Digestive system · Head and neck
Upper right first premolar !
The upper right first premolar (tooth 14) is the tooth just behind the canine; it helps crush and grind food.
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What it is
A transition tooth between the canine and the molars, with two cusps (cheek side and tongue side); the upper first premolar often has two roots.
What it does
Crushes and tears food.
Key facts
- Joints with
- Alveolar socket of the maxilla (gomphosis held by the periodontal ligament); bites against the opposing teeth
- Landmarks
- FDI 14, upper right first premolar: usually 2 roots (buccal and palatal); two cusps; often removed for orthodontic space; erupts at about 10–11 years; nerve: middle superior alveolar nerve (V2)
Relations
- In front
- The upper right canine
- Behind
- The upper right second premolar
- Medial
- Hard palate, closest to the palatal root
- Below
- Opposes the lower right first premolar and the lower right second premolar
How to find it
Fourth tooth from the midline on the upper right, just behind the canine; two cusps, the cheek-side one clearly taller.
On imaging
Bitewings show decay at its contacts, including the hollow mesial surface next to the canine. A periapical taken at an angle separates its buccal and palatal roots or canals.
Common problems
- Often the tooth removed to make space in orthodontic treatment.
Clinical notes
- Middle superior alveolar nerve when that branch exists; it is missing in many people (texts differ on how often), and then the anterior and posterior superior alveolar nerves share the premolars through the upper dental plexus
- A hollow on the mesial side of its crown and root (mesial concavity), next to the canine, traps plaque and makes the contact hard to restore
- Wedge-shaped notches at the gum line (non-carious cervical lesions) are especially common on premolars like this one
Anatomical variants
- Rarely 3 roots (two buccal, one palatal), like a small molar
Development
Replaces the primary upper right first molar (FDI 54): premolars take the place of the primary molars, not of other premolars.
Related conditions
Test yourself
Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it.
How many root canals does the upper right first premolar usually have?
Two; it is usually the only premolar with 2 canals, and a missed canal is a classic cause of failed root canal treatment.
Which nerve supplies the upper right first premolar?
The middle superior alveolar nerve (V2) when present; when it is missing, the anterior and posterior superior alveolar nerves share it through the upper dental plexus.
Which primary tooth does the upper right first premolar replace?
The primary upper right first molar (FDI 54): premolars replace the primary molars.
Which teeth are most often extracted for orthodontic treatment of crowding?
The first premolars, such as the upper right first premolar.
Educational information, not medical advice. For any symptom, see a health professional.
Related
Sources: Anatomy, Head and Neck, Teeth; Anatomy, Permanent Dentition; Anatomy, Head and Neck, Tooth Eruption; Anatomy, Head and Neck: Alveolar Nerve; 23.3 The Mouth, Pharynx, and Esophagus (OpenStax (Rice University), 2022) · adapted, CC BY 4.0.
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Representative model, for educational purposes only.
