The maxillary first premolars sit just behind the canines in the upper jaw (Universal 5 on the right and 12 on the left, FDI 14 and 24). Each has two cusps, a taller buccal cusp and a smaller palatal cusp, and usually two roots (buccal and palatal) with two root canals. They erupt at about 10-11 years.
| Location | Upper dental arch, behind the canine on each side |
|---|---|
| Parts |
|
| Nerve Supply | Middle superior alveolar nerve when present, otherwise anterior and posterior superior alveolar nerves (maxillary division of the trigeminal nerve); Greater palatine nerve (palatal gingiva); Infraorbital and superior alveolar nerves (buccal gingiva) |
| Blood Supply | Anterior and middle superior alveolar branches of the infraorbital artery; Posterior superior alveolar artery |
| Venous drainage |
|
| Lymphatic drainage |
|
Hold and crush food, linking the cutting action of the front teeth with the grinding of the molars.
These are among the teeth most often removed to make space in orthodontic treatment. A natural hollow on the front (mesial) surface of the crown and root makes cleaning and fitting fillings harder, and the cusps of heavily filled first premolars crack readily. Their thin, divergent roots are easily fractured during extraction.
A fine crack through the crown, often after large fillings, causing sharp pain on biting and on release.
Wedge-shaped notches and gum recession at the neck of the tooth, often linked to heavy biting forces and hard brushing.
Decay, often starting in the mesial surface concavity where cleaning is difficult.
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