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Canine tooth

Overview of all the maxillary and mandibular teeth.

The canine, also known as the cuspid, is a tooth located in all four quadrants of the mouth as the third tooth from the midline (central incisor > lateral incisor > canine). It is a sharp tooth with a single cusp, designed to tear or pierce food. Humans have four canine teeth: two maxillary (upper), left and right, and two mandibular (lower), left and right.

As is typical of the anatomy of all single-rooted teeth, canines have a crown, a neck, and a root. The root is the portion that anchors to the bone through the dental supporting tissues (e.g. the periodontal ligament). The outer surface of the crown is covered by a layer of enamel that coats the underlying dentin. Internal to the dentin and at the center of the tooth, there is a cavity that contains the pulp, which in turn contains the neurovascular bundle of the tooth. This pulp extends from the pulp chamber, following the length of the root canal. In most cases, canines are characterized by having a single root canal.

This article discusses the anatomy of the canine tooth.

Key points about the canine tooth
Definition Located as the third tooth from the midline in all four quadrants of dentition
Function Tearing and piercing food during the process of mastication

Learn more about the teeth with this study unit:

Test your knowledge about teeth with the help of the following quiz: 

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