c. Mesial Surface. The mesial surface is rectangular in outline, convex in the
occlusal two-thirds, and concave in its gingival (cervical) third. The contact area is
located at the junction of the middle and occlusal thirds.
d. Distal Surface. The distal surface resembles the mesial surface but is
slightly more convex.
e. Occlusal Surface. The occlusal surface has two cusps. The facial cusp is
larger and more prominent than the lingual cusp. A central depression is bounded by
the slopes of the facial and lingual cusps and by mesial and distal marginal ridges. The
mesial marginal ridge is divided by a prominent groove, the mesiolingual groove. This
groove extends from the occlusal surface over the marginal ridge to the mesial surface.
A groove at the line of junction between the cusps ends in mesial and distal pits.
f. Roots. The roots are bifurcated to form two roots about halfway to two-thirds
of the way from the crown to the apex
4-14. MAXILLARY SECOND BICUSPID
The maxillary second bicuspid (figure 4-24) is very similar to the first bicuspid.
There are some differences. It has smaller crown dimensions than the first bicuspid.
The cusps are about the same height. The marginal ridge is not divided by a prominent
mesiolingual groove. The single root of this tooth is slightly bulkier than the root of the
first bicuspid. The contact areas are located slightly closer to the occlusal and facial
surfaces.
Figure 4-24. Maxillary right second bicuspid.
MD0501
4-23