit-groove pattern with numerous grooves, it is more likely to be a third molar. When a mandibular molar has five cusps and only a limited number of supplemental grooves, it is more likely to be a first molar. When a mandibular molar has four cusps and a modest number of supplemental grooves, it is more likely to be a second molar. When a mandibular molar has a large number of supplemental grooves and exhibits a wrinkled appearance because of the number of grooves, it is more likely to be a third molar. When a mandibular molar has one root (the mesial root) that is curved and another root (the distal root) that is relatively straight, it is more likely to be a first molar. When a mandibular molar has two widely separated root apices, it is more likely to be a first molar. When both roots of a mandibular molar are nearly

parallel to each other, it is more likely to be a second molar. When both roots of a mandibular molar are distinctly separate but both curve distally, it is more likely to be a second molar. When both roots of a mandibular molar curve distally and they are also in close approximation or fused, it is more likely to be a third molar. When both roots of a mandibular molar are in close approximation or fused and appear short in comparison to the occlusocervical crown dimension, it is more likely to be a third molar. For all mandibular molars, the mesial root has a greater faciolingual dimension than the distal root.

(Goodacre Teeth/Disting Character)