Refer to page 3 of the Appendix while studying the class traits (similarities) of most canines. Note that there may be exceptions to the common canine traits presented here, and these are emphasized with capital letters (“EXCEPT”).

A. SIZE OF CANINES

On average, canines are the longest teeth in each arch. The maxillary canine is the longest tooth in the mouth (Fig. 3-3), even though the mandibular canine crown is longer than the maxillary canine crown. (As for which crown is the longest in the mouth, there are two opinions. Authors Ash and Kraus state that the mandibular canine crown is the longest crown in the mouth,^1,2 but Dr. Woelfel’s study found that the maxillary incisor crown is longest.) Canines have particularly long roots^A and thick roots (faciolingually) that help to anchor them securely in the alveolar process. Because of their large, long roots, canines are good anchor teeth or abutments to attach replacements for lost teeth. As such, they often continue to function as a solid support for the replacement teeth for many years.

Table 3-4 at the end of this chapter provides all canine dimensions.

TABLE 3-4

Size of Canines (Measured by Dr. Woelfel and his Dental Hygiene Students, 1974–1979)

^aKraus and Ash call this the longest crown in the mouth.

B. CANINE TRAITS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO INCISOR TRAITS

Similar to most incisors (EXCEPT the symmetrical mandibular central, where contacts are at the same level), the distal contact area is more cervical in position than is the mesial contact area (Appendix 3g), and the crown outline is more convex on the distal than on the mesial surface (Appendix 3f). From the proximal views, canine crowns are wedge, or triangular, shaped (Appendix 3o

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