Family Friendly & Specialty Dentists in London, UK
We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below.
The cookies that are categorised as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. ...
Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.
Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features.
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customised advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.
Location, Function, and Anatomy
- Mandibular second premolar is located distally from both mandibular first premolars and mesial from both mandibular first molars.
- Its function is to assist the mandibular first molar during chewing or mastication.
- Mandibular second premolars have three cusps, with one large cusp on the buccal side.
- The lingual cusps are well developed and functional.
- The mandibular second premolar is more similar to the first molar than the first premolar.
- The mandibular second premolar commonly has three cusps but can have two as well.
- The occlusal table is rectangular, and the groove pattern is shaped like a Y.
- The contacts with adjacent teeth are positioned buccal to the midpoint.
- The buccal cusp tip is centered mesiodistally when viewed from the buccal.
- The root is generally straight with slight curvature to the distal in the apical third.
- The buccal height of contour is in the gingival third of the tooth when viewed from the mesial or distal.
- The lingual height of contour is in the middle third of the tooth.
- The buccal cusp is at the contact between the buccal and middle thirds when divided into thirds.
- The central groove is at the contact of the middle and lingual thirds.
- The two cusp variety generally has a groove pattern shaped like a U or H.
Terminology and Notation
- Premolars are sometimes referred to as bicuspids, but the mandibular second premolar has three functional cusps.
- The universal system of notation designates the right mandibular second premolar as 29 and the left one as 20.
- In the Palmer notation, both right and left second premolars have the number 5, but the right one has the symbol ┐ and the left one has ┌.
- The international notation designates the right mandibular second premolar as 45 and the left one as 35.
Congenital Absence
- It is common for patients in orthodontics to have one or both mandibular second premolars congenitally absent.
- Congenital absence refers to the condition where the premolars do not develop.
- This absence can impact the dental alignment and treatment plan.
- Orthodontists need to consider the absence of mandibular second premolars when creating treatment strategies.
- Alternative options such as space closure or prosthetic replacements may be considered.
