Mandibular first premolar

Study entry

Location

Socket of the alveolar part of the mandible, behind the canine.

Structure

It has a large vestibular cusp and a very small lingual one, almost a step, so it resembles a small canine. One root, usually with one canal; in some cases, the canal bifurcates. It erupts at about 10 to 11 years.

Neighborhood

The mental foramen lies just behind it, near the second premolar.

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

The lymphatic vessels of the tooth and gum drain mainly into the submandibular lymph nodes.

Clinical

Bifurcation of the canal in some cases complicates root canal treatment. Through the mental foramen emerge the mental nerve and vessels, which must not be injured in surgery in this region.

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