Deciduous Mandibular Canine

The primary mandibular canine is smaller in all dimensions. The anatomical landmarks like the cingulum and ridges are less well developed as compared to the maxillary deciduous canine. Along with the maxillary primary canines, the deciduous mandibular canines perform the functions of tearing and holding food.

Development and Eruption

The deciduous mandibular canine emerges into the oral cavity around the age of 20 months. The root of this tooth is completed after three years. The tooth is lost by the process of exfoliation around the age of 9 years and the tooth is replaced by the permanent mandibular canine.

Labial Aspect

• The crown and root of the deciduous mandibular canine are shorter in length as compared to the deciduous maxillary canine.
• The cusp tip is more towards the mesial side. Due to the mesial shift of the cusp tip the distal cusp slope is larger as compared to the mesial cusp slope.
• The cervical ridge is not prominent as compared to the deciduous maxillary canine.
• The tooth has a single conical root. In the apical half, there is a slight curvature towards the distal aspect.

Lingual Aspect

• The cingulum and the marginal ridges of the deciduous mandibular canine are less developed as compared to the maxillary deciduous canine.
• Similar to the marginal ridges the lingual ridge which divides the lingual fossa into two halves is also not very prominent.
• Due to less development of the ridges and the cingulum, the lingual surface of the crown is smooth with shallow lingual fossae.
• The crown and the root of the deciduous mandibular canine tapers towards the lingual aspect. Therefore, part of the mesial and distal aspects of the crown and the root are visible from the lingual aspect.

Mesial Aspect

• The labiolingual dimension of the mandibular deciduous canine is less as compared to the maxillary deciduous canine.
• The cervical ridges that are present on the labial and the lingual portion of the crown are less prominent as compared to the deciduous maxillary canine.
• The mesial root surface is smooth with no developmental depression.

Distal Aspect

• The cervical line curvature is towards the incisal aspect. The extent of the curvature of the cervical line on the distal aspect is less as compared to the mesial aspect.
• The root surface on the distal aspect has a shallow developmental depression.

Incisal Aspect

• The labiolingual dimension of the tooth is slightly less as compared to the deciduous maxillary canine.
• The labial surface is convex at the cervical third of the crown.
• The cusp tip is more towards the mesial aspect.
• The lingual surface of the tooth from the incisal aspect appears smooth.

Video Lecture Explaining the Morphology of the Primary Mandibular Canine

Demonstration of the Morphology of the Deciduous Mandibular Canine on Tooth Model