Mandibular canine

Study entry

Location

Socket of the alveolar part of the mandible, at the corner of the mouth, behind the lateral incisor.

Structure

Crown with a single cusp, narrower and less pointed than that of the upper canine. The root is long and flattened, usually single; sometimes it bifurcates and has two canals. It erupts at about 10 to 12 years.

Neighborhood

The root lies in front of the mental foramen, which opens between the premolars.

Blood supply

Inferior alveolar artery, branch of the maxillary, which runs in the mandibular canal and gives a branch to each root; the veins accompany the artery.

Innervation

Inferior dental plexus, formed by the inferior alveolar nerve (CN V3), which runs in the mandibular canal.

Lymphatics

They drain into the submental and submandibular lymph nodes.

Clinical

Together with the upper canine, it is the longest-lived tooth in the mouth and usually resists loss from periodontal disease well. Retention is less common than in the upper.

Source: cap. 8, «Dientes»; tabla 8-13 B (erupción de los dientes permanentes)

Other structures in this region

• Maxillary central incisor
• Maxillary lateral incisor
• Maxillary canine
• Maxillary first premolar
• Maxillary second premolar
• Maxillary first molar
• Maxillary second molar
• Maxillary third molar