Maxillary Second Molar Tooth

Key Features & Anatomical Relations

The maxillary second molar tooth is one of the three molar teeth that are found in a quadrant of the maxillary 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, and distolingual cusps, and marginal ridges.

The maxillary second molar tooth is located:

- distal to the maxillary first molar tooth;

- mesial to the maxillary third molar tooth.

The root of the maxillary second molar tooth is lodged in a dental alveolus of the maxilla.

Development

The deciduous maxillary second molar tooth undergoes calcification during the nineteenth week in utero, with the development of the crown being completed during the eleventh month after birth. Eruption of this tooth occurs during the twenty-ninth month after birth and the development of the root is completed during the third year.

The permanent maxillary canine tooth undergoes calcification during the second to third years, with the development of the crown being completed during the seventh to eighth years. Eruption of this tooth occurs during the twelfth to thirteenth years and the development of the root is completed during the fourteenth to sixteenth years (Nelson, 2014).

Function

As with all molars, the maxillary second 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.