Mandibular First Molar Tooth

Key Features & Anatomical Relations

The mandibular first molar tooth is one of the three molar teeth that are found in a quadrant of the mandibular dental arcade. It includes the following bony features:

- parts: crown, root, and cervical line;

- surfaces: buccal, lingual, mesial, distal, and occlusal surfaces;

- landmarks: mesiobuccal, mesiolingual, distobuccal, distolingual, and distal cusps, and marginal ridges.

The mandibular first molar tooth is located:

- distal to the mandibular second premolar tooth;

- mesial to the mandibular second molar tooth.

The root of the mandibular first molar tooth is lodged in a dental alveolus of the mandible.

Development

The deciduous mandibular first molar tooth undergoes calcification during the fifteenth week in utero, with the development of the crown being completed during the fifth month after birth. Eruption of this tooth occurs during the sixteenth month after birth and the development of the root is completed during the third year.

The permanent maxillary canine tooth undergoes calcification around the time of birth, with the development of the crown being completed during the third year. Eruption of this tooth occurs during the sixth to seventh years and the development of the root is completed during the ninth to tenth years (Nelson, 2014).

Function

As with all molars, the mandibular first molar tooth has cusped surfaces and is specialized for the crushing or grinding (comminution) of food during mastication.

References

Nelson, S. J. (2014) Wheeler's Dental Anatomy, Physiology and Occlusion. 10th edn.: Elsevier Health Sciences.