Health Dictionary Find a Doctor

Cusp (dentistry)


Overview

Overview

The teeth of the right side of the mouth, shown contacting the teeth in the opposing jaw with their cusp tips.

A cusp is an occlusal or incisal eminence on a tooth.

Canine teeth, otherwise known as cuspids, each possess a single cusp, while premolars, otherwise known as bicuspids, possess two each. Molars normally possess either four or five cusps. Maxillary molars, especially first molars, will generally possess a fifth cusp situated on the mesiolingual cusp known as the Cusp of Carabelli.

References

References

  • Ash, Major M.; Nelson, Stanley. WHEELER’S DENTAL ANATOMY, PHYSIOLOGY AND OCCLUSION, 8th edition.

Template:WH Template:WS

Looking for the patient version?

Back to the patient-friendly article

© 2026 MyEClinic – IFTM Institut für Telematik in der Medizin GmbH