The mandibular central incisors are the two small front teeth in the lower jaw (Universal 25 on the right and 24 on the left, FDI 41 and 31). They are the smallest permanent teeth, with a narrow straight incisal edge, no cusps and a single root that is flat from side to side. Together with the first molars they are usually the first adult teeth to erupt, at about 6-7 years.
| Location | Front of the lower dental arch, on either side of the midline |
|---|---|
| Parts |
|
| Nerve Supply | Incisive branch of the inferior alveolar nerve (mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve); Mental nerve (labial gingiva); Lingual nerve (lingual gingiva) |
| Blood Supply | Incisive branch of the inferior alveolar artery |
| Venous drainage |
|
| Lymphatic drainage |
|
Cut food against the upper incisors and help guide the jaw forward.
Tartar (calculus) builds up quickly on their tongue-side surface because the ducts of the sublingual and submandibular glands open just behind them. Crowding of the lower front teeth is very common and tends to increase with age. Many have two root canals (labial and lingual) in a single flat root, and nerve fibres from the opposite side cross the midline, so anaesthesia may need to be given on both sides.
Overlapping and rotated lower incisors from lack of space, which makes cleaning harder and often worsens in adulthood.
Gum disease with bone loss, encouraged by calculus build-up on the lingual surfaces.
Gum margin moving down the root, exposing it and causing sensitivity.
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