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Maxillary left central incisor
The most prominent tooth of the smile. A single-rooted incisor with a broad, flat labial surface and a straight incisal edge used for cutting food.
- FDI
- 21
- Universal
- 9
- Palmer
- UL1
- Roots
- Usually one conical root
- Root canals
- Usually one canal
- Eruption
- About 7–8 years
Form and anatomy
The crown is the longest in the mouth and wider mesiodistally than labiolingually. Seen from the labial side, the mesioincisal angle is almost a right angle while the distoincisal angle is more rounded, which helps tell a right central from a left one. The labial surface is smooth and gently convex, sometimes marked by two shallow developmental depressions. On the lingual side, a shovel-like lingual fossa is framed by the mesial and distal marginal ridges and closed cervically by a rounded cingulum. The cementoenamel junction curves toward the incisal edge on the proximal surfaces, more so on the mesial. The single root is cone-shaped, roughly triangular to oval in cross-section, and tapers evenly to a blunt apex; the pulp chamber follows the crown outline and ends incisally in pulp horns that are most prominent in young teeth.
Function
Incising (biting and cutting) food; supports the upper lip, contributes to speech (labiodental and dental sounds) and to facial appearance.
Clinical relevance
Frequently involved in dental trauma because of its forward position. Newly erupted incisors may show mamelons (small rounded bumps) on the incisal edge.
Neighbouring teeth
- Mesial neighbour
- Maxillary right central incisor
- Distal neighbour
- Maxillary left lateral incisor
- Same tooth, other side
- Maxillary right central incisor
- Opposing tooth
- Mandibular left central incisor
This text is a draft and has not yet been reviewed by a dental professional. Educational reference only, not for diagnosis or treatment.